Darlington is pleased to announce that Jere Drummond (’57) has been named the 2007
Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. He was honored today with a special luncheon and celebration, kicking off the School’s Alumni Weekend celebration.
“Jere Drummond represents the very best in a Darlington alum,” said Steve Brewster (’87), president of the Alumni Council. “He has always found time to serve others, and has tirelessly given back to Darlington in a selfless way. In every organization, there are individuals who embody the values that the organization was founded upon, and Jere is certainly that for Darlington School.”
Born July 23, 1939 in Rome, Ga., Drummond was the son of a gas station owner. He attended public school most of his life until his father sent him to Darlington his freshmen year of high school. After some initial resistance, it took Drummond less than four weeks to realize that Darlington was, in fact, the best place for him.
“It is a privilege to receive an award like this,” Drummond said to an audience of students, faculty and alumni at the award presentation. “Darlington has done more for me than I could ever give back. This school transformed me in more ways than I can tell you, and I hope some of you here today are able to say the same thing.”
An average student, Drummond graduated from Darlington in 1957, later earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also holds master’s degrees from Georgia State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a Sloan Fellow.
He began his communications career in 1962, serving in numerous capacities with BellSouth until his retirement in 2001. In 1995, he was named president and chief executive officer of BellSouth Telecommunications Inc., BellSouth’s local telephone service unit and largest subsidiary. Three years later, he was promoted to president and chief executive officer of the BellSouth Communications Group, and in 2000, he became vice chairman of BellSouth Corporation.
Drummond’s civic commitments include membership on the boards of AirTran Airways, Borg-Warner Automotive, Centeillium Communications Inc., Science Applications International Corporation and nuBridges, LLC. He also serves on the boards of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center. Drummond is a trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation, Georgia State University Foundation, Atlanta Landmarks and Darlington School. He was also inducted into the Georgia State Business School Hall of Fame as well as the Georgia Tech ISyE Hall of Fame. Drummond continues to be an active member of the Darlington community. In addition to his service on the Board of Trustees, he is a member of the J.J. Darlington Society and serves as co-chairman of the School’s Second Century Campaign. He also gave the Commencement Address in 2005.
He and his wife, the former Patsy Couch of Rome, have three children and eight grandchildren. Although Mrs. Drummond was unable to attend the Distinguished Alumnus Award presentation, her sentiments were captured in advance on a video that was played during the event. In her message, she congratulated her husband and announced that she and their children and grandchildren had established the Jere A. Drummond Leadership Potential Scholarship in his honor. This scholarship will be awarded annually to a day student who shows potential leadership ability but does not have the financial ability to take advantage of the Darlington experience.
Nominees for the Distinguished Alumnus Award must have distinguished themselves in one or more of the following areas since graduating from Darlington or Thornwood – notable achievement within a professional field; service to his or her community, state or nation; service to the arts, sciences or humanitarian causes; or loyalty to Darlington. After nominations have been solicited from the alumni body, the award recipient is selected by an Executive Committee of the Alumni Council, composed of the president of the Alumni Council, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, and the alumni relations officer.
