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Circle of Champion Profile on Lawrence and Bonnie Purvis Warren
Article courtesy of Screamin' Eagle
By: Raymond Reeves

Circle of Champions.
That phrase, the latest in the Southern Miss athletic lexicon, probably brings several things to mind. The Dallas Cowboys "Ring of Honor," which surrounds the stadium, pays tribute to those who have played key roles in building the strong history and tradition of that NFL franchise. Closer to home, the banners that encircle Reed Green Coliseum recognize the accomplishments of former Golden Eagle teams and players.

The Southern Miss Circle of Champions is, however, a more "progressive" phase. Instead of honoring those who have accomplished much in the past, the Circle of Champions is a collection of Southern Miss alumni and supporters who, with their financial support, help the Golden Eagle athletic program plan and grow as it strives for continued success in the future.

The newest phase of the financial support arm of the Southern Miss athletic program, the Circle of Champions represents the top level of athletic giving - $100,000 - and is earmarked for the physical advances of the program. With the construction and expansion needs involved withe Golden Eagle athletics, the Circle of Champions has quickly become a vital part of the organization.
Giving can be done in several ways; many of the members reached this level by pledging $10,000 a year for 10 years. The gift can go to whichever project attracts the donor's attention the most - currently, the majority of the initial members have given to help bring the new athletic complex and fieldhouse fruition. Thanks to the Circle of Champions, construction is already underway on the new home of the Golden Eagles. Other areas currently being addressed include the new baseball clubhouse and the new softball stadium. Both of these are also on the way to being completed.

We will introduce you to members of the Circle of Champions in this article; who they are, why they have chosen to support the University in this way and what they expect from the future of Southern Miss. We will continue to bring you the "behind the scenes" information on other members in subsequent issues of The Screamin' Eagle.

How would the typical member of the Circle of Champions be described? Successful businessmen, perhaps a former football player? How about this; Homecoming queen, dixie Darling captain, Miss University, student government leader, and someone who is just as involved with her community as she was with her University as a student. That would be a "tip of the iceberg" description of Bonnie Purvis Warren.

How dedicated is she to Southern Miss and to the Golden Eagle athletics? She met her husband, Lawrence, on a blind date to the Southern Miss Athletic Hall of Fame ceremonies 20 years ago, when her cousin, Jimmy Havard, was being inducted.

Since then, the two of them have both been active in the activities of Hattiesburg and Southern Miss. For them, both the community and the University are forever intertwined and growing together, with Southern Miss as a hub for the Hub City. "Southern Miss is the engine that drives the train here," Bonnie said.
Be it where they work, live or share a connection, the Warrens take a personal interest in the growth and improvement of that area of their lives. Volunteerism is a key part of success, even though they say it's not as popular an option these days. "Today, people apologize for being involved," Lawrence said. He, however, has been the chair for the National Asphalt Association and is in his second term as chair of the Hattiesburg Area Development Partnership. Bonnie is a national officer for Kappa Delta sorority and has been an integral part of the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pagent since it moved to Hattiesburg.

"When I was in school, I felt the commitment; student were very good at encouraging others to participate, and you could appreciate the confidence they had in you," Bonnie said. "if you participate and get involved, that connection doesn't go away. If you want growth, you have to be involved, you have to be a team player. Lawrence has been great about my involvement; it's really a team effort."

Bonnie empathizes the "team" aspect of involvement, and that terminology shows her connection to Golden Eagle athletics. Although it's long been considered an interest for men, Bonnie bristles at the idea that women aren't interested in athletics, and states that there are a number of women involved in this area, and more that would be willing to get involved in the support of Southern Miss athletic endeavors. "It ticks many women off when it's assumed that sports are a 'man's thing,'" she said.

The Circle of Champions has been the latest way for the Warrens to get involved in Southern Miss Athletics, and one that they both say is a positive step for the University.

"When I first heard about it, I thought it was great - someone had their thinking cap on when they came up with the Circle of Champions," Bonnie said. "It's another way for people to show their commitment. I'm really pleased that Lawrence and I are a part of the charter group; it's a real privilege."

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