[6/18/03]The widow of C.B. “Buddie” Newman, a state legislator for 40 years, has established an endowed professorship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in his honor.

Dr. Wallace Conerly, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, said Betty Petrus Newman of Valley Park made a “very substantial lead gift” of $200,000 to set up the C.B. “Buddie” Newman Professorship of Hematology.

Others are being invited to contribute in the hope of increasing the endowment to $1 million. The money would be invested with the proceeds compensating an internationally renown scientist studying blood.

Newman was born in Valley Park, grew up there and lived in the Mississippi Delta town until his death Oct. 13, 2002. He began his public service in 1948 with a four-year term in the Mississippi Senate. He then ran for the House of Representatives where he served for 36 years. During his tenure, Newman chaired the Ways and Means Committee from 1964 to 1975, served as speaker pro tem for two years and was elected speaker of the house in 1976, 1980 and 1984, the post he held until he retired from the Legislature in 1988.

He also headed the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Government, chaired the State’s Speakers Conference and was vice president of the Rivers and Harbors Association of Mississippi.

He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Agricultural and Home Economics Alumni Association of Mississippi State University, the Hugh White Free Enterprise Award from the Statewide Business and Industry Political Education Committee and the Distinguished Service Award from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. He also received an award from the Delta Council for his legislative leadership and support and from the National Conference of State Legislators for his leadership.

In 1987, just before his retirement, the Legislature passed a resolution commending Newman for his achievements, his record and his legislative accomplishments.

He was a wheat and soybean farmer and state manager of industrial and economic development for Southern Natural Gas Co. for 44 years, retiring in 1985.

The Newmans had only one child, C.B. Newman Jr., who died of cancer at age 9 in 1955.

“We are honored that Mrs. Newman chose the medical center to remember her husband in such a meaningful way,” Conerly said. “We hope others will join in making this permanent memorial to him a reality. As a member of the Legislature for more than 40 years, Buddie contributed immensely to higher education in Mississippi and especially the medical center. He took great pride in having worked to pass the legislation establishing the institution in 1950.