One of the least celebrated buildings on the Ole Miss campus is Hume Hall, but do not let this lessen its importance.
Hume Hall was completed in 1968 as another unit of the Science Center. It houses the Dept. of Mathematics and is named for former University of Mississippi Chancellor Alfred Hume.
Ole Miss has had many outstanding Chancellors, however, Hume may be the most significant of all because of one accomplishment. He was successful in preventing Governor Theodore G. Bilbo from moving Ole Miss to Jackson. Can one imagine how different all of our lives would be today had this happened?
Alfred Hume received his PhD from Vanderbilt. He was born in 1866 and died in 1950. In 1890, he was elected Professor of Mathematics at Ole Miss. He devoted nearly 60 years of his life to Ole Miss. He was Chancellor from 1924-30 and again from 1932-35.
He was also called upon three additional times to serve as Acting Chancellor. In 1927 he organized the Graduate program into an administrative entity of its own. Hume initiated a massive building program which included Fulton Chapel, the School of Law, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, seven dorms and numerous other buildings.
A great leader, Alfred Hume definitely left his mark on our beloved campus. The next time you are in front of Hume Hall, reflect back for a minute on the outstanding individual that
the building is named in honor of. With Ole Miss presently in another transition period for a new Chancellor, let us hope that there is another Alfred Hume waiting in the wings.
Special credits to the University of Mississippi and Wikipedia for providing the background information for this article.
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
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