John and Donna McCommon of Ridgeland, Mississippi, recently made a major gift to Ole Miss Athletics that will help equip student-athletes to succeed in competition, academics and personal development, while also providing coaches with critical support to elevate their programs.
“John and Donna have been longtime friends and are among the most dedicated supporters of Ole Miss Athletics,” said Denson Hollis, CEO of the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation. “This gift stands as one of the most significant in the history of Ole Miss Athletics and comes at a time when generating additional revenue is more critical than ever in college athletics.
“We cannot thank John and Donna enough for all they have done and continue to do for Ole Miss Athletics,” Hollis said. “Because of their generosity, the future has never been brighter for Ole Miss Athletics.”
The McCommons are faithful supporters of Ole Miss Athletics and founding members of The Grove Collective, the primary fan-focused Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program supporting Ole Miss student-athletes. The Grove Collective offers exclusive content, VIP experiences and signed memorabilia, serving as a for-profit entity that connects fans and businesses with athletes across all 18 Ole Miss teams.
The couple’s legacy of giving began more than two decades ago, during head football coach David Cutcliffe’s first year at the University of Mississippi.
“I remember going to a fundraiser in Jackson during his tenure and committing then,” John McCommon said. “That was the start, and it just grew from there. Over more than 20 years, our support increased year after year.
“As for making a major gift at this time, there wasn’t any single reason other than having the ability to do it,” he continued. “We talked about it and decided it was something we wanted to do. Financial advisers encouraged it for tax reasons as well.
“I’ve been lucky my whole life, and I’m blessed to be in a position to contribute to the university we love.”
While the McCommons are enthusiastic fans of Ole Miss football, basketball and baseball, they intentionally chose to keep their gift flexible.
“We didn’t designate our gift for anything specific. Our philosophy has always been to let the university use it where it’s most needed,” John McCommon said. “It’s important for coaches and administrators to have discretionary, operational support, and we trust Ole Miss to make those decisions.”
Keith Carter, vice chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics, expressed his gratitude for the couple’s continued generosity.
“We are so thankful for generous Rebel fans like John and Donna who love to support our programs. Their contributions significantly improve our ability to be competitive,” Carter said. “The McCommons have been hugely supportive of Ole Miss Athletics, and we are extremely grateful to them and feel honored to know them.”
The couple’s loyalty to Ole Miss began simply by growing up as Rebel fans.
“When Donna was in high school, she attended several cheerleading camps and fell in love with Ole Miss and the campus then,” John McCommon said. “When I lived in Clarksdale, Bobby Franklin (the 1959 Sugar Bowl-winning Rebel quarterback) lived on the same street. His younger brother, Larry, was a friend.
“I guess I became a Rebel fan because of that and because I marched in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as an eighth grader in the Clarksdale band. I fell in love with Oxford and Ole Miss early in life.”
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John McCommon spent most of his childhood in Clarksdale and Jackson, Mississippi, and attended high school in Whitehaven, Tennessee. After studying at the University of Memphis (then Memphis State University), he worked in car and truck rental and leasing as well as publishing. He is now the owner of Cline Tours Inc., which operates a fleet of more than 150 buses serving Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. In his free time, he enjoys golf and spending time with his grandchildren.
Donna McCommon was born in Natchez, Mississippi, and raised in Roxie, Mississippi, about 30 minutes away. After earning multiple music degrees from Mississippi College, she taught school for 35 years — the last 29 at Pearl High School as choral director and director of fine arts before retiring. Previously, she taught at Aberdeen High School and Jackson Academy. She remains active in the music field through judging and consulting and is also an avid recreational photographer.
To make a gift to Ole Miss Athletics, contact OMAF CEO Denson Hollis at denson@givetoathletics.com or 662-915-7159. For more information, click here.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation