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| Danny (back row, third from left) and Deborah Barfield (seated, middle) have made a $1 million gift of a life insurance policy to Delta State University Foundation. Their gift is given in honor of their parents Myrl Barfield (seated, left), Reno (back row, far right) and Lillian Borgognoni (seated, right) and in memory of Knox Barfield who died in 1989. The Barfields will make annual premium payments to the Foundation who they have named as owner and beneficiary of the policy. The Barfields recently met with Dr. John Hilpert (back row, second from left), president of Delta State, and Dr. Kent Wyatt (back row, left), president emeritus, to announce their gift.<\/TD><\/TR><\/TABLE> <\/P><\/TD><\/TR><\/TABLE>There is always that common thread, that unifying force that will align every past, present and soon-to-be student at Delta State University \u2013 their hopes and dreams. Every student enters Delta State University with high hopes and grand dreams of success, just as Danny and Deborah Barfield did over 30 years ago. <\/P> This week, inside the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni House on the Delta State campus, the Barfields made one of those dreams come true, as the couple donated a $1 million life insurance policy to their alma mater. Both Danny and Deborah, a former Borgognoni of Clarksdale, had always hoped to be able to give back to Delta State University at a level that signified the important role the institution played in shaping their lives. \u201cIt is hard to imagine Cleveland without Delta State,\u201d he continued. \u201cOur gift, therefore, is a small investment to provide the same benefits for future generations that have been afforded to us.\u201d<\/P> A 1972 graduate of <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN>, Danny is the Senior Partner in the accounting, financial services and asset management firm of Barfield, Lindsey, Salley & Bailey, PLLC. Founded in the 1940\u2019s, the firm has been offering accounting services for over six decades and began offering financial services and asset management assistance in 1996 in both Cleveland and <\/SPAN>Oxford<\/SPAN>. Barfield is one of the founders and the majority stockholder in Boyle Lumber Company located in <\/SPAN>Cleveland<\/SPAN> and <\/SPAN>Greenwood<\/SPAN>.<\/SPAN><\/P> He and his wife, Deborah met while at <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN>, and are not the only members in their families to attend the University. Deborah\u2019s siblings, Brenda B. Robinson of <\/SPAN>Clarksdale<\/SPAN>; Cindy B. Cocilova of Cleveland; Reno Mark Borgognoni of Atlanta; and Jerry Borgognoni of Cleveland; also attended DSU, while Danny\u2019s siblings, Wayne Barfield of Gainsville, Fla.; and Carolyn B. Wilburn of <\/SPAN>Flora<\/SPAN>, also attended the University. <\/SPAN><\/P> \u201cOur two sons and our daughter attended <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN>, too,\u201d Barfield reported proudly. \u201cIn addition, Deborah and I have had so many nieces and nephews on both sides of our family attend <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN> that we have literally lost count.\u201d<\/SPAN><\/P> But it was their parents, Myrl Barfield, of <\/SPAN>Bruce<\/SPAN>, and the late Knox Barfield, and <\/SPAN>Reno<\/SPAN> and Lillian Borgognoni of <\/SPAN>Clarksdale<\/SPAN> that truly inspired the gift. \u201cThis gift is made to <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>University<\/SPAN> in honor of our parents in recognition of the sacrifices they have made to our well-being and the well-being of our children and grandchildren,\u201d Barfield praised. \u201cMy father passed away <\/SPAN>December 26, 1989<\/SPAN>. He was not an educated man but he understood the value of an education better than any man I ever met.\u201d<\/SPAN><\/P> \u201cIt is an absolute joy to have the Delta State Foundation as a vehicle to transfer this appreciation for their efforts forward to future generations. We make this gift with the greatest confidence that the future of <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>University<\/SPAN> and the Delta State Foundation is in very capable hands,\u201d he continued. <\/SPAN><\/P> Of the Barfield\u2019s contribution, Delta State President, Dr. John M. Hilpert, lauded, \u201cI commend and thank Deborah and Danny on their decision to make a gift of that magnitude to <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN>. Their family\u2019s legacy with the University is evident in the many degrees they have earned from <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN> and their gift is a testimonial to the type of relationship that we aspire to have with all of our alumni.\u201d<\/SPAN><\/P> Executive Director of the Delta State University Foundation, <\/SPAN>Keith Fulcher<\/SPAN>, noted, \u201cThe Barfield\u2019s philanthropic act is one of the most outstanding that I have been a part of at the Delta State University Foundation. It sets an example of giving that I invite other alumni and friends to emulate. <\/SPAN><\/P> \u201cMany of our alumni and friends would like to make a significant gift to <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN> and <\/SPAN>life insurance is an often overlooked and underestimated asset to donate. Sizable gifts, like the Barfield\u2019s $1 million gift, can be made at a relatively low cost through a new life insurance policy with Delta State University Foundation named as both the beneficiary and owner of the policy,\u201d Fulcher continued. \u201c<\/SPAN>The Foundation encourages gifts of life insurance policies and other types of planned gifts that will one day benefit the students of <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN> and provide for the future of the University.\u201d<\/SPAN><\/P> Current Foundation President, James A. \u201cJimmy\u201d Newquist, added his appreciation offering, \u201cThe Delta State Foundation is proud to partner with Delta State and work together with great people like the Barfields who want to honor and preserve what Delta State has meant to so many. Budgets and funding in today\u2019s time make it more important than ever that people like Danny and Deborah are willing to be so generous and the Foundation is very grateful for their support.\u201d <\/P> Dually, Ned Mitchell, chair of the Foundation\u2019s Campaign committee and a DSU alumnus, himself, praised, \u201cThe gift to Delta State by Danny and Deborah is a grand example for other alumni. This is a wonderful and heartfelt contribution by the Barfields. On behalf of the DSU Foundation, I want them to know how much we appreciate them.\u201d<\/P> It was Mitchell, though, combined with the efforts of Delta State University President Emeritus, Dr. Kent Wyatt that worked in prompting the Barfields to action. <\/P> \u201cWe have been inspired, especially by the unselfish efforts of my friends, Ned Mitchell and Dr. Kent Wyatt. Their efforts, on behalf of Delta State University, have not gone unnoticed,\u201d Barfield said. <\/P> Wyatt reciprocated, offering, \u201cIt is rewarding that former students\u2019 love for the University is expressed in such a fabulous way. The Barfield and Borgognoni families have a long legacy of attending Delta State and their gift is an acknowledgement of their commitment to providing resources for the next generations of Delta State students.\u201d<\/P> Gifts to <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN> to cover premiums are deductible for those who itemize and can be in the form of capital gain property for a second tax savings. For more information on the advantages of making a gift of life insurance to <\/SPAN>Delta<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>State<\/SPAN> <\/SPAN>University<\/SPAN>, please contact the University Foundation at (662) 846.4708 or e-mail gmiller@deltastate.edu<\/A>. <\/SPAN><\/P> <\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Danny (back row, third from left) and Deborah Barfield (seated, middle) have made a $1 million gift of a life insurance policy to Delta State University Foundation. 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