1954-1972

' i Mr. Frank M. Cross retired as Science Teacher after 37 years as a member of the Easl Cenlral .Junior College faculty. The Wesley Foun

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of Clark-Venable Baptist Church is Rev. F1·ed Fowler. Both churches have made progressive s teps fonvRrd rendering services to c: 11 lheir people. The year 1970 has been a busy year for the Decatur area. The above mentioned happenings are only a part of the year's happening with many noteworthy evenls and person5 omitted. The wheels of progress have steadily moverl forward leaving behind some h e a r t b r e a k s and• happiness. A new year is ahead giving eaoh of us new opportunities and challenges and a desire to make our community a little bit better.

Mcl\IIuJ];rn; Jaycees , Bobby Smith: .Jayceltes, Mrs. Kenny Clarke: and Wom en's Progressive Club, Mrs . Tommy Thrash. The Dec at u t' Recreation Center, located southeast or Decatur on Highway 503. has made steady progress and is under the leadership of preside1it, Dr . Bob Kuykendilll. The Association has sponsored s e v e r a 1 outstilnding horse shows and golf tournaments with a number of fine atlhetes in the area m a k i n g outstanding achievements. There are two churches in Dec;:itur. The paslor of the United Methodist Church is Rev. H. G. Winstead and the

ol' high point trophies at Horse Shows: Susan Johnson won several outstanding 4-H Club honors, Keith Everett and Nita F aye .Johnson were elected Mr. and Miss DH:3; Joyce Blocint was elected Miss C o m m u n i t y Development Queen and was selected Mosl Beautiful in the Beta Club Beauty Pageant; and David Reeves was elected to the Hall of Fame at East Central. Civic clubs in the town have been husy helping to turn the wheels of progress in the Decatur area. 'l'hey have all been under capable 1 e a d e rs h i p. T h e club presidents are: Decatur Exchange Club, Bobby Everett: Lions Club. W. NI.

Joe Blount of Dec2.tur was one of two members of the 1969 Ole Miss football team to receive the coveted Academic All-American honors. He also received in 1970 the American Spirit honor medal while in basic training with the Air Force at Lackland Base, Texas. He was chosen out of a class of 1,502 basic airmen to receive the award. Noteworthy happeni n g s occured in the p o 1 i t i c a l department as Mrs. Mazie Smith won the special election for Newton County Circuit Cleric defeating Mrs. Onie R. Kelly, who was serving as acting circuit clerk replacing her husband, Perry Kelly. He was serving his first term in the beginning of the third year when he passed away. Mrs. Smith has the honor of being the first woman elected to this position in the history of Newton County. W. H. Johnson, Jr., retired as Attorney for the Town of Decatur after approximately 22 years of service to devote full time to duties as District Attorney for the E i g h t h Circ\.1it Court Dislrict. A number of students won honor for their town. A few of these honors were: Chee Ohee Barnes was elected State Beta Club President: David Reeves played in the 1970 All Star Football game in Jackson; Sandy Russell won a number -

East Central's football team was in the limelight this year under the direction O[ heHd coach, Ken Pouncey. The learn won first place honors in the North Division of the Mi ss. .Junior College F o o t b a 11 Conference. The Decatur Athletic teams are in their first year in uhe Choctaw Conference having been previously in the Sam Dale Conference. The high school basketball team is currently in the w i n n in g columns and sporting a perfect recor

ECJC's New Vo-Tech Center

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