Before Saturday’s game against the Florida Gators, groundbreaking took place for Mississippi State’s newest residence hall, officially named Ruby Hall.
The new dorm is named after Roy H. Ruby, an MSU alumnus and holder of many positions at Mississippi State.
Ruby began his 40 years of service to the university started when he was named programs director for Colvard Union.
Following his position at The Union, he held titles that included coordinator of student activities, assistant dean of men, acting dean of men, assistant dean of student development, associate dean of student development, assistant to the vice president for student affairs, and dean of student administrative services.
He also served as the director of Mississippi State’s Jackson campus for four years.
In addition, Ruby was the vice president of student affairs for sixteen years and dean of education for two, retiring in June of 2004.
The ground-breaking ceremony had an attendance of over 200 people.
“We had more people than we had chairs,” said Bill Kibler, vice president for student affairs. “The reason there were so many people was primarily because it was a formal announcement of the residence hall’s name.”
Kibler also said there were several people there to support Ruby.
“We had over 200 people at the ground breaking, ranging from students and faculty to Dr. Lee. There were also friends and family of Dr. Ruby, SA members and cabinet members,” said Ann Bailey, director of housing and residence life.
The program itself focused equally on both the residence hall’s attributes and Ruby’s career, Kibler said. Speakers at the ground-breaking included Kibler, President Charles Lee, Scott Ross of the Board of Trustees, Residence Hall Association President Timothy Jackson and Dr. Ruby himself.
Participants in the shovel ceremony were Bailey; Mitch Marshall, architect from Luke & Kaye Architects; and Page Inman of Inman Construction Co.
“Mississippi State has done more for me than I’ve ever done for Mississippi State. I feel very grateful and humble. I’m very appreciative of what they have done for me,” Ruby said.
He added that everything at the ground-breaking was very nice and well planned.
Ruby Hall, located on the northeast side of campus, is the university’s first new dorm in 36 years. It is designed to suit students’ needs as well as provide modern technology to them. The new residence hall boasts the largest single room size in the university’s history. Included in each room will be a private bath, individual room temperature control, cable with HBO, furniture, a refrigerator and a microwave. 400 male and female freshmen are expected to move in to Ruby Hall next fall. As for upperclassmen, a similar dorm is planned to be constructed by the fall semester of 2006.