Endowment Honors Lifelong Service to Education

Family, friends establish award fund in recognition of Billy Crews’ work

by Bill Dabney

The Brevard Family Foundation and friends of former University of Mississippi fundraiser Billy Crews have contributed more than $75,000 to establish the Billy Crews School of Education Imagine Fund Award.

David Brevard, a UM alumnus from Tupelo and a longtime friend of Crews, announced the creation of the endowment at the School of Education’s annual alumni awards ceremony on campus.

“The Billy Crews Imagine Award has been established to recognize your dedication to the School of Education, as well as your lifelong commitment to imagining and striving for more equitable communities in our state,” Brevard said.

The award becomes one of four Vision Awards—Imagine, Impact, Innovation and Inspire—that are awarded each spring to education majors who represent the school’s highest values and visions.

“I was stunned by the announcement of an endowment in my name and numerous gifts,” Crews said. “During my eight-year tenure working with the School of Education, I helped other donors set up endowments. I was not expecting one to be set up in my name.”

Crews said he feels confident that Dean David Rock, development leaders and faculty will use the funds to help expand opportunities for all students while enabling the School of Education to continue to make an impact on thousands of Mississippi children.

Crews retired in 2023 after serving as development officer for the school.

“I couldn’t be happier that my good friend and colleague Billy Crews has been recognized so publicly for his outstanding dedication to the improvement of our school through his work to attain ongoing private support,” Rock said. “He is a true servant leader.

“Billy has been an asset to the University of Mississippi and his legacy will continue as generations of our students benefit from the scholarships, faculty and facilities he helped to secure.”

The son of a UM faculty member, Crews grew up in Oxford. A campus leader during his college days at Ole Miss, Crews served as Associated Student Body president before graduating in 1978.

He moved to Tupelo, where he became publisher and CEO of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal and served as president of numerous key organizations in the community and region.

“The saying ‘once a leader, always a leader’ applies to Billy,” Brevard said. “His integrity, vision, empathy, courage, judgment and determination as a servant leader were consistently demonstrated. He always placed an emphasis on the needs, growth and well-being of his peers, employees and colleagues and he attempted to foster an inclusive environment and culture for everyone under his leadership.”

During his 35 years in business and as chief operating officer for Tupelo Public Schools and in his second career with Teach for America and the School of Education, Crews was an activist and proponent of public education in Mississippi.

Additionally, he served on the alumni boards for the education school and the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

To make a gift in support of the Billy Crews School of Education Imagine Fund, click here.

To make a gift to the School of Education, click here or contact Kelly Smith Marion, director of development, at ksmith13@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2007.