![\"wallace-and-elizabeth-hope.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/ezing.me\/transfer\/wp-content\/uploads\/stories\/wallace-and-elizabeth-hope.jpg\" "\\"wallace-and-elizabeth-hope.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n“My parents – both very intelligent – never had the opportunity to go
\nto college,” said William M. “Bill” Hope of Memphis, the couple’s son
\nand a UM alumnus. “They were not unlike others in their generation.
\nThey worked very hard from a young age, but they were fortunate to do
\nextremely well. Being caring people, they planned this gift to provide
\neducational opportunities for others.”\n<\/p>\n
\nWallace Hope died in
\n2005 at age 86. Elizabeth Hope, who lives in Fairfield Bay, Ark.,
\nrecently formalized the couple’s plans for a charitable trust to fund
\nscholarships at their only child’s alma mater.\n<\/p>\n
\nTwo-thirds of the trust has created the Wallace E. and Elizabeth G.
\nHope Scholarship Endowment, providing financial support to Ole Miss
\nstudents in the School of Education and the School of Nursing program
\non the Oxford campus. The other third is designated for the James W.
\n“Jimmy” Davis Scholarship Fund in the Patterson School of Accountancy.\n<\/p>\n
\n“We commend the Hope family for recognizing the need for expanded
\neducational opportunities, particularly in the South,” said Tom
\nBurnham, dean of education. “The School of Education interacts with
\nmany university students with financial struggles who desire to become
\nquality teachers. The Hope Scholarship Endowment will allow our
\nstudents to continue their pursuits in the education profession, making
\nan immeasurable impact on the lives of children. For this, we are
\ngrateful.”\n<\/p>\n
\nBill Hope said his parents chose to assist the School of
\nEducation because the gift would help prepare future educators, who
\nthen could go out and impact many lives. They selected the nursing
\nprogram because of the constant shortage of nurses. In addition, Hope
\ndescribed his mother as being “very bright” and said she would have
\npursued a career in the medical field if she had had the opportunity to
\ngo to college.\n<\/p>\n
\nHope was invited by his parents to direct the other third of the gift,
\nand he decided to honor professor and friend James W. “Jimmy” Davis,
\nholder of the Eugene Peery Chair of Accountancy.\n<\/p>\n
\n“Jimmy Davis taught me auditing,” said Hope, the former managing
\npartner of the Rhea & Ivy accounting firm, which merged in 2008
\nwith Dixon Hughes. “He had a huge influence on me and my decision to
\nstay in public accounting. I want to recognize and thank him.”\n<\/p>\n
\nDavis remembers Hope among the first class of students he taught at Ole Miss.\n<\/p>\n
\n“It was a stellar group, equal to any we have ever had,” Davis said.
\n“Bill was confident and the image of success we knew he would achieve. He did just that: rose to the top position in a firm, always supported
\nOle Miss, hired more than his share of our graduates, and maintained
\npersonal and professional friendships over 45 years. I am proud to call
\nhim my friend, and I am honored – and humbled – that this gift will
\nenhance the scholarships that bear my name.”\n<\/p>\n
\nHope said that his father also played an integral role in his professional success.\n<\/p>\n
\n“When I graduated from Ole Miss with two degrees, my dad told
\nme, ‘What you’ve got to understand is, all you have is an opportunity –
\nit is a great one – but the game is just starting,'” he said. “I took
\nhim seriously and made something of my opportunity. I hope the
\nscholarships provided by my parents will encourage recipients to be the
\nbest they can be.”\n<\/p>\n
\nWallace Hope spent his career with Amoco – which had grown to be
\nthe largest natural gas producer in North America by the end of the
\n20th century – and served in various management positions throughout
\nthe Southern and Midwestern regions of the country. The family lived a
\nnumber of years in McComb but moved often with Amoco. The Hopes were
\nresiding in Macon, Ga., when their son graduated from high school and
\nheaded to Ole Miss, a trip he likened to “going home.”\n<\/p>\n
\nBill Hope earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in accountancy. He
\nserves on the Patterson School’s Advisory Council. He and his wife,
\nClara Dean, an Ole Miss alumna, are the parents of a son, Spence, who
\nwith his wife, Kristin, pursue careers with an investment banking firm.\n<\/p>\n
\nFor more information about contributing to scholarship programs and other initiatives at the University of Mississippi, go to http:\/\/www.umfoundation.com\/