Mobile businessman, philanthropist and USA Trustee Mayer Mitchell will give the University of South Alabama 2007 spring commencement address at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 at the USA Mitchell Center. The ceremony marks the beginning for 1,143 graduates. USA has awarded 2,447 degrees this year and 59,870 throughout its history.

At the spring commencement ceremony, USA will award 770 bachelor’s degrees, 254 master’s degrees, 14 educational specialists degrees, 64 doctors of medicine degrees, 27 doctors of physical therapy, five doctors of audiology, and six doctors of philosophy degrees.

USA will honor Mitchell with a doctor of humane letters degree.

Mitchell was born in New Orleans in 1933 and grew up in Mobile. He earned his bachelor of science degree in economics with Beta Gamma Sigma honors at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance in 1953.  He then served as an Army first lieutenant in Korea, earning a commendation ribbon with medal pendant for meritorious service.

Returning home to Mobile with young wife Arlene, Mitchell recruited his brother Abraham to join him in founding a residential and commercial real estate development firm, The Mitchell Company, in 1958.  Their business acumen surfaced and the firm grew rapidly, becoming one of the largest in the Southeast.

After serving as chairman and CEO of the company for nearly three decades, Mitchell sold his interest in 1986.  Since selling his first entrepreneurial creation at age 53, Mitchell has spent the second half of his business life managing his investments through his current company MBI L.L.C., and putting much of the return to work in support of his family, faith and community.

Mitchell has been a tireless proponent of education and health care, serving more than 32 years on the USA Board of Trustees, including a term as chairman.  He has been particularly supportive of USA’s medical, business and sports programs, but his giving has touched the entire University.   He has used his considerable political and philanthropic influence in support of USA’s cancer research efforts.

To date, the Mitchell family -- Mayer, Arlene and Abe -- has given more than $36.6 million to the University of South Alabama. This includes a gift of $22 million to support USA’s cancer research institute, which is providing state-of-the-art care to people of the Gulf Coast region. USA’s trustees named the “Mitchell Cancer Institute” in the family’s honor.  USA’s Mitchell College of Business and Mitchell Center sports arena also bear the family name as testaments to their previous generosity.   Also as a result of Mitchell generosity, USA’s business learning resource center is named in honor of the Mitchells’ parents, Joseph and Rebecca Mitchell.

In fact, the Mitchell family holds the distinction as having given more to a single public university than any other family in the history of the state of Alabama.

Last year, Mitchell was inducted into the prestigious Alabama Business Hall of Fame, sponsored by the board of visitors at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.

His philanthropic and leadership service has included Alabama Power Company, Wright School, Bishop State Community College, Leukemia Society of America, USA Foundation, AmSouth Bank, Altus Bank, Mobile Area United Way, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Congregation Ahavas Chesed, Mobile Jewish Welfare Fund, Mobile Federation of Jewish Charities, Mobile County Real Estate Association, Archives of American Art, Anti-Defamation League, and The Banc Corporation.

Mitchell was given the USA National Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2005.  Honors also include Outstanding Young Men of America; Jewish Welfare Fund Man of the Year; Prichard Honorary Citizen of the Year; Mobile County Realtor of the Year; and high honors from the Boy’s Club of Mobile, Bishop State Community College, University of Rochester, New Orleans Chapter of Hadassah, Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, Mobile Kiwanis Club, and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association.

Parking/Shuttle Information

For the graduating students, there will be reserved parking in the parking lot across from the Student Recreation Center on Student Services Drive, which is located behind the Mitchell College of Business.  Admittance to the Physical Education Building is limited to graduating students only. Handicapped parking will be limited but is available for students, family and friends.  Entrance to this parking lot will be from Old Shell Road only (behind the Mitchell Center).  Proper tags must be visible for access to this lot.

Shuttle Services (for family and guests)

Lighted (LED) signage will be set up on University Boulevard and Old Shell Road, which will direct traffic to the shuttle/parking areas.  In addition, yellow directional parking signage will be displayed.

Shuttle Times: Shuttle services will run from noon to 6 p.m.

Shuttle Pickup Points: University Commons, Gamma Residence Hall parking lot, and the parking lot east of the Computer Science Building.