Don Thigpen (’61) named
Brewton-Parker College alumnus of the Year
TAYLOR HEREFORD BPC DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Dr
p
. David Smith (left),
Soon after their first meeting, the couple began dating and remained
P
resident of Brewton- together through the rest of their time at Brewton-Parker.
Don
arker College, presents
2006
Thigpen with the
Thigpen graduated from Brewton-Parker in June 1961 with an
Y
of Arts degree. Immediately following graduation, he submitted an
Associate
the CEO and Chairman
ear A
Alumnus of the
ward. Thigpen,
o
application to First National Bank and
V
f the Board of Mount
was through this job that Thigpen’s banking career of
Trust Company in Brunswick. It
ficially began.
h
ernon Bank, received
annual Alumni
is award during the
Three months later – on September 2, 1961 – he married his college
festivities on the main
Weekend sweetheart.
c
V
ampus in Mount
In June 1963, Thigpen moved to Vidalia to begin work with Vidalia
Hereford)
ernon. (Photo by Taylor
Banking Company
In 1972, an opportunity was presented to purchase the Brogdon Bank in
, which later changed to First National Bank and Trust.
Don
Uvalda.
a project and, when it’
Thigpen (’61) is the type of person who loves to do all of the work on
Milton Brogdon thus creating what is now
Thigpen and a group of other investors bought the bank from Mr
Altamaha Bank and T
.
allow others to bask in the spotlight.
s complete, quietly blend in with the crowd and
Company. In 1986, Thigpen accepted the position of President of Bank
rust
South in
This time, though, it’
moved to Blackshear to serve as President of the Blackshear Bank.
Tennille and Sandersville. He was there until 1994 when he
He is the spotlight.
s going to be hard for him to get lost in the crowd.
The present day Mount V
Thigpen, the CEO and Chairman of the Board for Mount V
name and ownership changes over the years, and in 1995,
ernon Bank was chartered in 1901. There were
was named the 2006 Brewton-Parker College
learned that the bank – known as Citizens Bank of Mount Vernon at the
Thigpen
ernon campus in
Alumnus of the
ernon Bank,
Alumni Weekend festivities on the Mount V April.
Year during
time – was for sale. He, along with his brother Bob and a group of ten
investors were able to purchase the bank and give it back its original
“I am very appreciative of the award,”
name. Eleven years later
to receive recognition. I do it because it’
Thigpen said. “I don’t do something
s the right thing to do.”
people of Toombs, Montgomery
, the Mount V
, and surrounding counties.
ernon Bank continues to serve the
Looking back on more than forty successful years in the banking industry
Thigpen. With the exception of living in Mount V
Don was born in Brunswick to Robert E. Thigpen Sr
ernon during first and
. and Bernice Edgy
Thigpen knows what an important role Brewton-Parker College played in
,
second grade,
his life and has been an avid supporter of the overall mission of the
Robert E. Thigpen Jr
Thigpen grew up in the Brunswick area with his brother,
college since his days as a student.
trips to the Montgomery County area to visit his grandmother
child growing up in Brunswick,
. (Bob), and his sister
Thigpen and his family would make many
, Wanda Thigpen Miller. As a
“Brewton-Parker College is a big asset to the
Missouri Thigpen, who lived in Mount Vernon.
, Mrs.
County area. It is vital to our economic well-being,”
Toombs and Montgomery
are some who are unaware of just what the college has to of
Thigpen said. “There
Upon graduating from Glynn
do everything I can to help the college and community grow.”
fer. I want to
never really considered taking the next step in his educational career
Academy (Brunswick) in 1959, Thigpen
.
Dr
“When I graduated from high school, I remember I just didn’t have any
Thigpen’
. David Smith, president of Brewton-Parker College, is thankful for
s service to the college over the years.
aspirations to go on to college,”
begin work straight out of high school.”
Thigpen said. “I thought I would just
“Y
College as Don
ear in and year out, very few people mean as much to Brewton-Parker
Ironically
that I met when I was introduced to Mount V
Thigpen,” said Dr. Smith. “He was one of the first people
College campus during his many trips to Mount V
, though, Thigpen remembered seeing the Brewton-Parker
a constant encourager
ernon in 1998. He has been
thought and consideration, Thigpen decided to enroll at Brewton-Parker
ernon. After much
Beverly are among a handful of folks that BPC can always count on to
, donor, guide and advisor since that time. He and
which, at that time, was a two-year school.
help us advance our style of Christian higher education.”
“My dad and I had an agreement. He would pay my tuition and I would
Roger Byrd, Brewton-Parker
have to work to earn some spending money,” Thigpen said.
grateful for Thigpen’s dedicated service to his alma mater
’s Director of Alumni Relations, is also
.
T
“The best word to describe Don is faithful,” said Byrd. “He has been a true
Pulp and Paper Company
o fulfill his end of the bargain, Thigpen began to work at the Brunswick
friend to Brewton-Parker College. This recognition was long overdue.”
turned out to be the best decision he would ever make. It was during
. Agreement or not, enrolling at Brewton-Parker
those two years of college he met his future wife, the former Miss Beverly
Don
Jean Conner, who was also a student at Brewton-Parker.
and D.
Thigpen and his wife Beverly have two children – Janet T. Stanley
V
Alan Thigpen – both of whom work with their father at the Mount
“I didn’t of
in various capacities with numerous clubs and organizations. He and
ernon Bank. He has been an active member of the community, serving
met one Friday night at a Montgomery County High School football game.”
ficially meet her on campus,” Thigpen remembers. “We actually
Beverly are members of McGregor Presbyterian Church where he serves
as an Elder.
12 THE LAMP FALL 2006
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