Maj. Gen. James H. Lipscomb III

A 1965 Mississippi State graduate and former Greenwood businessman is the university's 2001 Army ROTC alumnus of the year.

Maj. Gen. James H. Lipscomb III of Jackson, adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard, will be recognized in Nov. 3 ceremonies on campus.

A Hattiesburg native, Lipscomb was appointed last year by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove to head both the Army and Air National Guard components of state government. He commands more than 13,000 citizen soldiers and airmen charged with both state and federal missions, including homeland security duties recently announced by President George W. Bush.

Presented annually by the College of Arts and Sciences, the alumni designation recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the nation's armed services. Both Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps programs at MSU are departments in the college.

As a civilian prior to his selection by Musgrove, Lipscomb was president of Greenville-based Lipscomb Oil Co. Inc. and Lipscomb Transports. His military career began in 1961 when, as a high school senior in Greenwood, he enlisted in the lst Battalion, 114th Field Artillery. After graduating from the Mississippi Army National Guard Military Academy, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1964.

Among Lipscomb's many military awards and decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Mississippi Magnolia Cross, Mississippi Magnolia Medal, and Mississippi Emergency Service Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.

He is a life member and past president of the National Guard Association of Mississippi, as well as a life member of the National Guard Association of the United States.

The private business that Lipscomb founded in Washington County was recognized for 15 consecutive years by Exxon Co. USA as one of its top 35 United States distributors.