Peavey on Dec. 15 donated a $3 million 125,000-square-foot facility in Decatur, Miss., to the Newton County School District.
“My public education in Mississippi opened opportunities for me to explore my interest in electronics and woodworking,” said Hartley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics Corp. “Those skills were crucial for building the amplifiers and sound systems that put my company on the map 52 years ago and led to creating thousands of jobs right here in Mississippi.”
Peavey presented the facility and 38 acres of land with lighted parking to the Newton County School District yesterday at the property, located directly adjacent to Newton County High School on Highway 503 in Decatur. The company worked with state and local officials lead by Senator Terry Burton of Newton to complete the donation. The facility will be called the Peavey Annex.
Senate President Pro Tempore Terry C. Burton of Newton who represents Newton, Scott and Lauderdale counties said, “I am grateful to the Peaveys for being willing to make this generous donation. I’ve spoken with Hartley and Mary [Peavey] about this effort for a while now and appreciate their decision. Mississippi is a better place because of generous corporate citizens like the Peaveys, and the students of Newton County schools will benefit for many years in the future,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Terry C. Burton of Newton who represents Newton, Scott and Lauderdale Counties in Mississippi.
“Innovation happens when students have the tools to pursue and achieve their dreams,” added Peavey. “The highest purpose of education in our society is to provide a vehicle for these young minds to discover their own talents, and to gain the skills needed to realize their potential. This facility will be an asset to Newton County schools and students for many years to come.”
“I would love to see a renewed investment in arts education as a result of this donation,” said Mary Peavey, president of Peavey Electronics, who has served on the Mississippi Arts Commission and the board of directors of the National Afterschool Alliance in Washington, D.C., an initiative focused on the importance of afterschool programs for students throughout the U.S.