Dr. Henry W. Nash

DR. HENRY W. NASH Tupelo - Dr. Henry Warren Nash, 86, retired business professor and former head of marketing at Mississippi State University, died Monday, November 18, 2013, at the Green Houses at Traceway Retirement Community in Tupelo. A native of Tampa, Florida, he was born September 19, 1927, to Leslie Dikeman and Mildred Johnson Nash. Henry graduated in 1945 from Hillsborough High School in Tampa and then joined the U. S. Navy in the latter part of World War II serving in Puerto Rico. Upon completion of his military service, he returned home to further his education at The University of Florida where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1950 and an M.B.A. in 1951. He later received his PhD from the University of Alabama. Dr. Nash begin his long and distinguished teaching career at Mississippi College where he taught from 1953 to 1957. From 1957 through 1966, he served as Associate Professor of Marketing at Mississippi State and in 1969, was named the University's Head of Marketing, a position he held until he retired in 1996. Throughout his life, Dr. Nash was known for his total commitment to any organization he joined or any task he set out to accomplish. In his earlier years, he became an Eagle Scout with four Palms, a bronze palm, two silver palms and a gold palm. He was a long time member of the Starkville Kiwanis Club where he had served as club President. In the course of his involvement with Kiwanis, he had served as Lt. Governor for District 10 and District Governor for the Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Tennessee district. After retirement, and his moving to Tupelo, he joined the Tupelo Kiwanis Club where he continued his Club attendance which culminated with 53 years of perfect attendance at his death. In Starkville, He was a member of First Baptist Church where he has served as a Deacon and had also taught Sunday school for a number of years. After relocating to Tupelo, he became a member of Calvary Baptist Church. A Graveside Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Memorial Gardens Park in Starkville with Dr. David Eldridge officiating. A memorial service, honoring his life will be 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Baptist Church in Tupelo with Dr. David Eldridge, Dr. Kermit McGregor, and Rev. Steve Hurt officiating. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Frances Lora Venters Nash; two sons, Warren Leslie Nash (Valerie) of Birmingham, Alabama and Richard Dale Nash of Starkville; three grandchildren, John Wilson Nash (Callie), Warren Graham Nash and William Dixon Nash; and one great-grandchild, Ann Harper Nash. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Leslie Dikeman Nash, Jr. Pallbearers will be Bob Chisholm, Fred Pitts, Michael Lunsford, Merrill Johnston, Rick Maynard, Pat Caldwell, Dr. Bill Hilbun, Travis Wampler, Bobby Nichols, George Taylor, Dr. Peter West, and Dan Steel. Honorary pallbearers will be Visitation will be 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2013, at the church. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church building fund, PO Box 1008, Tupelo MS 38802, or First Baptist Church, Starkville, 106 East Lampkin St., Starkville, MS 39759