1994

East Central Community College was a different place in September of 1936 when Homer Hunter entered the college as a member of the freshman class. Th college con– sisted of six buildings stretching across the front of the campus and the enrollment ~ less than five hundred. In 1937 Hunter became the manager of the men's basket– ball team, football team, and baseball team. Today, the Decatur resident can be seen sitting in the bleachers cheenng for East Cen– tral's athletes who are members or those teams he managed 57 years ago. Because of his unwavering devo- ~ . · n to East Central "Coai'tmltnity Uege arfd' 1tis ·l:~Jit~~taliUJ~,ftt,lii!!!M o its athletic programs, the college will honor Hunter with a lifetime achievement award presented at the 1994 homecoming activities. Hunter, a Decatur native, entered the junior class of the old Ne\Hon County Agricultural High School, which was then a part of East Cen– tral Junior College, in the fall of 1934. He remained a student at East Central until he graduated m the spring of 1938. After working briefly in 0\ett, he began working as a clerk in the Decatur Post Office In July of 1955 he was appomted assistant Postmaster and served in that capacity until being appointed Postmaster in August of 1965. He retired in July, 1985. Hunter is married to Ola Cane

tend. Even on those nights when he had to work for the Lions Club in the concession stand, he would take a break from time to time in order to watch parts of the game. He has also attended a great number of games played away from the campus. As a young man he and other young men from Decatur would ride the train to Laurel and then go on to Ellisville by bus to see a football game. Hunter says that his most vivid memory of an East Central sports event was in 1933 when Jeff Loper was selected to the All-State basket– ball team for the fourth year. Loper had played for the AHS as well as for the college. Hunter also recalls the magnificient playing of Denver Brackeen, Howard Sessums, Bill Livengood, J.P. Hurst and o thers during those years when East Ceo–

Homer Hunter

Hunters have three daughters, Ann tral first produced outstanding Hunter Burkes, who is East Cen- teams and became a basketball tral's Head Librarian, Sue Green- power among Mississippi's~ junior field, of Ellisville, and Jane Smith colleges. of ArlingtOn, Texas. He has four In the fall of 1933 Mr. Hunter grandchildren and two great- became ill and was unable to walk. grandchildren. During this period one could. find Other than an 18 month period him watching East Central basket– in 1939 and 1940 when he lived out ball games from his wheelchair of the county, he has been present situated to the left or right of the at almost all of the East Central north goal. He attended the open– home football games. Even in those ' ing football game of the 1994-95 years when the football field was season in Warrior stadium and he not lighted and games were played will surely be present at the in the afternoon, Hunter is certain homecoming game when the War– that he missed only four or five riors meet the Hinds Eagles. He has games. never missed an East Central He has not mtssed a baseball Homecoming and is most worthy to game in many years, and he cannot be honored for his life-long support remember a home basketball game of East Central and its athletic being played when he did not at- teams.

Hunter, a Neshoba County nati\e, and they recently celebrated their 50th wedding anni\cr:,ary. The

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