Dr. Troy Daniel (1934-2019)

Dr. Troy Daniel taught accounting at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, and Texas A & M University in College Station, TX, before finding a home on the faculty at Mississippi State, where he retired in 1989. He continued his support for the University, including service as Treasurer of the Association of Retired Faculty for several years. He held a BA from Delta State College (Delta State University), an MS in Business Administration from Mississippi Southern College (University of Southern Mississippi) and PhD in Business Administration from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Daniel’s career also included employment as a Revenue Officer with the Internal Revenue Service and as an Internal Auditor at First National Bank in Hattiesburg, MS. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 and retired in 1987 with the rank of Commander. He held several volunteer positions in AARP and worked with Tax-Aide for more than 20 years.

He served as a deacon, sang in choirs, taught Sunday School and participated in mission trips to Mexico and Baldwyn, LA. He enjoyed membership in the Lion’s Club and Kiwanis. He was a life member of the American Legion and Military Officers Association of America.

Dr. Daniel was married to Dr. Billie Jean Aldridge Daniel for 64 years, and they had four children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

W. A. (Bill) Simmons (1924-2019)

Bill Simmons taught at Mississippi State for 39 years. During that time, he was recognized as Honors Accounting Professor of the Year and the College of Business’ Outstanding Teacher of the Year. He was also among 19 Notable Faculty members honored during the College’s Centennial Anniversary Celebration in 2015. He held an associate degree from Meridian Junior College and BS and MS degrees in accounting and income tax from Mississippi State.

Mr. Simmons practiced accounting part-time while a full-time accounting faculty member, and after retirement from MSU in 1987, he practiced full-time until 2014. He was a past President of the Mississippi Society of CPAs, and at one time, he was the state’s oldest practicing CPA. He was a veteran whose service included a year in the U.S. Army after World War II, processing servicemen out of the military, before he enrolled at MSU.

Locally, he served as a director of First Federal Savings and Loan and on the Advisory Board of BancorpSouth. Simmons was active at the First United Methodist Church and served as Treasurer for 28 years. He was a Rotarian and served as President of Starkville Rotary Club and was named Rotarian of the Year.

Mr. Simmons and his wife Evelyn had two children, four granddaughters and five great grandchildren.

Dr. Troy Daniel (1934-2019)

Dr. Troy Daniel taught accounting at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, and Texas A & M University in College Station, TX, before finding a home on the faculty at Mississippi State, where he retired in 1989. He continued his support for the University, including service as Treasurer of the Association of Retired Faculty for several years. He held a BA from Delta State College (Delta State University), an MS in Business Administration from Mississippi Southern College (University of Southern Mississippi) and PhD in Business Administration from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Daniel’s career also included employment as a Revenue Officer with the Internal Revenue Service and as an Internal Auditor at First National Bank in Hattiesburg, MS. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 and retired in 1987 with the rank of Commander. He held several volunteer positions in AARP and worked with Tax-Aide for more than 20 years.

He served as a deacon, sang in choirs, taught Sunday School and participated in mission trips to Mexico and Baldwyn, LA. He enjoyed membership in the Lion’s Club and Kiwanis. He was a life member of the American Legion and Military Officers Association of America.

Dr. Daniel was married to Dr. Billie Jean Aldridge Daniel for 64 years, and they had four children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

W. A. (Bill) Simmons (1924-2019)

Bill Simmons taught at Mississippi State for 39 years. During that time, he was recognized as Honors Accounting Professor of the Year and the College of Business’ Outstanding Teacher of the Year. He was also among 19 Notable Faculty members honored during the College’s Centennial Anniversary Celebration in 2015. He held an associate degree from Meridian Junior College and BS and MS degrees in accounting and income tax from Mississippi State.
Mr. Simmons practiced accounting part-time while a full-time accounting faculty member, and after retirement from MSU in 1987, he practiced full-time until 2014. He was a past President of the Mississippi Society of CPAs, and at one time, he was the state’s oldest practicing CPA. He was a veteran whose service included a year in the U.S. Army after World War II, processing servicemen out of the military, before he enrolled at MSU.

Locally, he served as a director of First Federal Savings and Loan and on the Advisory Board of BancorpSouth. Simmons was active at the First United Methodist Church and served as Treasurer for 28 years. He was a Rotarian and served as President of Starkville Rotary Club and was named Rotarian of the Year.

Mr. Simmons and his wife Evelyn had two children, four granddaughters and five great grandchildren.