Retiring Ole Miss Assistant Athletic Director J. Stern was honored on Friday for his contributions to University of Mississippi Athletics spanning more than two decades. Stern came to Oxford as the sports producer for the University’s Teleproductions Resource Center in 1990. Working with various Ole Miss coaches, Stern earned numerous honors, including Telly Awards, Communicator Awards and awards from the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters. Dr. Ed Meek, former assistant vice chancellor for public relations and marketing at Ole Miss, remembers Stern as a legend of sports promotion. “He is the man who came up with the idea for the video promotions on the Jumbotron at Ole Miss football games in which celebrities led the crowds in the ‘Are You Ready’ introduction to the Hotty Toddy cheer. Shown at Stern’s retirement gathering are, left to right, sister Ginger, J. Stern and friend Chris Buttoen of Newport, Arkansas. Meek, who attend the retirement gathering for Stern, said the crowd was one of the largest he had ever seen for a retiring Ole Miss employee.
