New Maroon Camp’s Rocking Chairs event will return on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium. Free to all, the event will feature distinguished former Bulldogs who will share words of wisdom about Mississippi State University’s traditions and opportunities.
Riley Carolyn Walker, New Maroon Camp’s marketing coordinator and a junior marketing major, spoke about the purpose of the event.
“We host this event to celebrate the traditions and people that make State so special and to help the next generation of students feel connected with the past,” Walker said.
One of these special speakers, Edwin “Eddie” Keith Jr., will talk about his experiences from a lifetime working at colleges in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Keith is a 1970 graduate of Mississippi State who also earned a master’s degree at MSU before his doctorate at the University of Florida.
Keith said Mississippi State will always hold a special place in his heart because of his days as a student as well as his decision to return to the university to work for over twenty years before his retirement in 2014.
When asked about the decision to return to Mississippi, Keith spoke about wanting to be closer to his mother. He quoted the famous Alabama football coach “Bear” Bryant’s reasoning: “Momma called. And when Momma calls, you just have to come runnin’.”
At Rocking Chairs, Keith plans to share with students the importance of focusing on the types of relationships that keep drawing people back to MSU.
“The joy that I think MSU students enjoy is that Mississippi State is like a big family,” Keith said. “Starkville is not a big city – probably not everybody would be happy here. But when you leave, you realize your memories are not of places, or even big events, but of people.”
Keith also spoke about the history of the Rocking Chairs event and his excitement to participate again.
Until last year, alumni were asked to talk about their memories of MSU just with the leadership of New Maroon Camp. However, in 2025 New Maroon Camp decided to invite the general public to hear the advice of alumni so more students could learn and ask questions about the university’s history.
While New Maroon Camp hosted a Rocking Chairs event in 2015, they revived the event last year with famous bulldogs instead of camp staff on the panel. Keith participated then and will return this year for another night of nostalgia.
When asked about what advice he will give to students this year, Keith said, “Try to do it all while you’re here. You’ll never have an opportunity to do more, and do it cheaper.”
He also spoke about the rewards of reflecting on Mississippi State’s growth.
“It will be a fun event because it’s amazing how much MSU has changed, but the core of genuine people is a constant, even though we’ve grown,” Keith said.
Kathy Foster Ashley, a 1984 fashion design and merchandising and marketing graduate of MSU, will join Keith as another one of the speakers.
Like Keith, she has ties to Starkville because of her family, and she credits her father, Bill R. Foster, who served as the first director of the Colvard Student Union, for her love of the university.
“I’m fortunate that my dad reared me for that same love that he had for Mississippi State,” Ashley said.
While Ashley joked that not all experiences at MSU were positive, noting her time in college algebra, she spoke about the community that sets MSU apart.
“As you age, you realize what a phenomenal time and experience you have, especially at Mississippi State,” Ashley said. “It’s community. It’s family. I think everyone there is there for the right reasons.”
Ashley also echoed Keith’s advice about treasuring the university’s history when asked about what advice she would give to students.
“Step outside of your box. Pick up something different. One of the biggest things, though, which you all do more than we did, is learn about your institution. Be proud of it always,” Ashley said.
Walker emphasized that Rocking Chairs will give people the rare opportunity to hear this type of advice from speakers like Ashley and Keith.
“It’s not very often that you get four MSU legends in one room, and you will learn not just history, but advice that can take you through the rest of your college experience,” Walker said.
Just like New Maroon Camp introduces new bulldogs to the traditions of MSU each August, the Rocking Chairs event will remind attendees about the practices and people who make Starkville special. So, for those who want to learn a little more about the university so many call home, take a seat in Bettersworth Auditorium next week like you would in that cozy rocking chair on a front porch. Speakers like Keith, Ashley and more have stories to tell.
