OXFORD, Miss. – Retired Florida attorney Jerry Center
believes the University of Mississippi spirit is
personified by its chancellor, Robert Khayat. That’s why
Center and his wife, Susan, have made a gift to the
Chancellor’s Trust in Khayat’s honor.
“Robert Khayat has been a professor, classmate and friend,”
Center said. “He was one of the best teachers I’ve ever
had. I consider him a dear friend, and I think he’s the
best chancellor Ole Miss has ever had. He’s done so much
for the university to make it a better place.”
Established in 1975, the Chancellor’s Trust fund is used to
address the university’s greatest needs and requires a
minimum gift of $25,000. Center and his family are longtime
supporters of Ole Miss, with previous gifts to the School
of Law. His mother, Mildred Hickey, a Baldwyn native,
established an Ole Miss Women’s Council scholarship in
2000.
Khayat called the Center family a true Ole Miss family.
“We are most grateful for their generous support,” Khayat
said. “Jerry was an excellent student and quite involved in
the life of the university. This gift will serve to enrich
the experience of the current generation of students.”
Center received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business
in 1964 and 1967 and a law degree in 1972, all from Ole
Miss. His first job after graduating from law school was
with the Oxford law firm Freeland and Gafford (now Freeland
and Freeland).
“My parents were able to invest in scholarship programs for
students, and Susan and I are blessed to do the same,”
Center said. “I hope that the students who receive
assistance will join the Ole Miss family and return part of
their success to future generations of students.”
The gift is part of the university’s MomentUM campaign, a
four-year initiative to raise $200 million. The campaign,
which ends in December 2008, already has raised more than
$180 million for scholarships, graduate fellowships,
faculty support, a basketball practice facility,
residential colleges and a new law school on the Oxford
campus. Also in the plan is a cancer center at the UM
Medical Center in Jackson.
For more information about the Chancellor’s Trust or for
other ways to contribute to Ole Miss, call 662-915-5955 or
800-340-9542 or visit http://www.olemiss.edu/giving/