Sansing taught at Ole Miss from 1970 to 1994. His favorite courses, and the most popular with his students, were Mississippi History, The Old South, and The New South. He was named UM’s Teacher of the Year in 1990.

Born in the heart of the Mississippi Delta on June 15, 1933, Sansing grew up in a home off Highway 82 in Greenville. He credited his 11th-grade history teacher, Nell Thomas, with instilling in him a love of history.

"The University of Mississippi: A Sesquicentennial History," written by Sansing, commemorated the state's 150th anniversary in 1998. Sansing published a number of scholarly papers and authored more than a dozen books and textbooks on various aspects of Mississippi history.

In 2018, Sansing published "The Other Mississippi: A State in Conflict with Itself." This 342-page read was the final book of his long career. It’s a compilation of articles, essays, speeches and lectures by the beloved and respected history professor.

Sansing was an avid fan of Ole Miss football and member of the self-proclaimed “South End Zone Rowdies.” The late author Willie Morris, also a member of this fan group, once called Sansing the “Emperor of the South End Zone.”

Sansing’s work as both an author and educator touched thousands of students and other individuals over several decades. He reached even wider audiences through his work with the Mississippi Historical Society and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Admitted as a state on Dec. 10, 1817, Mississippi has a long, complex history. Sansing spent his professional career shedding light on his home state’s past with the goal of improving the present lives of her people.

To date, 5,019 students have earned history degrees from the University of Mississippi. The David G. Sansing Excellence in History Scholarship Endowment will support many future graduates who have a passion for Mississippi and Southern history.