2006

REEVES From Page SA

mentor. Milton Walker was a math teacher and coach in Forest at the time and would be instru– mental in my joining the staff at FHS a short time later. Dr. Walker has been a great source of advice in many areas of my life includ– ing family, church, and caree:r: Reeves' first stint at East Central was as a student-athlete. ' "It had been a dream of mine to follow in my brother's footsteps to plqy basketball and attend ECJC. Joe Clark, who was the basketball coach at ECJC, came to my high school to signRobert Green and myself to scholar– ships. I remember being so nerv– ous that I could hardly sign the papers. Little did I realize that I was going to have so many future opportunities that came from that initial commibnent to the College," he said As a student, Reeves served as president of the BaptistStudent ence in 2002 and was the HEAD– WAE (Higher Education Appreciation Day: Working Towards AcademicExcellence) Instructor of the Year for 2005-00. In addition, Reeves is a member of Forest Baptist Church, where he teaches Sunday school and serves on the board of deacons. He is past president of the Forest Athletic Booster Club and is a member of the Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Reeves is married to the former Patricia Shepard of Walnut Grove. They have one son, Ryan, who is is a freshman accounting major at ECCC and a member of the Ac'cents show choir. His mother is Syble Reeves of Walnut .. Grove, who is now a resident of theMississippi Care Center in Morton. He as one brother, Sonny, who is retired and lives in Crystal Springs. ,. ,.. 1

desire to prepare us for our future serve as a challenge to me each day to have a similar impact on the students I teach ·~t MissiSSippi College, my pnr fessor for the majority of my edu– cation courses was Dr. Lm Jayroe. He encouraged his stu– dents to de\"clop an educational philosophy that was anchored in one primary concept, which was rhaL the digni~· of the individual student isof foremost impor– tance. He demonstrated that both by word and deed. He encouraged each furore teacher to have a pas– sion nap only for teaching subject matter, bu even more for teach– ing individuals." Reeve: also credits one of his cla..s.5mates with having played a pan m hi.5 future as an educator. 'While I was a student at MC in one of Dr:. Jqyroe'-: ~'Uidance dasses, I had a classmate who, smce then. I lm-e oonsidered my council gave their faith certainly has strengthened my faith in Christ until this day." After graduating from East Central and then completing his education at Mississippi College in Clinton, Reeves began what would become a 28-year career in the Forest Public School System. "In 1970 I came to Forest to teach math and coach the girls' sports (basketball and track)," he said. "In 1998 I left having served the last three years as high school principal It was a great experi– ence working with the students and staff in Forest. I treasure many memories of the athletes and students as well as the staff with which 1 shared those years." Reeves was twice selected STAR teacher at Forest High School. Since becoming a full– time mathematics instructor at East Central, he was selected to attend the Lamplighters' confer-

also appreciated the positive influence he made on the players he coached. He was consistent and firm with both students in his classroom and players on the athletic fields. He also took a per– sonal interest in each of us and was active in the school, church, and community," said Rew. ·~- Reeves' college instructors also had a great impact on his career. ·~t ECJC I was taught b) the best group of teachers that I had at any time during my student days. Mr. (Ovid) Vickers. Dr. (Richard) Ethridge. Mr. (Frank) Rives. Mr. (George) Mason and Coach Joe Clark each taught me more than one Sl'mester, so I feh therr positive influence the most. Their personal attention alld Union, was a mEmber of Sigma Tau Sigma and .t?ttered inboth basketball and tmseball. "Playing Sports and school work required many hours of my time at ECJC. H 1wever, I was blessed to beco~ a part of a spe– cial group of pe~:ple in the Baptist Student Union (BSU)," Reeves said. ·~a freshman, about the only activity trur I could partici– pate in was the r.oon-da.y devo– tionals which Wl're held upstairs over the student ~nter. As a sophomore I w& mvolved in a leadership posiU>n and worked closely with Miss Gladys Bryant, the director. "I also was a IlUi of the BSU executive councJ, which planned the activities for the group. Working with this group of out– standing Christians andMiss Bryant I was taught about shar– ing my faith. Seemg the impor– tance that the m!>mbers of the rr.

,