sorrell college of business

The Story Behind the Name: SORRELL

As the faculty, staff, and administration of the Sorrell College of Business continue to look forward, it is important to remember, acknowledge, and thank those who came before us and built the strong foundation of excellence for the Sorrell College. Jeff and Anise Sorrell from Saco, Alabama left a long-lasting legacy impacting thousands of students at Troy University. Their bequest of $4,500,000 in 1980 laid the groundwork for the Sorrell College of Business. Jeff Sorrell was a local business man who owned four cotton gins when cotton was king, but shifted to pasture as the farming opportunities changed. Mr. Sorrell owned close to 40,000 acres of land in the area at one point in time. He often quoted the old cliché “They are not making any more land.” Anise Sorrell worked in the office keeping the books – Mrs. Sorrell was an avid reader and lover of education. Through wise management, business acumen and remarkable work ethic Mr. and Mrs. Sorrell accumulated wealth in a lifetime – during a period of time when fortunes were hard to come by. Wealth did not change Mr. and Mrs. Sorrell. They remained unpretentious and lived simply. The “Brown Hat” worn by Mr. Jeff Sorrell, signifies the importance of work ethic, being entrepreneurial, humble, honest, and ethical. These are important lessons that we strive to instill in our Sorrell Business students.

A talented Sorrell College of Business student entrepreneur (recent graduate), Aaron Wilhite, produced the video to tell the Sorrell story.