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Delta State’s Alumni Association announces 2009 Inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame

By November 2, 2009General

As part of the Homecoming activities planned for Friday, Nov. 6, Delta State University’s Alumni Association will recognize this year’s Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees, Billy B. Nowell of Cleveland, Donald L. Green of Clarksdale, and Marvin D. Sullivan (posthumously) of Brookhaven.

 
Billy B. Nowell, of Cleveland, received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Delta State in 1972. He served from 2001-2009 as a City Alderman and currently serves as Mayor of the City of Cleveland. Billy is a lifetime member of the Delta State  Alumni Association and is Past President of the Delta State Foundation. At Delta State, Billy served as vice president of the Student Government Association, elected Mr. Delta State University, class president, president of the Kappa Alpha Order, and member of the Delta State Golf Team. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he serves as Chairman of Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, and Finance Committee. Billy is married to Becky Nowell, a 1981 Delta State graduate. They have two children, Hunter and Meg.
 
Donald Green, a Coahoma County native, received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting in 1980. His leadership experience consist of Associate Commissioner, Mississippi State Tax Commission; Mississippi Delta Council, Executive Director; Delta Accounting Services, Owner and Operator; Friendship Community Federal Credit Union, President. Awards and recognitions that he has received are Outstanding Young Man of America-1988; Leadership Clakrsdale-1988; Kent Wyatt Young Alumnus Award-1994; National Alumni Association President-1995; Delta Regional Minority Businessman of the year-2004. He is a member of the New Hope M.B. Church in Jonestown. Donald is married to the former Nelia Collins, and they have two sons, Donald Jr., and Adam. 
 
Marvin Douglas Sullivan (1937-2007), of Brookhaven, was the president of his class at Delta State during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. He began a career in education and coaching at Grenada High School, and was given his first official head coaching job at Noxapater. He coached at Eupora High School, and it was in 1970 that he and his wife Karen came to Brookhaven with their four children, Paige, Penny, Susan, and John. Doug also served in the Mississippi Army National Guard for more than 34 years and retired with the rank of Colonel. He was mayor of Brookhaven from 1993-1997. He served as the state office director for U.S. Senator Thad Cochran.