Barksdales have history of giving

Chris Thompson
DM Editor

James and Sally Barksdale could be the biggest givers in Mississippi's history.

An anonymous source said Tuesday that they're the ones giving a record $100 million donation to Ole Miss. University administrators are planning to announce the gift in Jackson on Thursday.

The $100 million donation, which will fund an education institute on the university's main campus, is almost 20 times larger than the $5.4 million gift the couple donated in 1996 to establish the McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College.

"My dream is for the University of Mississippi to offer the richest educational experience available," James Barksdale told university officials when he and his wife announced their gift in 1996. "I hope its graduates will be a positive force that will impact Mississippi's educational, economic and cultural life as they invest, create and produce in the context of their native state."

Both of the Barksdales are Mississippi natives and Ole Miss alumni.

James Barksdale has worked in high-level management positions for Federal Express Corporation, AT&T Wireless Services and Netscape Communications. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors for America Online and several other Internet and computer technology companies.

In 1996, he was inducted to the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame, and in 1997, he participated as a panelist for an episode of "Firing Line" that was filmed at Ole Miss.