A man who was at the heart of Meridian activities in his life is now remembered at the city’s heart.

The former Kress Building on the Mississippi State University-Meridian Riley Campus was officially named the I.A. “Alfred” Rosenbaum Building at a formal dedication Monday.

Named after the late Meridian businessman and Riley Foundation co-founder, the facility was recently renovated with the help of an $11 million grant from The Riley Foundation. 

MSU President Mark E. Keenum said naming the building after Rosenbaum was very fitting. He described Riley as an iconic leader, a visionary, who gave himself tirelessly, who was always on the move trying to do what was best for the community.

“His support and leadership through The Riley Foundation has helped make this day a reality, so we owe him a great debt of gratitude,” Keenum said. “I think it is very fitting and appropriate that this building will always have his name associated with it.”

Lauren Rosenbaum Brown and Ann Rosenbaum Stewart, daughters of Alfred Rosenbaum, said they were proud the building was named in his honor.

“I am so very touched, proud, and teary,” Brown said. “He was a wonderful man, a hard working man, and fun. He was dedicated to this city and the people here. He truly believed you owed it to your community to give back as much as you could.”

“This is the fulfillment of a dream, of hope and love to give back to your community,” Stewart said. “Our dad wanted more than anything else to make Meridian the best it can be.”

The Rosenbaum Building houses MSU-Meridian’s state-of-the-art kinesiology program and boasts Mississippi’s first digital cadaver lab. The facility also contains a new Bulldog Shop, which sells MSU apparel, cheese, ice cream and sandwiches.

Keenum said this special event is the latest example of Mississippi State University’s long-term commitments in Meridian and around the East Mississippi region.

“Meridian is a healthcare community and we see tremendous potential here,” Keenum said. “You also have great hospitals that are thriving. We think being able to support the healthcare industry here – to be a hub, if you will, for our graduates  to have opportunity and employment here; it’s just natural to offer training here with Mississippi State University.”

The Riley Foundation announced the multi-million dollar grant for the kinesiology program in Meridian in 2013, which included renovations to the historic landmark in the heart of Meridian’s downtown. Since the late 1990s the Foundation’s support of MSU-Meridian has grown to almost $40 million.

MSU-Meridian Administrative Director and Head of Campus Terry Dale Cruse said he is thankful for the investments The Riley Foundation, Phil Hardin Foundation and Mississippi Power have made in MSU- Meridian students and downtown Meridian. The new building also enhances the connection between MSU-Meridian and the downtown area.

“For a regional university to have a campus in their own community is quite impressive; when you look at the qualities of the facilities in downtown Meridian, as well as on our College Park campus,” Cruse said. “For our students to learn in state-of-the-art facilities like this, and stay local is an opportunity a lot of students in towns like Meridian don’t have. Particularly to have the quality of education that is provided by Mississippi State here.

For many years, The Riley Foundation has been a major Mississippi State supporter. The MSU-Riley Center opened its doors in 2006, providing a performing rated center, a conference center and several exhibit halls. Also, the MSU-Meridian Riley’s campus, which houses the business school, is located in the historic Deen Building donated in 2009 by the Foundation. In 2014, The Riley Foundation pledged support for a scholarship program that helps students pursue a four-year degree at MSU-Meridian.

About I.A. “Alfred” Rosenbaum

Rosenbaum managed the investment portfolio of The Riley Foundation for several years, overseeing the foundation’s funds during a period in which more the $40 million in projects benefitted Lauderdale County. He served as Mayor of Meridian from 1977-1985. A veteran of WWII and the Korean War, Rosenbaum served in the military for 23 years. He and his wife, Lucile, supported many causes to benefit the Meridian community, including the restoration of the Dentzel Carousel in Highland Park. Mr. Rosenbaum was also an original investor of WTOK-TV and co-owner of Meyer and Rosenbaum Insurance. He served on the Board of Trustees for Riley Memorial Hospital  as well as on the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Agricultural and Industrial Board. He also served on the Advisory Council of the Lauren Rogers Museum in Laurel. 

Find out more

• For more on MSU-Meridian visit www.meridian.msstate.edu.

• More information on The Riley Foundation can be found at www.rileyfoundation.org.

• MSU is Mississippi’s leading university available online at www.msstate.edu.