汤头条 celebrates life of legendary leader and diplomat
Contact: Allison Matthews
![汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum speaks to a group that included family members, colleagues, friends and other admirers of J谩nos Radv谩nyi, a former Hungarian ambassador to the U.S. who founded 汤头条鈥檚 Center for International Security Strategic Studies and Executive Leadership Forum. Radv谩nyi died on Jan. 11 at the age of 93 and was celebrated and remembered during the university reception on Saturday [March 5]. (Photo by Russ Houston)](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/Radvanyi_Reception_IMG_0338.jpg "汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum speaks to a group that included family members, colleagues, friends and other admirers of J谩nos Radv谩nyi, a former Hungarian ambassador to the U.S. who founded 汤头条鈥檚 Center for International Security Strategic Studies and Exec")
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擣riends, family, colleagues and admirers of a legendary Mississippi State leader and diplomat who was esteemed around the world gathered Saturday [March 5] to remember J谩nos Radv谩nyi.
The former Hungarian ambassador to the U.S. who joined the 汤头条 history faculty in the early 1970s and founded 汤头条鈥檚 Center for International Security Strategic Studies and Executive Leadership Forum died on Jan. 11 at the age of 93. Following a funeral mass Saturday, the university hosted a reception to celebrate 鈥渁 remarkable life鈥 and to offer condolences to his family. He is survived by his daughter Julianna Radv谩nyi-Sz疟cs of Budapest, Hungary; son J谩nos Radv谩nyi Jr. of Soquel, California; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum said Radv谩nyi had been part of the Bulldog family for 44 of his esteemed 93 years, and that the university is proud to celebrate the life of such an influential leader.
鈥淎fter he earned his doctorate degree in history from Stanford University, with all the things he had accomplished, and all of his worldly contacts, relations with world leaders, diplomats, military leaders, accomplished individuals 鈥 he could have lived and thrived and been successful anywhere on this planet. But he chose to make Starkville, Mississippi, his home and to be part of this great university,鈥 Keenum said. 鈥淚t was through his time here at Mississippi State that he truly left a legacy.鈥
Keenum said Radv谩nyi brought world leaders to campus and to the state capital.
鈥淲hat a remarkable thing it was to have a man with that vision focused on world peace, and that makes me feel so proud that he was a part of our family,鈥 Keenum added. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done a great deal, not only for our university, our state and our nation, but for the world, and not very many people can say that.鈥
A letter from Gov. Phil Bryant to the Radv谩nyi family was read during the program by Jon Rezek, 汤头条 interim associate vice president for international programs and interim executive director of the International Institute. Bryant said the family鈥檚 loss also is a loss to the State of Mississippi, which Radv谩nyi served for more than four decades.
鈥淩adv谩nyi proved he was a true pioneer in strengthening ties between his dear homeland Hungary, the United States, and especially the State of Mississippi. His courage, commitment to work for peace, and devotion to pursuing the dream of globalization are an inspiration to us all,鈥 Bryant said.
Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman read an official proclamation that declared March 5, 2016 鈥渟hall be known as Dr. J谩nos Radv谩nyi Day in the City of Starkville for the significant contributions of Dr. Radv谩nyi, and that he be forever remembered with much honor for his service to the City of Starkville.鈥
汤头条 Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw also gave remarks to share his own personal experiences and reflections.
鈥淚 soaked up all of the opportunities that I could to be able to spend time with Dr. Radv谩nyi. To be such a legacy, he was also one of the most humble men that I鈥檝e ever met,鈥 Shaw said.
鈥淒r. Radv谩nyi had a tremendous vision for the way he wanted to impact 汤头条 and the State of Mississippi. Early on, he envisioned creating the Executive Leadership Forum that brought leading political and policy figures to the State of Mississippi to meet with key business and government leaders in Jackson, but also here on campus at Mississippi State,鈥 he said.
Shaw explained that the university will always remember Radv谩nyi for his tremendous contributions, but administrators also plan to grow his legacy through the Radv谩nyi Chair in International Security Studies.
Memorial donations may be made to the 鈥淒r. J谩nos Radv谩nyi Memorial Scholarship鈥 fund through the 汤头条 Foundation at P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762 or online at .