Jackson Free Press

An earlier version of this story stated that Alma Dent Pittman majored in pediatrics at the University of Mississippi. This has been corrected; Alma Dent Pittman majored in nursing and later began working in pediatrics.

Jackson State University recently named the auditorium of its College of Business in honor of Winston R. Pittman Sr. and his wife Alma Dent Pittman. The university held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new auditorium Friday, Oct. 19. The Pittmans contributed $250,000 to the university, which the U.S. Department of Education's Title 3 program matched for a total of $500,000.

The Pittmans own automotive company Pittman Enterprises, which has six dealerships in South Carolina, Ohio and Georgia. Winston, president and CEO of Pittman Enterprises, founded the company in 1987. The company sells Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Nissan, CDAC, Lexus, Toyota, Ford, Lincoln Mercury, Scion and Subaru vehicles.

A Grenada native, Winston is a JSU alumnus. He attended Maryholmes Junior College in West Point, Miss., before transferring to JSU in 1970. He majored in accounting at JSU until he left the university during the last quarter of his senior year in 1972 to take a job as a manager with United Parcel Service in Jackson, which he viewed as an opportunity to jumpstart his career in business. He later attended Chrysler Dealer Development School in Detroit, Mich., to learn to go into business as an automotive dealer.

Alma, a Yazoo City native, attended Hinds Junior College and the University of Mississippi, where she majored in nursing. She later began working in pediatrics at St. Dominic Hospital and is currently a nurse by trade. Alma is the Health and Wellness Director for Pittman Enterprises and organizes health fairs and screenings. She is also the company's Vice President of Community Affairs, working with television and radio companies on behalf of Pittman Enterprises.

Winston said that the money donated to JSU will benefit determined young students who come to the university in need of funds.

"This is what we are supposed to do as a people," Alma said in a press release. "When you move away from your hometown and success happens, you give back to your community."

"College is important to anyone's career," Winston said via telephone this morning. "I want young people to understand it is important to their success. Education is key."