WCU President Dr. Tommy King cuts the ribbon during dedication ceremonies for Sanderson Hall, Tradition campus.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant joined William Carey University Oct. 19 as the Tradition campus honored Joe Frank Sanderson Jr. and his wife, Kathy, during the dedication of Sanderson Hall – new home of the WCU School of Pharmacy.
The Sandersons made a generous gift to William Carey University in December 2014 to support construction of the pharmacy school. Joe F. Sanderson Jr. is chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Sanderson Farms. Headquartered in Laurel, Sanderson Farms is the third-largest poultry producer in the United States – employing more than 15,000 people in operations spanning five states.
WCU President Dr. Tommy King welcomed guests gathered for the ceremony.
“Thank you for taking time to help us celebrate this important milestone. Kathy and Joe Frank Sanderson Jr. were among our earliest supporters. Their names are associated with just about everything good that’s happening in the state of Mississippi,” King said.
“We are especially honored to have our governor here with us today. He has been supportive in every way possible throughout the development of this pharmacy school.”
Building the futureGov. Bryant said Mississippi is moving to a new level.
“Thank you to Joe Sanderson Jr. and his wife, Kathy, for their donation to the William Carey University School of Pharmacy. The naming of this building for the Sandersons is very appropriate,” Bryant said. “The 57 pharmacy students already enrolled will have good jobs right here in Mississippi soon and add to our medical ranks in the state. Mississippi is moving to a new level – and Joe Sanderson Jr. and Kathy have helped us do that.”
The WCU School of Pharmacy welcomed its inaugural class in July. It is part of a larger plan for Tradition Medical City, under development by businessman and philanthropist Joe Canizaro.
William Carey University was the first resident of Tradition, establishing administrative and academic buildings after Hurricane Katrina destroyed its former campus on the coast. WCU’s first expansion came last month, with the opening of Scianna Hall. The opening of Sanderson Hall marks a second expansion of the WCU campus.
Opening Sanderson HallJoe Frank Sanderson Jr. said seeing the new pharmacy building was a humbling experience.
“We had no idea that this was going to happen. We made our gift and there was never any naming mentioned when we talked with Dr. King. But it’s important to share, to give back, particularly to an institution that is a good steward and uses it well,” Sanderson said.
“This is a beautiful building and I know the students who go to this school will serve this state very well. Thank you all for being here, thank you Tommy, we appreciate it very much.”
Sanderson added that his gift follows a family tradition. The Sanderson family endowed a nursing scholarship at William Carey after the death of his grandfather in 1983.
Many public, private and corporate donors also made generous contributions to help establish the WCU School of Pharmacy – including a grant announced by Gov. Bryant in September 2017 from the U.S. Department of the Treasury for accreditation support. The award is part of the RESTORE program, established after the BP oil spill and overseen by the Department of Environmental Quality.
About Sanderson Hall:
- Designed by Eley Guild Architects, Biloxi
- Three stories, 33,000 square feet
- Seven classrooms (two lecture halls, five labs)
- Five study and/or conference rooms
- 34 offices and 20 work rooms, storage areas, study areas and break rooms
- General contractor, Mac’s Construction of Hattiesburg
