I hosted a luncheon on Monday for our physical plant custodial staff. They are a great group of employees who work hard, do good work, and more importantly, have a great spirit. They have 100% participation in the United Way and adopted two needy families to provide for this holiday season. What an amazing testimony to the generosity of the Southern Miss family.

I love these good news stories. If you know of any other groups on campus who are helping people who are less fortunate, please let me know so I can share the good news with others.

LETS BE THANKFUL.

But we can all remind ourselves that the richness of this country was not born in the resources of the earth, though they be plentiful, but in the men who took its measure.  For that reminder is everywhere-in the cities, towns, farms, roads, factories, homes, hospitals, schools, that spread everywhere over that wilderness.

          We can remind ourselves that for all our social discord we yet remain the longest enduring society of free men governing themselves without benefit of kings or dictators.  Being so, we are the marvel and the mystery of the world, for that enduring liberty is no less a blessing than the abundance of the earth.

          And we might remind ourselves also that if those men setting out from Delftshaven (the Pilgrims) had been daunted by the troubles they saw around them, then we would not this autumn be thankful for a fair land.

(The above is a small part of a lengthy editorial printed each thanksgiving since 1961in the Wall Street Journal.)

As we wrap up this year’s United Way Campaign, we are still awaiting the final tally.  Still, I couldn’t resist sharing with you that at least one of our departments has 100% participation.  I learned today that every university custodian has pledged a contribution to United Way.  Southern Miss generosity is alive and well throughout every employee group on our campus.  Thank you so much.