University Communications

Chuck Scianna, a prominent Southern Miss alumnus and successful oil industry entrepreneur, passed away on January 14, 2025, at his home in Houston, Texas. Scianna, 71, left a lasting legacy at his alma mater, The University of Southern Mississippi, where his philanthropic efforts reshaped the campus and impacted the community.
Born on June 22, 1953, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Scianna was the eldest of nine children. After graduating from Bay High School, he answered the call to serve in the Vietnam War, enlisting in the 4th Marine Division of the U.S. Marine Corps.
After returning from military service, Scianna enrolled in USM, where he earned a degree in business administration in 1975. He credited his education at Southern Miss for helping launch his successful career in the oil and gas industry.
While working at A&P Food Store in Bay St. Louis during college, Scianna met his future wife, Rita. The two married shortly after his graduation and moved to Houston, where Scianna went into the oil industry. In 1986, he founded Sim-Tex LP, a company specializing in oil country tubular goods, which grew into a global supplier under his leadership. Between 1986 and 2025, the company grew from supplying platforms across the Southeast to be worth $1.24 billion and being able to send supplies to oil drillers all over the world.
USM President Dr. Joe Paul expressed his sorrow at Scianna’s passing.
“As a University, we mourn the loss of our friend—Chuck—a decorated combat veteran, a businessman of international renown, and a loyal supporter and mentor to many of our faculty, staff, and students," said Paul. “His loyalty to the people and causes he and Rita believed in was unmatched. He will be deeply treasured and dearly missed.”
Scianna’s support for Southern Miss was significant, with his financial contributions and personal involvement leaving a deep imprint on the university community. In 2013, he made a $6 million donation to the USM School of Business, funding the construction of the 93,000-square-foot Scianna Hall, which opened in 2015. His philanthropy extended to William Carey University, where a building on the Tradition campus was named in his honor in 2018.
Jeremy McClain, Southern Miss Athletics Director, emphasized Scianna’s impact on USM’s athletic programs.
“Chuck was an incredible family man, an amazing friend, and an unbelievably loyal Golden Eagle,” McClain said. “He and Rita have given back and invested in a way that has tremendously impacted Southern Miss Athletics and the future of our University for many years to come. He will be greatly missed by the many, many people whose lives he touched.”
Scianna’s influence extended beyond financial contributions. He served on the University of Southern Mississippi’s Board of Directors and the Southern Miss Athletic Foundation Board. He was a key figure in the university’s largest-ever fundraising campaign, helping to raise $156 million. In 2022, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Southern Miss, a recognition of his remarkable contributions.
Jerry DeFatta, executive director for the Southern Miss Alumni Association, shared thoughts on Scianna’s investment in the university community.
“The impact Chuck and Rita Scianna have had on Southern Miss is beyond measure,” DeFatta said. “Their generous financial contributions have reshaped our campus, but Chuck’s greatest legacy lies in his unwavering personal investment in our students, faculty, and staff. He embodied the Southern Miss spirit of an engaged and devoted alumnus, setting an extraordinary example for us all.”
Scianna is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rita; daughters Ashley Sciba and Stephanie Latham; granddaughters Claire, Keeleigh, Caroline, and Grace; and seven siblings. He is remembered fondly by a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.