Southern Miss Alumni Association Celebrates Distinguished Alumni for 2026
Tue, 10/20/2026 - 10:19am | By: Samantha McCain Alexander, APR
Seven will be honored at Homecoming for achievement and service.
The Southern Miss Alumni Association will recognize seven distinguished alumni with its highest annual awards as part
of The University of Southern Mississippi's Homecoming 2026 festivities throughout
October 23 and 24, 2026.
Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 are Jeff C. Bowman ’93 of Hattiesburg, Miss.; Shea
Kidd Brown ’02 of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Louis V. Ehrlich, II ’81 of Austin, Texas;
J. Todd Gregory ’81 of Covington, La.; Nelson Haskin Jr. ’13 of Hattiesburg, Miss.;
Missy Warren McGee ’90, ’93 of Hattiesburg, Miss.; and Russell Willis ’89 of Hattiesburg,
Miss.
“The tradition of the Hall of Fame ceremony is deeply rooted in recognizing those
who have advanced Southern Miss through their professions and community involvement,”
said Tucker Sappington, executive director of the Association. "This year’s inductees
are an incredible group of individuals who embody Southern Miss grit and who have
truly left their alma mater better than they found it."
2026 Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees
Jeff C. Bowman ’93 is president and CEO of Cooperative Energy, a Hattiesburg-based electric cooperative
serving more than 1 million Mississippians. A Southern Miss accounting graduate, he
previously practiced law and served as a captain in the U.S. Army. Bowman serves in
leadership roles across the energy industry and has chaired the Area Development Partnership
and Mississippi Economic Council.
Dr. Shea Kidd Brown ’02 is vice president for campus life at Wake Forest University, where she leads initiatives
focused on belonging, well-being and student success. A Hattiesburg native, she earned
her undergraduate degree in speech communication from Southern Miss and holds advanced
degrees from the University of Georgia and the University of Memphis. Kidd Brown serves
on the USM Foundation Board and has held leadership roles in national higher education
organizations.
Louis V. “Louie” Ehrlich II ’81 is an entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist who spent 35 years with Chevron Corporation,
ultimately serving as chief information officer and president of its information technology
company. A Southern Miss computer science and statistics graduate, he led global technology
operations and a transformation that generated more than $1 billion in savings. Ehrlich
is a former president of the USM Foundation Board and supports University leadership
development and STEM education through philanthropy with his wife, Terry.
J. Todd Gregory ’81 is the retired senior vice president of Cintas Corporation, where he spent 40 years
in executive leadership roles across the United States and Western Canada. A Southern
Miss business administration graduate, he has served on the USM Foundation Board and
the University’s Business Advisory Council. Named Co-Alumnus of the Year by the College
of Business in 2016, Gregory is active in community service and leadership development.
Nelson Haskin Jr. ’13 is an entrepreneur, military veteran and community leader who has helped shape Hattiesburg’s
culinary scene and downtown revitalization. After serving 20 years in the Mississippi
Army National Guard, he retired in 2020 and was named the City of Hattiesburg’s Veteran
of the Year in 2022. A Southern Miss graduate in interdisciplinary studies, Haskin
and his wife, Felicia, operate a growing restaurant portfolio.
Missy Warren McGee ’90, ’93 has represented Mississippi House District 102 since 2017. A Southern Miss graduate
with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech communication, she also served as a
University instructor and worked as a legislative assistant. McGee is a former president
of the Southern Miss Alumni Association Board and has contributed to numerous civic
and nonprofit organizations. Her honors include the Alumni Association’s Outstanding
Service Award and the Hattiesburg High School Hall of Fame.
Russell H. Willis ’89 is associate provost for Student Success and an assistant teaching professor at Southern
Miss. A 1989 political science graduate, he earned a law degree from the University
of Florida. Willis previously served as vice president for Administrative Affairs
and director of Human Resources at Southern Miss. He also directs the Eagle Scholars
Program, which provides leadership and career development for business students.
The Alumni Association will host a ceremony for the honorees on Friday, Oct. 23. They
will also be honored at halftime during the football game against University of Louisiana-Lafayette
on Saturday, Oct. 24.
About the Southern Miss Alumni Association
The Southern Miss Alumni Association serves as a driving force in the effort to advance The University of Southern Mississippi
by providing alumni with a deeper connection to Southern Miss. For more information
on the Alumni Association, including membership options, visit the website.