Boxes extend support of education with gift annuity

Larry and Florence Box have devoted the majority of their lives to the success of public education in Mississippi. The longtime Starkville residents, married since 1965, credit Mississippi State University for giving them a great foundation for their careers.

Starkville became Larry's permanent home when his father accepted a full-time teaching position in the MSU College of Education. It is from the College of Education that Larry earned three degrees-a 1966 Bachelor of Science, a 1968 Master of Education, and a 1985 Doctor of Education. In 2014, he was honored as the college's Alumni Fellow, and he has served on the college's advisory board.

Now retired, Larry served as the Starkville School District's Superintendent of Schools from 1991-2002. His professional experience also included roles as assistant superintendent for the Starkville School District, principal of Henderson Junior High School, and principal of Sudduth Elementary School.

Florence Oakley Box is a retired longtime librarian for the Starkville School District. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Mississippi University for Women in 1966 and a Master of Education in Library Science from MSU in 1975. She and Larry are the proud parents of one son, Warren, who works as a global learning and development manager with a law firm in California.

Over time, the couple has supported the Mitchell Memorial Library, the Starkville-MSU Symphony, and scholarships. The Larry and Florence Box Endowed Scholarship in the College of Education and the F. Warren and Mary Cowsert Oakley Endowed Scholarship in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences benefit undergraduate students. The latter honors Florence's parents.

A third scholarship, the Barry F. and Mary H. Box Endowed Scholarship, memorializes Larry's parents. Additionally, the Boxes have created a supplemental gift annuity whose proceeds will further support the three endowments that manifest the couple's loyalty, pride and passion for Mississippi State University.