Brown, Smith to Be Honored at EMCC Homecoming

SCOOBA – A pair of state legislators from Columbus will be honored as East Mississippi Community College celebrates its 2014 Homecoming Oct. 4 in Scooba.

The late State Senator Terry Brown and Representative Jeff Smith have been selected as EMCC’s Distinguished Service Award winner and Alumnus of the Year, respectively. Smith and members of Brown’s family will be in Scooba for the annual Homecoming Alumni Luncheon and the NJCAA football national champion Lions’ tilt against Jones County Community College.

Brown’s son Chas, speaking on his father’s behalf, and Smith both say Scooba was the nexus for many early friendships and connections that would be put to good use during their political careers.

Smith attended EMCC’s Scooba campus from 1968-70 before moving on to Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi Law School.
“I made some lifelong friends during those years that I’ve kept in touch with who, being in politics, have been very important. If anyone ever went to Scooba and finds out you went, too, there’s a very real camaraderie,” said Smith.

Chas Brown said the first person to see real potential in his father and hold him to a higher standard was his football coach at EMCC, the legendary Bob “Bull” Sullivan.

“I think Coach Sullivan saw a lot of himself in my dad. I think he saw a lot of potential that my dad didn’t see in himself. They were both very outspoken,” said Chas.

Smith eventually went into law while Brown sold cars and opened a convenience store in New Hope before running for office. Both men enjoyed long, successful runs in Mississippi politics. Smith currently chairs the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee while Brown had runs in both the House and Senate.

Smith and Brown will both be honored at the Alumni Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and at halftime of the football game, which kicks off at 2 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field.

Halftime will also see the crowning of EMCC’s 2014 Homecoming Queen. This year’s Homecoming Court includes Hannah Lynn Daugherty of Leroy, Ala.; Mark Anne Hobart of Starkville; Addison Lowery of Columbus; Meg McBrayer of West Point; Anna McCrary of Columbus; Raven Necaise of Kiln; Rachel Salvaggio of Caledonia; Kennedi Sanders of Columbus; Attia Smith of Louisville; Tia Sykes of Columbus; Kayla Thomas of Shuqualak and Anna Willers of Maben.

The 2014 class of the EMCC Sports Hall of Fame will also be honored at halftime of the football game. The induction ceremony will take place Oct. 3 at an invitation-only ceremony on the Scooba campus. The 2014 EMCC Sports Hall of Fame class includes: Thomas Adkins (baseball, 68-70), George Belvin (football, 63-64), LeGarrette Blount (football, 06-07), Orlando Bobo (football, 92-93) Ronnie Carter (football, 63), Buddy Conn (football 64-65), Junior Files (football, 63-64), Rick Garner (football, 67-69), Tom Goode (football coach, 92-03), James Johnson (football, 96), John Mason (football, 73-74), Don Massey (football, 59-60), Steve Moore (football) 69-70, Eddie Permenter (football, 63-64), Rod Richards (football, 56-57), Antowain Smith (football, 93-94) and Tommy Smith (football/basketball, 67-68).

EMCC’s 2014 Homecoming will also include a dedication ceremony for William “Bill” Buckner Memorial Drive on the Scooba campus. Bill Buckner, who passed away in May, was a football All-American under Bull Sullivan, co-chair of the Sullivan Division of the EMCC Development Foundation and state director of the Federation of Christian Athletes, as well as regional director of the FCA for Mississippi, Alabama and Northwest Florida. The road, near Highway 16, will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Oct. 4.

Finally, the newly formed EMCC Young Alumni Association will host a tailgate adjacent to Sullivan-Windham Field beginning at 11:30 a.m. Any alums interested in joining the Young Alumni Association or attending the tailgate may contact Kate McCarty at (662) 476-5035 for more information or to RSVP to the tailgate.