The MSU Family - “Remembering a Bulldog”
Susie and Leo Jr. (center) and sons
The passionate Bulldog spirit Leo W. Seal Jr. felt for his alma mater will forever manifest itself in the "paw prints" he left behind at Mississippi State University.
When Seal passed away on November 18, 2008 at the age of 84, Mississippi State lost one of its most endearing and recognizable alumni. A 1949 MSU banking and finance graduate, Seal was a proud Southern gentleman who leaves behind a legacy of philanthropy and service at MSU as well as in the state of Mississippi. His influence and leadership made a resonating impact on Mississippi's banking and business community as well as many other areas.
Seal, a Bay St. Louis native, succeeded his father, Leo W. Seal Sr., as president of Gulfport-based Hancock Bank in 1963. He served as president of Hancock Holding Company, its parent company, until his death.
The Seal family connection with Mississippi State spans three generations. Leo Jr.'s father was an MSU graduate as are his twin sons, Lee Seal and Leo Seal III.
Through the years, Seal maintained his beloved Bulldog ties by serving on advisory boards and attending countless athletic events. And, through it all, he never forgot what lies at the heart of the university – the MSU student. Seal supported the university's Presidential Endowed Scholarship Program, which provides four-year scholarships and mentoring opportunities for the university's best and brightest incoming students. He also supported a variety of academic scholarships in business, engineering and forestry.
A cornerstone contribution by the Seal family resulted in the Leo Seal Family Business Complex which is allowing for growth and expansion of MSU's business college and the Adkerson School of Accountancy. In addition, another significant gift from Seal created an excellence fund for the Mitchell Memorial Library.
Beyond academics, Seal was a major supporter of MSU athletics through the years and provided funding for the Seal M-Club building named in honor of his father, a 1911 graduate of then-Mississippi A&M College. Leo himself was a member of the freshman football team in 1942 and after service in WWII was a tackle on the varsity teams of 1946-1948. Recently, he made the lead gift for the newly opened Templeton Athletic Academic Building.
Seal first joined the MSU Foundation Board of Directors in 1966 and served numerous terms as a board member, including serving as president from 2000-2003. He was vice chairman of the University's first major gifts campaign, "The Campaign for Mississippi State: Serving Mississippi and Beyond" and was also a member of the steering committee for MSU's most current "State of the Future" campaign.
Among his many accolades include being honored by MSU in 1999 with an honorary doctorate in public service. He was also named National Alumnus of the Year in 1983 and honored as the College of Business Alumnus of the Year in 2002.
The generosity and guidance of Leo W. Seal Jr. will forever be entwined with Mississippi State University and his impact is immeasurable.
