Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward MageeNews.com a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
Danny Rutland’s endless devotion to his alma mater, strong Christian faith, and remarkable service during his career made him a superb choice to receive one of Mississippi College’s top honors.
A 1975 MC graduate, the Jackson native is co-recipient of the university’s Order of the Golden Arrow Award. The award goes to alumni or friends of the institution showing outstanding personal or professional achievements and extraordinary leadership.
Mississippi College’s former vice president for advancement for more than a dozen years, Rutland was an excellent fund-raiser for the Baptist-affiliated school. He left to achieve success as vice president/chief development officer at Mississippi Baptist Health Systems, Inc. before recently retiring.
Longtime friends like MC Athletics Director Mike Jones are elated to learn of Rutland’s selection by the National Alumni Association.
“Danny has done so much and been such a big part of MC for many years,” Jones said. “We are excited about him being a recipient of the Order of the Golden Arrow. He loves Mississippi College and MC loves him,” adds his former classmate.
As the Christian university celebrates its 190th anniversary, Rutland and other major award-winners will be honored at MC’s 2016 Homecoming Dinner on the Clinton campus October 14. Danny and distinguished businessman Joe Robison are both Order of the Golden Arrow winners this fall.
Looking back at his days as an MC Choctaw, Rutland credits former Whitten Junior High art instructor Kenneth Quinn with influencing the teen to enroll.
It all began when Danny was a 7th grader at Jackson’s Whitten Junior High in 1966. “He kept telling me I was going to MC. He even brought me out here to Clinton to paint with him and professor Sam Gore.”
An MC graduate and retired art professor at the university, Quinn and Rutland built a close friendship spanning five decades.
“Danny was like a son to me,” says Quinn, who continues to maintain an office at the Mississippi College Art Department “He’s been exemplary. He’s a hard worker who deserves this award.”
While Rutland says he’s retired and will do consulting work in the area, Quinn doesn’t believe his friend’s retirement talk will last. “Danny will never retire. He’s too much of an energetic person.”
Rutland’s energetic side served him well at Jackson’s old Central High School and into his MC undergraduate days in the 1970s. The MC grad shows a lengthy track record of service stretching from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson to Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in California. Rutland achieved big things during his first stint as an administrator at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center from 1989 through 1995 before reconnecting with the MC family.
Among his top accomplishments at MC, Rutland lists the “Growing the Vision” campaign which began with a $65 million goal. The campaign raised $50 million before he departed. The drive ended up with more than $87.4 million collected for scholarships, facilities, academic needs and the university endowment. Rutland was a leader with the university’s $80 million “New Dawn” campaign that wrapped up in 2001 after raising more than $100 million.
Rutland’s community service is extensive, too. He served several terms with the Association of Fund Raising Professionals, worked with the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, and was on the Hillcrest Christian School board. He served 11 churches as a pastor, and has been active with First Baptist Church Jackson as a deacon. The list goes on.
Away from his career duties, Danny and his old friend, the late MC legend Doc Quick, were frequent fans at Mississippi high school football games on Friday nights. These days, Danny cheers for the Blue & Gold during football games at Robinson-Hale Stadium. He should return for basketball season at the A.E. Wood Coliseum.
Danny cherishes his family. Married to the former Melesia Williams, they have two daughters, Mandy Horton and Meredith Wiegartner. The Rutlands are proud of their two grandchildren, Hunter and Baliegh.
While Rutland left his administrative duties at Nelson Hall nearly a decade ago, his love affair with Mississippi College remains strong. “No matter where I report to work, a part of my heart remains at MC.”
For more information on MC’s 2016 Homecoming, contact Lori Bobo of MC’s Alumni Affairs Office at 601-925-3252 or lbobo@mc.edu
Photo: 1975 graduate Danny Rutland
