Family, friends and colleagues honored former Mississippi State University president and visionary Donald Zacharias through a memorial service on Thursday.
            MSU president Mark Keenum, John Grisham and other notable speakers -including Zacharias’s son – spoke of Zacharias’s legacy to a room of more than 300.
            Zacharias served as MSU’s 15th president for 12 ½ years.
During his presidency, the university excelled in research, athletics and enrollment and made numerous other developments.
            Zacharias also influenced and encouraged students and colleagues.
            President Keenum was directly touched by Zacharias’s kindness and compassion personally and professionally.
            “I watched. And I admired. And I learned,” Keenum, who was an assistant professor during Zacharias’s presidency, said.
            Keenum also largely credited Zacharias in his decision to accept a position under U.S. Senator Thad Cochran.
            “His confidence and guidance made all the difference in my life and my career, and I will be forever grateful to Dr. Zacharias,” Keenum said.
            Zacharias fearlessly propelled MSU into success and achievement by pushing for federal funding and private endowments.
“That foundation of support of the next several years helped bring us up to where we are today – able to compete head to head with major research universities throughout the country for competitive federal funding for research and development,” Keenum said.
Once named MSU president in 2009, Keenum said Zacharias passed on a little presidential knowledge that he had received from John W. Ryan, Indiana University’s former president and Zacharias’s mentor.
“In order to be a good president, one had to have the patience of Job, the courage of David, the wisdom of Solomon and the stomach of a Billy goat,” Keenum said.
Zacharias also contributed to John Grisham’s successful career, including a book signing for A Time to Kill.  Zacharias and Grisham’s friendship helped build the Grisham Room located in the Mitchell Memorial Library.
“Leaders such as university presidents and CEO’s and governors and generals and people like that tend to come and go. They do their jobs and retire and fade away.  It’s not a criticism; it’s just the way life works. Occasionally though, a university president will show up at the right place at the right time and leave a profound impact on his institution, and he will rally the school and take it all together into a bold, new direction,” Grisham said.
Others such as former interim president Roy Ruby and MSU Foundation board member Lewis Mallory praised Zacharias on his impeccable professional and personal integrity and vision for the university and its future.
“He saw the big picture of this institution. He understood the land-grant mission. He really helped chart a course for this institution for the years to come, and we are enjoying the successes of that even today,” Mallory said.
MSU became known for classroom technology use as well as one of the few Engineering Research Centers in the country under Zacharias’s tenure. Additionally, the Mitchell Memorial Library was renovated and the Joe Frank Sanderson Center was built.
“As long as this place is here, Dr. Z will be remembered and cherished not only as a great leader but also as a great person,” Grisham said.
Zacharias can be credited for some of MSU’s success even today.
“He well positioned MSU for the 21^st century,” Keenum said.
His love for MSU and its people was evident throughout his career.  Above all, he valued people.
MSU Alumni Association Executive Director Jimmy Abraham recalled a comment Zacharias made during a general faculty meeting in 1987.
“He paused, looked up and said and I quote, ‘This is a great reminder to all of us that nothing is routine when dealing with the lives of other people,'” Abraham said.
Zacharias served the MSU as president from 1985-1997 – the second longest tenure to Stephen D. Lee, the founding president of Mississippi’s land-grant institution.
Zacharias embraced the future wholeheartedly and established long-term success for MSU.
“There is no question he is not only ringing his cowbell loud in proud in heaven right now, but the master teacher is showing others how to ring it the proper way – letting them know it’s in the wrist. It’s all in the wrist,” Abraham said.