HATTIESBURG, Miss – After 17 years of service to The
University of Southern Mississippi and Southern Miss Athletics, Eagle Club
Executive Director Richard "Dick" Vogel has announced his plan to retire.
"As I retire from Southern Miss, I want everyone to know
that my love for Southern Miss is undiminished and in a sense I am only
changing from employee to dedicated fan," said Vogel, a 1983 master's graduate
of the University. "Additionally, I want to tell all our Golden Eagle fans
that the past two years in working for (Director of Athletics) Jeff Hammond
have been the happiest, most rewarding of my life. Jeff set the standard
for leadership, not only in the athletic department, but also in all the other
fields in which I have worked in a professional career that spans over 40
years."
Vogel returned to Southern Miss in 1996 as a Field
Representative for the Eagle Club, a position he held for three years, after a
long, distinguished career in the United States Army which included stints of
service during Operation Desert Storm. The former Southern Miss ROTC professor
was promoted to Associate Director in 1999 before becoming the Executive
Director of the Eagle Club a year later.
Under his leadership, the Eagle Club has seen more than $1
million in growth with the funds providing scholarships for more than 350
Golden Eagle student-athletes. Vogel will retire from Southern Miss effective
June 30 and begin a new challenge at nearby William Carey University.
"As much as I love working with our fans, the opportunity
offered to me by Dr. Tommy King and Dr. Scott Hummel at William Carey
University is unique," Vogel noted. "I will continue to work in athletics,
but it also offers me the opportunity to be on the forefront of a vision that
supports not only their College of Osteopathic Medicine, but that of continued
University growth, academically and athletically, in the near term.
"Though I look forward to new and exciting challenges at
William Carey University, I will be nearby and will help Southern Miss in any
way I can. Remember, I am in a family in which we all have degrees from
Southern Miss, I can do no less."
Vogel and his wife, Debbie, are Southern Miss graduates and
their daughters, Tara and Jackie, also received degrees from the University.
Southern Miss will host a retirement reception for Vogel from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30
p.m. in the South Endzone on Friday, June 22 to honor his tremendous
contributions to the University.
