Former Thad Cochran Center director Barbara Ross didn’t know what to expect after receiving a mysterious email with instructions for her to retrieve a duct taped wrapped box underneath the steps of Cook Library.
As she left her office to get this box, the rain trickled down, causing her to postpone her quest. To her relief, someone found the box with her name on it and brought it to her. Upon retrieving this secretive container, she learned that she had been given a necklace from the Gold Leaf Society, a secret group of individuals who are committed to the betterment of the University. She had been appointed on the 100th celebration of their founders’ day in 1910.
“I thought, ‘okay, we need to have a dedication,’” said Ross. “I just did everything I could do to build it up, and I think what these individuals did in 2007 and 2010 we were going to celebrate our continual university.”
The Gold Leaf Society first made its mark on a rock in the Fall of 2005 at the University of Southern Mississippi and is still supporting the Golden Eagle to this day. There are seven stars representing the Gold Leaf emblem which dates 1877 which was on this peculiar rock that was set on the lawn of the Danforth Chapel. The second floor of the Thad Cochran Center also holds the Gold Leaf room.
The most ironic discovery Ross made was proposing the idea to name this specific room number 227 as a dedication to the Gold Leaf room because there were also approximately 227 students who attended the Mississippi Normal College, the original name of USM, at the time.
Not only is the Gold Leaf Society highly supported, but the members of this organization also assist in student scholarship opportunities. One of these opportunities is the Barbara Ross Gold Leaf Scholarship, named after Barbara Ross as a dedication for her hard work contributing to the Gold Leaf. This year’s recipient for the upcoming 2025-2026 year is Olivia Leggett, who was chosen for the award by her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister.
“It serves as a reminder that I now too have someone else to honor and represent when I do things on my campus and in my community,” Leggett said. “I think that when you connect a name to a scholarship, it means much more.”
Many USM faculty members are a part of this secret legacy, including but not limited to University Police Chief Rusty Keyes, media and communication professor Dr. David Davies and instructor Kelly Dunn. The invitation they got by email came along with a Gold Leaf emblem kept up in their offices similarly like something of value and worth.
“I am just honored to be a part, to have been taught and to be deserving of being in the Gold Leaf Society,” said Davies, who has been a member since 2007. “It is a distinctive organization at USM, and people are invited every year to be a part of it based on their contributions and years of service to USM, so I just couldn’t be more delighted to be a part of this very important organization.”
The Gold Leaf Society continues its contribution to USM students. It has great compassion for the university, its history and their academics. The Gold Leaf will also continue inducting members of USM faculty and staff to be a part of such a well-known organization every year and will put a banner at each building around campus to signify that someone in that area received the invitation and emblem.
