news
The two were honored during the Mississippi Economic Council's annual meeting attended by about 2,500 business leaders from throughout the state.
Speaking to the MEC members, Reed said, "I believe it our duty to guide and to create public opinion - not to just reflect it. It is far more important for us to be right than popular."
Reed, as a former chair of the MEC, also known as the state's chamber of commerce, spoke out repeatedly during the chaotic 1960s in favor of improving race relations and supporting public education, including a controversial speech at an MEC annual meeting. It was during a time when many state leaders were advocating closing schools because of forced integration.
Reed was recognized for his past leadership during the MEC's 60th anniversary luncheon where U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran also spoke and said, "We all need to look for ways to contribute in a positive way to make things better" during the current economic woes.
Reed said he became MEC president not long after the turmoil and riots in 1962 when James Meredith became the first African-American to enroll at Ole Miss. Reed used the MEC platform to speak out against the rhetoric of many state political leaders who wanted to close public schools rather than integrate them.
Khayat said one of his goals as chancellor was to replace the national perception of Ole Miss caused by the Meredith incident with a new, progressive perception that was evident when the university hosted the first presidential debate of last year.
As the flagship university, Khayat added, "We believe we sometimes must take positions that provide leadership that may not lend itself to the private sector and to pubic leadership." He said such efforts have been done "to make our university stronger and our stronger."
Tupelo banker and past MEC chairman Aubrey Patterson said Khayat had "a profound long-term impact" on the university and the state.
Post a Comment
