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 The
Honorable John Palmer, current U.S. ambassador to Portugal, will
be the keynote speaker at the 2004 Commencement ceremonies of Millsaps
College on Saturday, May 8, at 10 a.m. in the Bowl on the College
campus.
A pioneering business executive in
answering and paging services, radiotelephone and wireless technologies,
Palmer was appointed ambassador to Portugal by President George
W. Bush in 2001. Palmer was chairman and president of Mobile Communications
Corp. of America from 1973–89; founder and chairman of SkyTel
from 1989 until its sale to MCI WorldCom in 1999 and chairman of
GulfSouth Capital Inc. from 1999–2001.
Dr. Frances Lucas, president of Millsaps
College, said, “His experience in business and as U.S. ambassador
to Portugal will provide a wonderful perspective for our students
who are preparing to embark upon careers and graduate study throughout
the world.”
In 1994, Palmer established the Jonathan
M. Sweat Music Endowment at Millsaps College. He served on the Millsaps
College Board of Trustees from 1993–2001 and has since served
as an honorary trustee. He was named the Else School of Management
Business Leader of the Year in 1993. The Sweat Music Endowment also
supports the Bell Concert Series, which brings outstanding national
and international musicians to the Millsaps College campus. The
series was named after Palmer’s grandmother, Estelle Bell.
Born in Corinth, Miss., Palmer received
a bachelor’s degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Mississippi.
He is a former member of the boards of directors of Deposit Guaranty
Corp. (Jackson) and Entergy Corp. (New Orleans). He is a past director
of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Association, a past chairman of
the national trustees of the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington,
D.C.) and a past trustee of the University of Mississippi Foundation.
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