July 8, 2008

MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson announced today that Alan Graf, Executive Vice President and CFO of FedEx Corporation, will serve as the new Tiger Athletics Advisory Board president. Additionally, six new board members who will serve three year terms, were also named for 2008-09.

Graf will serve a two-year term as the president of the Tiger Athletics Advisory Board. He replaces Charles Burkett of First Tennessee Bank who completed his term in June of 2008.

"I would like to extend a most sincere and heartfelt thank you to Charles Burkett for the job he did as president of the Tiger Athletics Advisory Board," said Johnson. "We continue to make dramatic strides in the Tiger Scholarship Fund office and it is based in part on the work of our board members.

"Alan Graf has been a valuable advisor and friend of the department for many years and I look forward to his term as our Tiger Athletics Advisory Board President," Johnson continued. "He sits on the board of numerous companies and brings a wealth of knowledge."

In addition to Graf being named as president of the board, six new board members have been added to serve for the next three years. The group includes: Memphis area contractor William W. Bond III; Doug Carpenter, one of the principle owners of Carpenter, Sullivan and Sossaman; Tom Cassidy, owner of American Seafood; Memphis attorney David Kustoff; Cathy Ross, Senior Vice-President/Chief CFO of Federal Express Corporation; and long time Tiger supporter Pat Tanner.