Released June 26, 2005

HATTIESBURG – Raymond Thomas “Tommy” Arnold, chair of Virginia Homes Manufacturing Corp. in Boydton, Va., has been elected to serve for a three-year term on the board of directors of The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation in Hattiesburg, Miss. Arnold is a 1957 graduate of Southern Miss, where he received a Bachelor of Science in marketing management.

While at Southern Miss, Arnold served as both senior and junior class president, elections commissioner with the College Union Board, president of Inter-Fraternity Council, pledge trainer with Kappa Sigma fraternity, secretary for Delta Sigma Pi and was a member of the Yellow Jackets and Omicron Delta Kappa. He was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

The USM Foundation operates under the direction of a 39-member board of directors, who are all volunteers. Thirteen new board members are selected each year, while 13 end their three-year term. The USM Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that serves as a fiduciary of private funds donated to Southern Miss, which is the only dual-campus university in the state, with an enrollment of more than 16,000 students.

Arnold and his wife Janice reside in South Hill, Va.

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