William Carey receives $1 million gift for Thomas J. Richardson Endowed Chair

William Carey University announces the Thomas J. Richardson Endowed Chair in Literary Studies – made possible by a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor.

The gift honors Dr. Richardson’s impact on the academic community and decades of dedication to literary scholarship at Hattiesburg’s universities. Richardson has served as chair of William Carey University’s Department of Language and Literature since 2005. Before that, he taught for more than 30 years at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was chair of the Department of English.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered Dec. 5 for a reception to mark the occasion.

“I am so very grateful for this gift and notice in my honor, but the real credit should and must go to the anonymous donor. The gift is directed entirely to support and develop our programs in language and literature, and it comes at a time when both enrollment and curriculum can benefit from this significant attention,” Richardson said.

“Our programs in English and Spanish have a rich history at Carey, and we applaud the faculty, alumni and great students who are – and have been – our best evidence of strength and promise. Thanks to this gift, we look forward to an even brighter future.”

WCU President Dr. Ben Burnett reflected on the past as he looked toward that bright future.

“I think I can say I’ve known Dr. Richardson longer than anyone in this room. My father was a campus minister at USM. We moved to mid-town in 1973 and attended church with Dr. Richardson’s family,” Burnett said.

“And today, William Carey University is deeply grateful to the anonymous donor who honored Dr. Richardson in this profound way. His extraordinary influence on generations of students has enriched not only our university, but also the larger field of American literary scholarship. This gift will carry his legacy forward, ensuring that future Carey students will benefit from the high standards he has set.”

The Thomas J. Richardson Endowed Chair in Literary Studies will provide vital resources for WCU’s Department of Language and Literature – including support for faculty research, curriculum innovation, and new programming that enhances the academic experience of WCU students.

Dr. Richardson is known for his deep expertise in American literature, particularly the works of Mark Twain, southern literature, and literary theory. He has authored significant scholarly articles in publications such as “The History of Southern Literature,” “The Encyclopedia of Southern Culture,” “Companion to Southern Literature” and “A Literary History of Mississippi.”

In addition to teaching a broad range of undergraduate and graduate courses in literature and writing at William Carey University, Dr. Richardson’s leadership includes 10 years as co-editor of the “Mississippi Folklore Register” and nearly 25 years as an advisory editor for the “Southern Quarterly.” Dr. Richardson has also presented scholarly papers and lectures at prestigious literary gatherings across the country.

Dr. Ben Burnett, left, visits with Dr. Thomas Richardson, whose dedication to literary scholarship at Hattiesburg’s two universities spans more than 50 years.