2006

WEEK OF ~pf. /

I Lt .,-;· /_::;

James to be ·nducted ·n ECCC ·Athletic Hall of Fame

Linemen rarely make headline~ during football game~ but Wilmer Jame~. a standout on the Ea~t Central Community College's 1956squad,is a weU -deserved exception to that rule. James. who was then a 250 pound standout on offen!>e and defense, \\a~ selected to play on the Junior College All-American Team, received honor– able mention honors by the Vlissl~~ippi A~sociation of Junior College Coaches, and ''as cho.,en the Warriors' most valuable player hi~ 'iOphomore \Cason. He wa-. also a member of the 1955 squad but saw limited action as a second-tean1er. He can now add another honor to his football resume - selection to ECCCs Athletic Hall of Fame. He will receive the award at the AlUmni Luncheon scheduled at ~oon Saturday, October 7. in Mabry Memorial Cafeteria as part of the College's Homecommg celebration on the Decatur campus. James, who resides m Brandon, regards member-hip in the pre~t1 gious group "an honor and privilege." but ga\C credit for hi~ ~ucce'~ o ot!. er.;.

Following graduation from East Central. James decided to end hts football career and cominue hts stud ics at Mississippi State University. ''here he recei\ed a bachelor'<. degree in civil engineering in 1960. At ~S U. he ~ef\ ed a' president ofthe American Soctety of C1vil l:.ngineer:– and was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha ~ocial frateiDJt). James worked his entire profes– .,ional career with the Mis,tssippt State Highway Department/Missis~ippi Department of TransportatiOn, begmoing in 1960 as Junior Engineer/Assistant Project Engineer and endmg "1th h1s sen icc ._..., Special Projects Manager– Operations when he retired in July :woo. James indicated that the most enjo)able and satisfymg work of h1s 40-year career Wll!> working in the Project Office m Jackson. which was under the general supervis1on of the Newton Disoict office, from 1960 to 1980.

Wilmer James

season. "It was always hm and humtd in August but it was the time of vear when we would have to ,..-ork hard to get in good physical condition for the upcoming football ~cason." he smd. "To improve our strength and endurance. our routine pmctices con– sisted of \\ann-up exerctses. running. blocking and tackling. etc One of the mo,r 1mportant part' of the football ~ea on \\a leammg and execuung plays ..

APPEARED IN:

NS.SHOBADEMOCRAT_yi~----- NE~ONRECORD ___________ MERIDIAN STAR _______ CLARION-LEDGER------- IMPACT _________________

CARTHAGINIAN--- --– SCOTT COUNTY TlMES----- – UNION APPEAL--- - - --- WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL _ ___ SPIRIT OFMORTON------ - OTHER _____ _ _____