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William Carey University has inducted four new members into its Alumni Hall of Fame – a banker, a nurse, an educator, and a coach. The honors came April 4 during Homecoming at WCU’s Hattiesburg campus.
“Carey alumni are making a difference in Mississippi and around the world. This year’s inductees are volunteering in their community, shaping lives, and making a lasting impact for the Kingdom of God,” said Pam Shearer, WCU’s director of alumni engagement.
The newest members of the WCU Alumni Hall of Fame are:
David Bush
Class of 1978
David Bush graduated from William Carey with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1978. After that, he pursued graduate degrees at the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University in 1986 and the Mississippi School of Banking at the University of Mississippi in 1982.
He began his career as a banking executive trainee and, 40 years later, retired as a bank executive vice president. He was the primary banker for the medical community in Hattiesburg both commercially and for individual physicians for 24 years. He was also instrumental in establishing the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
As an alum, Bush received WCU’s Shoe Leather Award. He has delivered a commencement address and served as president of the Alumni Council. As a student, he played baseball at Carey and was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
Bush and his wife, Susan, also a Carey alum, remain connected to their alma mater through support of the Winters School of Music, baseball program, and other Carey activities. They also support a number of charitable and civic organizations in Hattiesburg.
Jacqueline Clavo-Hall
Class of 1982
Jacqueline Clavo-Hall earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at William Carey in 1982.
During her time at William Carey, Clavo-Hall active in the Carey Student Nurses Association and served as senior class president. She also received the Outstanding Achievement in Nursing award.
She went on to attend four other universities – earning a law degree and advanced degrees in nurse anesthesia, health informatics, nursing science and health care leadership.
Clavo-Hall makes her home in Benicia, Calif. Her professional career spans 37 years as a practicing certified registered nurse anesthetist and six years as assistant director of Touro University California School of Nursing. She has also dedicated her talents to missionary work in the Philippines, Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. She recently completed her second service tour aboard the Global Mercy Ship.
As an alumna, she was proud to leave a lasting legacy on campus through the Dr. Jacqueline A. Clavo-Hall Nursing Lab in the WCU School of Health Sciences.
Tracy Cook
Class of 2017, 2020
Tracy Cook earned a specialist degree in education from William Carey in 2017 – and followed it up with a WCU doctor of education degree in 2020. A native of Fayette, he had previously received three degrees from Alcon State University – a bachelor’s in agricultural economics, and master’s degrees in agronomy and educational administration/supervision.
Cook is now president of Alcorn State University, where he previously held various administrative positions, including interim president, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, and chief of staff.
Before joining Alcorn, Cook worked in the Jefferson County and Claiborne County school districts as superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, athletic director, and teacher.
In addition, he served on WCU’s Program of Research & Evaluation for Public Schools Advisory Committee and other professional and educational groups – including Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s board of trustees. He also co-founded the Southwest Mississippi Educator Conference.
In 2015, Cook was inducted into the Alcorn Sports Hall of Fame. In 2023, he received the Southwestern Athletic Conference Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is married to the former Dr. Crystal Smith and they have two children, Kennedy and Casey.
Bobby Halford
Class of 1975
Bobby Halford earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from William Carey in 1975 and completed his master’s degree in education in 1977. A native of Meridian, Halford was a member of a state championship baseball team at Meridian High School before arriving on Carey’s campus to play baseball and basketball for legendary coaches John O’Keefe and John Stephenson.
Since 1976, he has held various positions on Carey’s coaching staff, including assistant baseball coach, head coach for women’s basketball, and athletic director – and he has led his teams to many championships. He is currently in his 40th season as head baseball coach and also teaches in the WCU School of Education.
Halford has been selected coach of the year several times, won conference championships, and led his teams to berths in the NAIA World Series. He picked up his 1,300th win in 2023, becoming the “Winningest Baseball Coach in Mississippi.”
He was inducted into the Carey Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and is the first Carey coach to be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame.
During his tenure, more than 50 of his players have gone on to play professional baseball.
Halford has been married to the former Kathy Pittman for 47 years, and they have four daughters (Kelly, Brittany, Leslie, and Lori) and seven grandchildren.
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