Ole Miss honors Haik family at site of new landmark
A son’s love for his mother and her great affection for the University of Mississippi and the iconic Grove were on display Tuesday, May 14, 2024, during the dedication of The Grove Plaza.
This new campus landmark is the first major signage ever identifying The Grove, the 10-acre park enjoyed by thousands each year.
Donors Sunny and Mac Haik, of Houston, Texas, were honored at a ceremony dedicating The Grove Plaza to his mother, the late Frances Haik Jordan, of Meridian and Decatur. The signage includes landscaping and a plaque that reads, “In memory of Frances Haik. She loved Ole Miss and the Grove.”
During the ceremony, Chancellor Glenn Boyce thanked the Haiks for their $1.5 million gift, a portion of which was used to build the landmark.
“Behind the gift we celebrate today is the immeasurable love of a son for his mother,” Boyce said. “We are honored to celebrate the memory of Frances Haik Jordan, whose devotion to Ole Miss is the inspiration for this entire Grove Plaza.”
The chancellor noted that although Jordan did not attend college, she had adopted Ole Miss and greatly admired the beauty of the campus.
“The Grove is the most beloved and beautiful spot on the University of Mississippi campus,” Boyce said. “On a campus filled with beautiful places, that’s really saying something. The gift of the Grove Plaza stands to make it even better.”
Mac Haik, an alumnus and former standout Rebel football player, shared how his mother – a self-made successful businesswoman – came into her relationship with Ole Miss.
“She knew nothing about football, and I mean absolutely nothing,” he said. “She attended all my high school and Ole Miss games. She loved the atmosphere and meeting the players and their families. The players called her the team mom.”
At his M-Club Hall of Fame photo session in The Grove, Haik recalled his mother saying, “You know honey, this is the most fun I have ever had in my whole life. Very softly, almost like she was dreaming … she said, “Maybe someday we can do something for Ole Miss.
“Congratulations, Mother, today is your day, and you will not be forgotten. Thank you, Ole Miss.”
Jordan served for 20 years as vice president and business development officer of Peoples Bank of Mississippi. She also worked as manager for 18 years of Roth Department Store.
She was active in her church and community and was selected as Decatur’s “Citizen of the Year” in 2009. She died in September 2012.
Haik earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1968 and completed work toward a master’s degree in marketing. He was named to the Ole Miss M-Club Hall of Fame and the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame.
His pro career began in 1970, when he was the top draft choice of the Houston Oilers. Shortly after injuries hastened his retirement from football, he established Mac Haik Enterprises.
MHE has grown from a startup entity of two people to an organization with 11 affiliated companies that employs approximately 3,250 associates, generates revenue of more than $3 billion per year and owns land, commercial office buildings, retail space, medical facilities, restaurants, hotels and 1,200 billboards.
MHE also includes Mac Haik Automotive Group – the largest independent automotive group in Texas and the 15th largest independent group in the nation. Five of the 19 dealerships are in Jackson.
At Ole Miss, the Haiks have supported athletics and academic programs. Haik’s interest in starting businesses inspired another of his commitments: a major gift that supports the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the School of Business Administration.
The gift also established two scholarships – the Sunny Sue Haik and the Francis Haik Jordan awards for entrepreneurship – honoring Haik’s wife and mother respectively and benefiting qualified freshman and sophomore business students.
By Tina H. Hahn
