1989

WEEK OP _____.._

HALL OF FAME STAR A star not only represents rank for BG Charlie D . B r ack een, assistant adjutant general, Mississippi Army Na– tional Guard, but also represents a title for the former East Central Community College basketball player and coach. General Brackeen was recently in-

BRACKEEN

ducted into the National Junior College Hall of Fame, being the first Mississip– pian ever to be selected for the presti– gious National Junior College Athletic Association Award. General Brackeen was a member of the 1953 East Central Junior College (as tt was called then) Warriors team-:' In fact, he earned the team's most valuable player honor after scoring 53 points in a game. This score has yet to be surpassed at the college. Of all the honors and recognition dur– ing his sports career, General Brackeen said his induction into t he national hall of fame was probably the most cher– ished of all. At ~. he was a two-time, alf-St8."te selection. He averaged 32 points his sophomore year and led his team to state and regional tournament championships and a fourth-place fin– ish in the nationals. General Brackeen was named most valuable junior college player in the nation in 1953 and was selected to the all-American team. After graduating from the University of Mississippi, the general was drafted by the New York Knicks and played professional ball for a few months before returning to East Central to become a coach, admitting that be miSSed hlB home state_gf Missjss.J.t;wi. - His fame didn't stop. As coach, Gen- eral Brackeen's teams at East Central posted 137 wins against 52 losses in seven seasons. He also was named the first dean of students in Mississippi_ public junior colleges in 1962. He was later appointed as assistant adjutant general of Mississippi in 1984, and again___ in 1988. - ----· ----~--------

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CAATBAGINIAN l«liTON TlliBUT~~E --- N!SROBA DEMOCRAT____ ~N RECORD_____