Southern Miss Remembers Alumnus Edwin Lloyd Pittman

Tue, 10/01/2024 - 03:15pm | By: Dr. David Tisdale

Edwin Lloyd “Ed” Pittman, a University of Southern Mississippi (USM) alumnus who held the distinction of being elected to office in all three branches of state government, died Sept. 25 in Ridgeland, Miss. He was 89.

A native of Hattiesburg and graduate of Hattiesburg High School, Pittman earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Miss, where he served as president of Kappa Sigma fraternity; he went on to earn a law degree from the University of Mississippi. A former chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, Pittman also served as state attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer and was a two-term member of the Mississippi State Senate representing Hattiesburg. A military veteran, he was also a former brigadier general of the Mississippi National Guard. 

Pittman made multiple donations of his papers and other materials to the USM University Libraries’ Special Collections division. Lorraine Stuart, head of Special Collections, had the opportunity to meet Pittman when he made his last contribution of personal archival material to the University, which is currently being processed by Special Collections staff led by Brandon Ball, who serves as processing assistant for historical manuscripts and archives for Special Collections. 

The Edwin Lloyd Pittman Collection at USM contains materials related to Edwin Pittman’s public service positions in Mississippi, including nearly 100 cubic feet of records detailing his work in public office as well as biographical materials and family history, with photo albums, newspaper clippings, and correspondence.

“His dedication to justice and compassion toward the people of Mississippi were apparent,” Stuart recounted of her meeting with Pittman. “His collection, which covers his extensive career, is currently being readied for research use and will be a rich resource for students of the State’s political, judicial, and civic history.”

“We’re saddened to hear of Chief Justice Pittman’s passing,” said Assistant Curator for Historical Manuscripts Jessica Clark, who also met with Pittman when he made his contribution of materials. “He lived a life of service to the people and state of Mississippi, and it was clear from meeting him that he also held a deep love and appreciation for history, his family, and Southern Miss. We look forward to the completion of his collection as another piece of Chief Justice Pittman’s enduring legacy.”

Members of the Pittman family ask that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Edwin Lloyd and Virginia Lund Pittman Scholarship through the USM Foundation.