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The Dean: Memoirs & Missives
340 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2025
9 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 26, 2025
Dean Reardon, or “Sparky” as he is known throughout Rebel nation, offers wisdom, poignancy, and interesting tales in this memoir of his life. For those of us who were privileged to go to Ole Miss during the late 1970s, this book is a welcomed stroll along Memory Lane. We remember Mae Helen, Ronzo, Dean Moak, Mr. Kiamie mowing the lot next to his bowling alley, Pizza Bob, Ruth & Jimmie’s, and many more. We were on the Sardis beach for “Shrimp & Beer”, Archie was our childhood hero, and we know who Janice was. Sparky… thanks!
October 23, 2025
Let me get this out of the way first, as it surely influences my rating and review: I didn’t attend Ole Miss for undergrad, but I did graduate from its law school more than 25 years ago. My two daughters are current undergraduates at the flagship university, as are my two nephews. My wife and I make the ten-hour round trip to Oxford, Mississippi, many times a year and rarely miss a football game.
This book—essentially a collection of Sparky Reardon’s legendary Facebook posts, emails, and letters—felt written for me. I am squarely in its target audience, but there’s plenty here to move readers far beyond the Oxford city limits.
I loved this book. I didn’t (and still don’t) know Sparky Reardon personally, but I’ve long known his name and heard the stories of the man who served as Dean of Student Activities at the University of Mississippi for more than three decades. After reading this, I feel like I know him—and now I understand why everyone who does know him speaks his name with such affection. His love for his students, for our university, for Oxford, for Mississippi, and for this country shines through on every page.
It’s always refreshing to read a fellow Mississippian’s reflections and recognize a kindred spirit. When the Dean writes about events in Washington, D.C., or anywhere beyond the Magnolia State, I feel as if I’m sitting across from a friend in a coffee shop or a bar, just talking. His tenure at Ole Miss was marked by milestones—some joyous, others set against racially and politically charged times—and his steady hand guiding students through tragedy, whether after the death of a classmate, 9/11, or January 6, makes me wish he were still there.
Finally, I am glad to see someone highlight the side of Ole Miss and Oxford that most outsiders never see. Namely: Ronzo, Willie Morris, the Hoka, Thacker Mountain Radio, and all of the characters that play opposite of the stereotype. It's more than seersucker, Greeks, bourbon, boutiques, and football.
His words of wisdom to freshmen and seniors alike will have me returning to this book every August and May. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to call Square Books to reserve four more copies—for those aforementioned daughters and nephews.
This book—essentially a collection of Sparky Reardon’s legendary Facebook posts, emails, and letters—felt written for me. I am squarely in its target audience, but there’s plenty here to move readers far beyond the Oxford city limits.
I loved this book. I didn’t (and still don’t) know Sparky Reardon personally, but I’ve long known his name and heard the stories of the man who served as Dean of Student Activities at the University of Mississippi for more than three decades. After reading this, I feel like I know him—and now I understand why everyone who does know him speaks his name with such affection. His love for his students, for our university, for Oxford, for Mississippi, and for this country shines through on every page.
It’s always refreshing to read a fellow Mississippian’s reflections and recognize a kindred spirit. When the Dean writes about events in Washington, D.C., or anywhere beyond the Magnolia State, I feel as if I’m sitting across from a friend in a coffee shop or a bar, just talking. His tenure at Ole Miss was marked by milestones—some joyous, others set against racially and politically charged times—and his steady hand guiding students through tragedy, whether after the death of a classmate, 9/11, or January 6, makes me wish he were still there.
Finally, I am glad to see someone highlight the side of Ole Miss and Oxford that most outsiders never see. Namely: Ronzo, Willie Morris, the Hoka, Thacker Mountain Radio, and all of the characters that play opposite of the stereotype. It's more than seersucker, Greeks, bourbon, boutiques, and football.
His words of wisdom to freshmen and seniors alike will have me returning to this book every August and May. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to call Square Books to reserve four more copies—for those aforementioned daughters and nephews.
October 7, 2025
Great easy to read book.
It is basically Sparky reposting all his emails he sent yearly to friends and family.
Kinda like a digital Christmas card letter.
I loved it. I loved being reminded of all things Ole Miss.Great memories and great book.
It is basically Sparky reposting all his emails he sent yearly to friends and family.
Kinda like a digital Christmas card letter.
I loved it. I loved being reminded of all things Ole Miss.Great memories and great book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews