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.
