Adams Family Establishes Scholarship to Boost Local Real Estate Talent
On Jan. 5, 2026, Oxford resident and University of Mississippi alumnus Peyton Adams and his family created the Billy Ray Adams Family Scholarship Endowment to support real estate majors in Ole Miss's School of Business Administration. The new endowment honors his grandfather, All-American fullback Billy Ray Adams, and is designed to recruit in-state students into real estate careers that could strengthen Lafayette County's workforce and housing sector.
Peyton Adams and his family established the Billy Ray Adams Family Scholarship Endowment on Jan. 5, 2026, directing financial support to students who major in real estate at the University of Mississippi's School of Business Administration. The endowment honors the late Billy Ray Adams, an All-American fullback who rose from a modest upbringing to collegiate prominence, a brief professional football career, and later a business career.
The gift targets in-state students, signaling a focused effort to recruit and retain Mississippi talent in a field central to local economic development. As an associate broker with Cannon Cleary McGraw in Oxford and a member of the university's Real Estate Advisory Board, Peyton Adams framed the endowment as a way to incubate homegrown talent and provide opportunities similar to those his family received growing up in the state.
For Lafayette County, the scholarship has immediate and longer-term implications. In the short term, eligible students will gain financial assistance that reduces barriers to completing a specialized business degree. That relief can translate into higher graduation rates for real estate majors and earlier entry into the local workforce. Over time, a steady pipeline of trained real estate professionals can support the county's housing market, property management, development projects, and commercial real estate needs.
The endowment also strengthens ties between the university and local employers. By prioritizing in-state students, the program increases the likelihood that graduates remain in Mississippi and contribute to regional economic activity. Employers in Oxford and Lafayette County stand to benefit from a broader pool of credentialed candidates familiar with local markets and community needs.
Beyond workforce development, the scholarship carries cultural and civic significance. Honoring a local figure who combined athletic achievement with a business career ties the legacy of service and opportunity to present-day investments in education. The Adams family’s move underscores how private philanthropy can be targeted to address specific professional gaps and support public institutions in their role as economic anchors.
The School of Business Administration stands to incorporate the endowment into its recruiting and advising strategies, while students pursuing real estate majors will have an additional pathway to affordability and professional preparation. For Lafayette County residents, the scholarship represents both a tribute to local history and a practical step toward cultivating the next generation of real estate professionals who will shape the county’s built environment and economic future.
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