[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14877-14878]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN TRIBUTE TO THOMAS J. REARDON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROGER F. WICKER

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 2002

  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated 
public servant and a leader in the field of higher education in the 
state of Mississippi. On August 15, 2002, University of Mississippi 
Dean of Students Dr. Thomas J. (Sparky) Reardon will celebrate 25 years 
of faithful service to the state of Mississippi and to his alma mater.
  Dr. Reardon began his career in university administration as 
coordinator of pre-admissions and was later promoted to the post of 
associate director of student services. He assumed the job of dean of 
students in 2001. Dr. Reardon has been a tremendous influence on the 
lives of two generations of students during his distinguished career at 
Ole Miss. His leadership and experience have been assets during the 
tenure of three chancellors and countless faculty and staff members 
over the past quarter century.
  He is a well-established professional in the field of Greek life on 
campus. He was recognized nationally in 1987 with the Association of 
Fraternity Advisors' Distinguished Service Award and received that 
organization's prestigious Robert H. Schaffer Award in 1998. Dr. 
Reardon has been honored with citations from individual international 
fraternities such as Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Phi 
Gamma Delta, as well as from other colleges and universities throughout 
the country.
  Dr. Reardon has also continued to be actively involved in the affairs 
of his own fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. His contributions and wise 
counsel as a devoted alumnus have

[[Page 14878]]

earned the respect and admiration of these young men over the years.
  A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Dr. Reardon is also a devoted 
member and leader at St. John's Catholic Church in Oxford.
  I have known Sparky Reardon for more than 33 years. He is the 
personification of the excellence, achievements, and traditions that 
are the University of Mississippi. He has been a friend and mentor to 
thousands of students and colleagues during his remarkable career. I am 
proud to call him my friend and honored to join this tribute to his 25 
years of service to Ole Miss and the state of Mississippi.

                          ____________________