Vaught Society Gift to Help Fuel Football Success

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Brian and Jennifer Ward

Ward family supports son with donation to Ole Miss athletics

DECEMBER 5, 2020 BY BILL DABNEY

OXFORD, Miss. – Brian Ward knows what college athletes want.

“Having been a player in the Southeastern Conference, I know you

want the top facilities, the top support system and everything first-

class, down to the workout clothes you wear,” said Ward, of Mobile,

Alabama. “Those things get the best recruits and they require

donations to compete within the conference.”

Despite his history as an offensive lineman for Louisiana State

University, Ward and his wife, Jennifer, hope their gift to the Vaught

Society will help University of Mississippi football players enjoy

successful collegiate careers. Vaught Society funds are critical in

elevating Ole Miss athletics to nationally competitive levels by

providing the resources for world-class facilities, coaches and

scholarship support.

“Our son, Brady, signed to play football for the Rebels and we felt

this gift was a good way to support him and the program,” said

Ward, founder and CEO of DocRx, a licensed manufacturer,

wholesaler and distributor of health care products and services for hospitals, pharmacies and

physicians.

“We have always supported our kids, what they wanted to do and the programs they were involved in,”

said Jennifer Ward, president of DocRx. The Wards’ daughter, Caroline, manages a women’s boutique,

The Mix, in Mobile.

Jordie Kindervater, director of development/major gifts, expressed gratitude for the Wards’ gift on behalf

of Ole Miss.

“Brian and Jennifer understand the philanthropic commitment it takes to position a college athletics

program for sustained excellence at the highest level,” Kindervater said. “Their investment will go a long

way toward accelerating this process at Ole Miss.

“We are proud to welcome them to campus as active, game-changing members of our Vaught Society.”

Brian Ward’s father played football for Livingston University, Jennifer Ward’s great-grandfather played on

the first Mississippi State University football team, her brother was the backup quarterback at the

University of Southern Mississippi behind Brett Favre, and Caroline recruited football players for the

University of South Alabama.

Brian Ward was a Tiger, and his son is a Rebel.

“It will take a little getting used to,” Ward said, acknowledging the irony that he and his teammates

fought to beat Ole Miss on the gridiron. “We loved our time in Baton Rouge, but his choice is Ole Miss –

and we are happy and proud of him.

“We have a ton of passion for Saturdays. We look forward to weekends in the Grove and being in the

stands at the Vaught. Those are not luxuries you get as a player. Usually you fly in on Friday and out

after the game. You don’t get to experience the towns in the conference.”

The Wards also want to see the Rebels become a powerhouse team for their son’s sake, and they

understand that private gifts can help make that happen.

“What I saw in Oxford was no different than what I saw when we visited Clemson and other Top-5

schools,” Ward said. “A lot of fans want to win at that level, but you have to give donations to match the

facilities of teams that recruit and compete at that level.

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“There is no doubt the city of Oxford, the campus of Ole Miss and the current staff can compete on a

Top-5 level. History has shown it can happen.

In 2010, Ward was recognized as one of Mobile’s “Top 40 under 40” executives for his professional

excellence, community service and leadership. Besides serving on the board of directors of the Mobile

Chamber of Commerce, he also is a member of the Senior Bowl in Mobile and the Mobile Alabama

Touchdown Club, and has served on numerous area youth football and baseball boards.

Before founding Doc Rx in 2008, Ward worked in pharmaceuticals for companies such as AstraZeneca

and Innovex as regional manager of their hospital divisions. For the past 21 years, he has been

instrumental in conceptualizing and developing more than seven health care companies.

“Jenn and I have dedicated our lives to helping patients through our health care companies and trying to

do a service for the medical community,” Ward said. “We own a lab, so most of our 2020 year has been

testing for COVID-19 and supporting hospitals and clinics throughout Mississippi and Alabama. It has

been a busy year for us.”

Though the two met at LSU, Ward said, “We were extremely impressed with Oxford, the campus and

the people. And we are excited to be a part of the Ole Miss family.”

For more information on supporting Ole Miss athletics, visit http://givetoathletics.com or contact

Fowler Staines, CEO and chief financial officer of the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation, at 662-915-1143 or

fowler@olemiss.edu.

FILED UNDER: ATHLETICS, NEWS RELEASES, UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI FOUNDATION

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