Warrior Magazine December 2019

WARRIOR THE The Official Publication of the East Central Community College Alumni Association Volume XXVIII, No. 1 • December 2019

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From the Desk of the President . . .

In this issue of The Warrior you will read that I recently announced my retirement from the position of President at East Central Community College effective at the close of business on June 30, 2020. I want you to know that since early this summer, Stephanie and I have been praying about this important decision and it became very clear to me that this was the decision I needed to make. Since the announcement, many people have asked me the same question: Why? The best way I know to explain my decision would be to tell you about my relationship with my wife. I met Stephanie almost 30 years ago at Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg. At some point in our dating relationship, I knew she was the one I was to marry and the one with whom I would spend the rest of my life. Now if you had asked me to explain that at that time, I would have simply responded that I just know she is the one. And I am happy to share that we just celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary and I am, among men, most richly blessed. That is my response now when people ask me why I am retiring as President of East Central. I just simply know that it is time. I can’t explain it and I can’t describe it, I just know. I wrote in my letter to the Board of Trustees, “God has led me and my family every step of our journey, and this is no different. During

this time of prayer and contemplation, I was led to Ecclesiastes 3:1: ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.’ I am convinced that this verse is true and I am at peace that my season as President here at ECCC will come to a close after eight years of service next year.” I am also convinced that this transition in leadership will be good for East Central. When I arrived on campus on July 1, 2012, I was given the wonderful opportunity to lead our College through a comprehensive strategic planning process that resulted in 2020 Vision . That strategic plan has guided everything we have done as an institution and has been the catalyst for the consistently positive results seen in Student Success, Teaching and Learning, Community Partnerships, Resource Planning and Development, and Communication. It has also resulted in numerous instances of national and state recognition for our College. Now, 2020 Vision is coming to a close and a new, dynamic strategic plan for the future of East Central will soon be developed with the input of all college stakeholders. Had I remained in this office next year, I would have developed a strategic plan and then, at some point in the near future, handed it off to a new president to implement. To me, that didn’t seem quite fair to a new president or to the institution. So not only is this the right time for me, I believe it is a good time for the College as well. During a recent interview with the Newton County Appeal , I was asked what I wanted my legacy to be here at East Central. What did I want to be remembered for? I really hadn’t thought much about that, but I immediately remembered the chorus of a song by Casting Crowns which says it better than I ever could.

“I don’t want to leave a legacy. I don’t care if they remember me. Only Jesus. I only have one life to live. I’ll let every second point to Him. Only Jesus.”

That is indeed my utmost desire in terms of my service here at East Central Community College and my 30 years in education—that people would see and remember Him, not me.

I hope to have other opportunities to express my thoughts and my appreciation to the Warrior family prior to June 30, 2020. Until then, I look forward to “Finishing Strong” during the spring and summer of 2020.

I hope you enjoy this edition of The Warrior . Merry Christmas!

Dr. Billy W. Stewart President

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In This Issue...

CAMPUS NEWS

Dr. Billy Stewart announces retirement Faculty, staff member of year honored New band hall to be named in memory of Carson ECCC ranked nationally for student success Hyde-Smith participates in facility dedication

4 5 7 8 9

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ALUMNI NEWS

Homecoming 2019 in pictures Mike Hurst enjoying role as U.S. Attorney Simoneau new director of Alumni & the Foundation Alumni Updates

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ATHLETICS

Anderson wins AL batting average title Leigh White new Lady Warrior Softball coach

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On the cover: ECCC alumni award recipients (from left) Randy Cleveland (‘81), Linda Kelly Shepard (‘69), Pam Green Hampton (‘87) and Barry Irons (‘69) were recognized prior to the ECCC vs. Hinds football game during Homecoming activities on Oct. 17, 2019. Additional Homecoming photos can be found on pages 10 and 11 in this issue. Feature articles on each honoree are located on pages 12-15. •

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ACCREDITATION East Central Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of East Central Community College. N ONDISCRIMINATION East Central Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or qualified disability in its educational programs and activities, employment practices, or admissions processes. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non discrimination policies of East Central Community College: Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI, ADEA, and Title IX are coordinated by Dr. Teresa Mackey, Vice President for Instruction, Walter Arno Vincent Administration Building, Room 171, Post Office Box 129, Decatur, MS 39327, Phone: 601-635-6202, Fax: 601-635-4011, tmackey@eccc.edu. Inquiries regarding compliance with Section 504 and ADA are coordinated by Dr. Randall Lee, Vice President for Student Services, Eddie M. Smith Student Union, Room 201, Post Office Box 129, Decatur, MS 39327, Phone: 601-635-6375, Fax: 601-635-3247, rlee@eccc.edu.

The Warrior is printed two times annually and is distributed to alumni of East Central Community College and other friends of the college. Editorial staff members include Office of Public Information personnel: Bill Wagnon, Maria McLeod, Karen Robertson, Amy Thompson Contributing writer includes: Kendall Simoneau

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ECCC President Dr. Billy Stewart announces retirement

ECCC President Dr. Billy Stewart an nounced his retirement effective July 1, 2020. The announcement was made at the November Board of Trustees meeting on campus. Stewart was announced as the col lege’s eighth president on March 22, 2012. At East Central, Stewart initiated a strategic planning process to shape and guide the future of the institution. As a result, 2020 Vision was adopted in February 2013 and included a long term desire to be nationally recognized and locally preferred while meeting the educational and training needs of all residents of the college district. “When the East Central Community College Board of Trustees selected me as the college’s eighth president, I re ceived the greatest professional honor in my 30-year career in education,” said Stewart. “I believe as a result of the 2020 Vision The Lord gave us as an institution in February of 2013, the foundation that was laid by all of those who came before, and the tireless work of the entire college family, we have achieved remarkable results as an institution. In many ways, that vision

will have been realized by the end of next year. “I will treasure the continuing friendship and support of so many exceptional colleagues and students at ECCC. Working closely with all mem bers of the ECCC family has been one of the greatest joys of my professional career. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have been a member of the ECCC family and for the profound privilege of serving this college as its president.” Chair of the ECCC Board of Trust ees Dr. Jimmy Hollingsworth said a search committee consisting of board members has been formed and began accepting applications Dec. 1 for the college’s next president. The Search Committee will accept applications through Jan. 31, 2020. The next presi dent will be announced at the March 2020 Board of Trustees meeting. Complete information on the search process and a timeline can be found at www.eccc.edu/presidential-search. A native of Pearl, Stewart earned his bachelor’s degree in history and his master’s degree in curriculum and in struction, both from the University of

Southern Mississippi, and his doctor ate in higher education administration from Mississippi State University. Prior to assuming the presidency at ECCC, he served as vice president for finance and administration at Missis sippi Gulf Coast Community College. Stewart has also worked as dean of community services and dean of the Simpson County Center for Copiah-Lin coln Community College. To date, he has served almost 30 years in various teaching and administrative positions in all levels of education in the state of Mississippi. PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH The search for the ninth president of East Central Community College officially began on Dec. 1. Information on the search, including the Position Opening Announcement, Job Description, Search Timeline, and other information, can be found online at www.eccc.edu/ presidential-search.

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ECCC named a Top 150 U.S. Community College eligible for ’21 Aspen Prize

The Aspen Institute College

rates, and degree completion have improved at the top tier of the 150 Aspen Prize-eligible colleges. “Community colleges play a vital role in developing talent and enabling social mobility across the country, and it’s critical for them to get better at what they do,” said Josh Wyner,

Excellence Program named East Central Community College as one of the 150 community col leges in the nation eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the sig nature recognition of high achieve ment and perfor

ECCC faculty, staff member of year honored

ECCC pre sented new awards to start the new academic year on campus in August to recognize the college’s faculty and staff mem ber of the year. Regena Boykin of Conehatta, as sociate director of information Excellence with Class Award as the outstanding staff member and a $500 check from the ECCC Founda tion. Boykin has been employed at ECCC since 2003. Chemistry Instructor Amy Denson of Deca technology, received the

mance among com munity colleges in the United States. Based on strong and improv ing in student outcomes—includ ing in learning, completion rates, employment rates and earnings, and equity—15 percent of commu nity colleges nationwide have been invited to apply for the Aspen Prize, which is awarded every two years. “What an incredible honor to be recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the 150 best community colleges in the nation,” said Dr. Billy Stewart, president of East Central Community College. “This recogni tion, which focuses on the success of our students, is a direct result of the commitments we made as an institution in 2020 Vision and a ful fillment of our vision to be nation ally recognized.” The 150 community colleges named today as eligible to com pete for the 2021 Aspen Prize were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide using publicly available data on stu dent outcomes. Located in 39 states in urban, rural, and suburban areas, serving as few as 500 students and as many as 75,000 students, these colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector. Data show that over the last two years, student retention, graduation

executive direc tor of the Aspen Institute College

Excellence Program. “We’re pleased to see evidence that these institu tions are improving, that more are delivering on their promise. We’re also pleased to play a role in honor ing outstanding community colleges and sharing what works to ensure great outcomes for students— through graduation and beyond.” The top ten finalists for the 2021 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2020. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quan titative data, including employment and earnings data. A distinguished jury will make award decisions in spring 2021. Previous winners of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excel lence are: Miami Dade College (Fla.) and Indian River State College (Fla.), 2019; Lake Area Technical College (S.D.), 2017; Santa Fe College (Fla.), 2015; Santa Barbara City College (Calif.) and Walla Walla Community College (Wash.), 2013; and Valencia College (Fla.), 2011. Seven community colleges in Mis sissippi made the top 150. For a full list of the top 150 eligible institu tions and to read more on the selec tion process, visit www.highered. aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize.

Boykin

Denson

tur received the Excellence in Teaching & Learning Award as the outstanding faculty member and a $500 check from the ECCC Alumni Association. Denson joined the ECCC faculty in 2013. The awards were presented at the 2019 Faculty and Staff Convocation held in Huff Auditorium on campus.

CAMPUS NEWS

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Annual Report Card shows high marks for ECCC

In accordance with Mississippi House Bill No. 1071 from the 2010 legislative session, East Central Community College released its academic year 2017-2018 Mississippi Com munity College Performance Profile, or Report Card. The bill created an Education Achievement Council which was established to set education achievement goals for institu tions of higher learning and community colleges in the state and to assist in monitoring progress towards those goals through the preparation of annual institutional and state report cards. The Community College Report Card, designed to reflect the unique mission of community colleges, incorporates measures closely aligned with the Voluntary Framework of Accountability developed by the American Association of Community Colleges. Therefore, each report card includes information for the specific community college, along with corresponding figures for the state system, which includes all 15 Mississippi community colleges. Information con tained in the report includes student enrollment, degrees awarded, student success, student retention, student prog ress, workforce development information, and High School Equivalency and adult basic education statistics, as well as enrollment and success in development or remedial course work (college readiness). In the 2017-2018 Community College Report Card, ECCC

was among the best in the state in the areas of Student Suc cess, Student Retention, Student Progression, and Remedia tion Success. In Student Success, ECCC ranked among the state’s elite in percentage of full-time freshmen graduating within three years. The college was also a state leader in overall Student Success, consisting of aggregate graduation and transfer rates. In Student Retention, East Central was among the best in overall retention rate, particularly in the retention rate of university parallel students seeking transfer to a four-year university. In Student Progression, ECCC was near the top in student progression toward degree completion by the end of the second enrollment year. In Remediation Success, ECCC was a leader in remediation of mathematics students to successful completion of college algebra. Other strengths for East Central proportionate to college enrollment were the number of students completing univer sity parallel associate degrees and the number of students trained through non-credit workforce programs. The 2017-2018 Performance Profile (Report Card) for ECCC can be found on the college’s website at https://www. eccc.edu/consumer-information. In addition, a copy can be obtained from the Office of the President.

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The proposed new Band Hall at East Central Com munity College will be named the Thomas W. Carson Band Hall when construction of the 13,000-square-foot facility is complete. The ECCC Board of Trustees unanimously approved the naming at its November meeting on campus. The late Carson was associated with East Central for more than half his life, including two years as a student and 30 years as Director of Bands and music instructor. The naming of a campus building or facility on cam pus is one of the highest awards possible from the col lege. Nominations for the naming of the Band Hall were sought from members of the ECCC campus community ECCC to name new Band Hall in memory of Tom Carson

and college alumni. A Special Recognition Committee of college administrators reviewed all nominations before submitting its recommendations to a five-person ad-hoc committee of the college’s Board of Trustees. That committee then presented its final recommendation to the full Board of Trustees at the Nov. 12 meeting. “Mr. Tom Carson loved East Central and poured his heart into the fine arts,” said ECCC President Dr. Billy Stewart. “Throughout his career, he made such a positive impact on the lives of thousands of young men and women who partici pated in the band, the Collegians, and other performing groups. I cannot think of another person who deserves this honor more, and I commend the Board of Trustees for their decision to name the new Band Hall at East Central Community Col lege in memory of Mr. Carson.” The estimated $3 million Thomas W. Carson Band Hall will house the Wall O’ Sound Marching Band practice hall, music practice studios, music teaching studios, instrument storage, a music library, and office space. It will adjoin the existing Vickers Fine Arts Center. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2020 and be completed within two years. Carson’s relationship with East Central began as a student in 1973, where he was a member of the marching, concert, and stage bands; the newly formed Collegians rock and roll group; and the chorus. He also participated in the college’s first dinner theatre production and was an actor in two musicals. He was selected for the Mississippi Junior College All State Band in both 1974 and 1975. In 1975, Carson was selected to the college’s student Hall of Fame, the highest honor a student can receive at East Central. After graduation, Carson went on to receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Delta State Univer sity, where he also was a member of several bands and musical groups, including the marching band. He was named the Delta State University Music Alumnus of the Year in 2013. Carson joined the East Central faculty in 1982 as sole Director of Bands—including the Warrior Marching Band; the con cert, jazz, blues, and pit bands; and the Collegians rock and roll group—for 13 years until an assistant director was hired. He also taught music appreciation classes and instrumental lessons, as well as an occasional Spanish course. Over the years, Carson increased the size of the band from 17 members in his first year to 180 members at his retire ment. In 1996, he officially changed the name of the band on its 50th anniversary to the present day Wall O’ Sound March ing Band. He also revamped the ECCC Band Clinic to include a scholarship program and established the Friends of the Wall O’ Sound giving program through the ECCC Foundation. Under his direction, the Collegians were selected to perform at the 1996 Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in Washington, D.C, and at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Carson retired in 2012, but returned on a part-time basis the following year to again direct the Collegians. While on the faculty at East Central, Carson was named Academic Instructor of the Year in 1991, Lamplighter honoree in 1992, HEADWAE (Higher Education Appreciation Day: Working for Academic Excellence) participant in 1995, and Humani ties Instructor of the Year in 2001. He was chairman of the Fine Arts Division from 2009-11. Carson was twice president of the Mississippi Community and Junior College Band Directors’ Association and was state chairman of the College Band Directors’ National Association. He passed away on May 6, 2013, at age 57. CAMPUS NEWS

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East Central again named a Great College to Work For

East Central Community College is again one of the best colleges in the nation to work for according to the annual survey of college and university employees by The Great Col leges to Work For program. ECCC has been recognized by The Great Colleges to Work For program in three of the past four years. Only 85 of the institutions that applied for the program achieved 2019 Great College to Work For recognition for specific best prac tices and policies. ECCC was one of only four community colleges in Mississippi and one of only 22 two-year schools in the nation to be honored this year by The Great Colleges to Work For program. In all, only seven two-year or four-year colleges and universities in the state received recognition. Results were reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with East Central Community College included among the small institutions with 2,999 or fewer students. The Great Colleges to Work For survey rates institutions on 12 categories in the fields of leadership, careers, the workplace, and compensation. East Central was recognized in the categories of Com pensation and Benefits, for pay that is fair and benefits that meet the needs of employees, and Teaching Environment, where faculty members say the institution recognizes inno vative and high-quality teaching. “To be recognized three out of the last four years as a ECCC ranked nationally for student success •

great place to work by such a respected program in higher education is a wonderful accomplishment for East Central Community College,” said ECCC President Dr. Billy Stewart.

“It is one indication that 2020 Vision is hav ing a positive impact on one of the most valu able resources we have at East Central—our employees.” The survey results were based on a two part assessment process: an institutional questionnaire that captured employment data and workplace policies, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was the employee feedback. Stewart added, “The credit for this honor

goes to the entire East Central family who are responsible for making our college a great place to work. The fact that the primary factor in deciding whether a college or univer sity is recognized as one of The Great Colleges to Work For is anonymous employee feedback is particularly rewarding.” Now in its 12th year, The Great Colleges to Work For program is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit the Great Col leges to Work For program website at www.greatcollegespro gram.com. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.

PICKERING KEYNOTES MILITARY APPRECIATION BREAKFAST

East Central Community College honored military veterans at its annual Military Appreciation Breakfast Nov. 7. The annual event began with a complimentary breakfast

ECCC ranked No. 27 in the nation among two-year col leges in preparing students to transfer to a four-year school or turn an Associate Degree into a successful career. The new study “50 Best Schools for Transferring From Community College to Univer sity” was published at Lend ingTree.com. The rankings were based on data from the 513 community and junior colleges across the country with the best gradua tion rates and transfer rates. From that data, the Top 50 was compiled from “those which awarded more diplo mas—or saw more transfers to

a four-year university—within a student’s first three years of study.” The study showed that 61 percent of the students who enrolled in ECCC in 2014 ei ther transferred out or earned an Associate Degree within three years. “These community colleges were the very best we found at preparing their students for the next step, whether that’s transferring to a four-year school or turning an associ ate’s degree into a budding career,” wrote Andrew Pentis. ECCC was one of four com munity colleges in Mississippi included in the Top 50.

in Mabry Cafeteria and Stacey Pickering, executive director of the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board, served as the keynote speaker. In addition to Pickering’s address, members of the college’s vocal music ensemble Vocé sang the national anthem and trumpeter Angel Mondragon of Forest, a member of the Wall O’ Sound Marching Band, played Taps. Posting of the Colors was by Boy Scout Troop 46 from Decatur United Methodist Church.

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U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (bottom photo, second from left) of Mississippi was among those helping East Central Community College and its partners celebrate the college’s new Diesel Equipment Technology program and new facility during ceremonies in August at the former U.S. Motors Plant site in Philadelphia. Also participating were (from left) Dr. Billy Stewart, ECCC president; Scott Boatner, pastor of West Philadelphia Baptist Church, who gave the invocation; John Rounsaville, state director for USDA Rural Development in Mississippi; and David Vowell, president of the Community Development Partnership. The project was a joint effort between ECCC, the city of Philadelphia, Neshoba County, Community Development Partnership, and USDA Rural Development. For more information on the Diesel Equipment Technology program, which runs from August to July each year, contact Wayne Eason, director of career & technical education, at 601-635-6210 or email weason@eccc.edu. SEN. HYDE-SMITH PARTICIPATES IN DEDICATION OF NEW DIESEL EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY FACILITY

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ECCC leads state in transfer GPA for 3rd straight year

East Central Community College is the best in the state for the third straight year in preparing students for success at four-year public universities in Mississippi. Students who transferred from ECCC to a public four-year institution earned the highest cumulative grade-point aver age (GPA) of all community college transfers in the state of Mississippi in 2019. According to data released by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), students who transferred from East Central to one of the state’s eight public, four-year institu tions earned a 3.32 GPA at baccalaureate graduation in 2019. Students from the community college with the second highest GPA in 2019 earned a 3.25, and the average GPA for all 15 community colleges combined was a 3.18. This marks the third year in a row, and the fifth time in the past seven years, that all students who transferred from ECCC to a public, four-year university in Mississippi earned the highest GPA at baccalaureate graduation of all the state’s community colleges. The report also again showed that community college

transfer students performed academically as well or better in university courses than students who began their educa tion at the senior institutions. The overall average GPA at graduation earned by all IHL students was a 3.16. “This is outstanding news for our college as we welcome our students to campus for the 2019-20 school year,” said ECCC President Dr. Billy Stewart. “Our goal at ECCC is to prepare students to be successful at their next step, whether that is pursuing a higher degree at a four-year university or entering the workforce. Based on the performance of our transfer students, no community college in the state does a better job than East Central Community College of preparing students to be successful at the next educational level. “I want to congratulate all members of the college family who work so diligently to prepare our students for success, not only in colleges and universities, but the workforce as well. They all make a positive impact on the lives of our students every day.”

CAMPUS NEWS

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Scenes from Homecoming 2019

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In above photo, members of the ECCC Class of 1969 celebrated their 50th class reunion Oct. 17 during Homecoming activities held on campus. Those attending reunion activities included (front row, from left) Dianne Ray Tripp, Gloria Sanders McRae, Jeannie Jones Vance and Arlene Edwards Mayes; (second row, from left) Gerald Mayes, Martha Moulds Cleveland, Gail Fulton, Mike Hatch and Gerald Jordan; and (back row, from left) Kenneth White, Melvin Wooten, Jack Skinner, Danny Musgrove and Barry Irons. CLASS OF ’69 CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY

ALUMNI NEWS

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Retired ExxonMobile executive honored as Alumnus of the Year

Newton County native and East Cen tral Community College alumnus Randy Cleveland of Fort Worth, Texas, retired Vice President Americas of ExxonMobil Corpora tion, was honored as the college’s Alumnus of the Year during Homecoming activities held Oct. 17, on campus. Cleveland recently retired from Exxon Mobil after a 35-year career in the oil and gas industry. When notified of his honor, Cleveland said, “I’m extremely honored as I know there are many deserving alumni of this recognition. To come in the year that I retired from a 35-year professional career is very satisfying. It makes me reflect on all the things that positioned me for a suc

Scottish friends for life. To follow that by living in London was special. For a “country boy” who grew up in Mississippi to be able to see Buckingham Palace and Big Ben on the way to work every day is some thing I’ll never forget.” Also, among the high lights of his career was leading the acquisition of XTO Energy into ExxonMobil.

cessful career and this recognition is icing on the cake.” Cleveland is a 1981 graduate of East Central Junior College and continued his education at Mississippi State University. “I’ve always been a big believer in local community col leges,” Cleveland said. “For me personally, I grew up in New ton County and went to Decatur High School. I had scholar ships to go to larger universities, but East Central was an excellent opportunity to move across the street, stay close to home and get a quality education. I knew I wanted to be an engineer and ECCC had an excellent reputation for a pre engineering math and science curriculum that positioned me very well for when I transferred to Mississippi State. The smaller classes allowed me to get to know my profes sors and build quality personal relationships with students and faculty. I think ECCC laid the groundwork for building some key leadership and relationship skills that served me well over the course of my career.” After completing his degree in Petroleum Engineering at Mississippi State, Cleveland joined Exxon Company, U.S.A. Over the years, he held numerous managerial positions with ExxonMobil and served the company at various locations throughout the United States and internationally. He was operations manager in Aberdeen, Scotland, and joint interest manager in London, England, before returning to Houston, Texas, to manage ExxonMobil’s U.S. business. After a merger with XTO Energy into ExxonMobil in 2010, Cleveland, who directed the merger, became president of XTO. In 2016, he was named Vice President Americas for ExxonMobil Production Company, where he served until his retirement. Cleveland said he enjoyed every position he held during his long career with ExxonMobil and was especially grateful for the opportunities his international travels afforded him. He said, “Our first move outside the U.S. was to live in Scotland, a place my wife and I had dreamed of but never visited. It was indeed a dream, a beautiful country with a rich and long history, and an opportunity to make great

“To integrate a highly successful U.S. oil and gas inde pendent company into a large international corporation was a once in a career opportunity,” Cleveland said. “Being President of XTO post-merger was clearly a highlight. I was very blessed to get that opportunity.” Cleveland considers himself a “people-person” and cred its his upbringing and education in Mississippi with prepar ing him for leadership and management roles. “My reputation over the course of my career has always been one of passionate leadership and caring deeply about people. I’ve always been considered a people-person and in any large corporation that’s not always the culture. I think my upbringing at home and my education at Decatur, ECCC and Mississippi State helped define my style and approach. “I have a strong passion for treating everyone with re spect, listening to them in good times and bad times, but most importantly, motivating and inspiring them to achieve their best and reach their potential. Work hard but always look for opportunities to have fun and give people the room to grow their wings and develop their own skills. “Often times over my career I observed leaders micro managing others, something I tried to avoid. I tried to pro vide guidance and help others any way I could but afford them the opportunity to manage their own business. I held

– CLEVELAND continued on page 17

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Longtime Leake County chamber director named ECCC Alumna of the Year

East Central Com munity College alumna Linda Kelly Shepard of Carthage was recognized as the college’s Alumna of the Year during Home coming activities Oct. 17. Shepard spent four decades as a leader in community and eco nomic development for her native Leake County before retiring in 2009. She began her career as secretary of the Leake County Chamber of Com merce in 1969. Beginning in 1976, she simultane ously served as Executive

toberfest. Being able to have it in the coliseum al lowed us to plan without having to worry about the weather or anything like that.” In addition to her everyday work tasks, throughout her career Shepard also served on various boards and coun cils. She was president of the Square County Jaycettes, president of the Carthage High School Athletic Boosters, presi dent of the East Central Tourism Council, two terms as president of the Carthage Business and Pro fessional Women, president of the Mississippi Associa tion of Chamber of Com merce Executives, member of the Mississippi Economic Development Council Board of Directors, and member

Director for both the Chamber of Commerce and the Leake County Industrial Development Association until 2001. From 2001 to 2008 she was Executive Director for the Leake County Development Association. Paul Chamblee of Carthage, who nominated Shepard for the award, said in a written nomination, “Linda’s work was never defined by time, finances or other possible limiting factors. She has been a driving force for community devel opment giving of herself both professionally and person ally. Over her 40-year career, she has been known as Leake County’s best cheerleader.” During her tenure, Shepard developed the Leadership Leake and Career for a Day programs. “We had five classes of Leadership Leake,” she said. “Part of that program was to talk about various projects or situ ations in Leake County and then ask the class participants ‘What, if anything, can be done about this particular issue?’ Then we would let them come up with ideas. There were lots of topics covered during that time. Some were more controversial than others, but it was always a good discus sion and was a great way to develop local leaders who were invested in the needs of our community.” The Career for a Day program was a joint effort with the Leake County School System which would pair high school seniors and local businesses. She said, “After writing an essay on their chosen career and being paired with someone already working in that field, students were able to spend a day at that particular job and then we brought in a speaker in the afternoon. It was a way to give them a firsthand look at what their future career might be like and was a very successful program.” Shepard was also instrumental in beginning “Oktober fest,” an annual event sponsored by the Chamber and held in the Carthage Coliseum. “James ‘Slick’ Turner came to me and wanted an event that would allow people to bring in their arts and crafts to the area,” she said. “So, we came up with the idea of Ok

of the St. Dominic Advisory Council and the East Central Community College Workforce Development Council. She was honored many times during her career including Carthage Business and Professional Woman of Achievement in 1986, Leake County Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year 1986, Carthage High School Athletic Booster of the Year 1988, Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree Carthage High School Future Farmers of America Chapter 1993, Lifetime Membership in the Mississippi Economic Development Council upon her retirement in 2009, and Lifetime Dedica tion Award Leake County Chamber of Commerce 2016. Shepard is a graduate of Carthage High School, attended East Central Community College from 1968 to 1969, and is a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management at Southern Methodist University. She said she has fond memories of her East Central days and the special people she met on campus, including fac ulty and staff. “I remember Mr. Lee. He was the cafeteria manager and would always spoil me with extra food. Mrs. Hull was my home economics teacher. Of course, Mr. (Tommy) Thrash taught history. After one particular test, Mr. Thrash asked me how I had made such a good grade. It just so happened that my boyfriend, Dwight (now her husband), had taken his class the year before, so I knew just what to study!” She also had fond memories of being in Mr. (Bruce) Peter son’s speech class.

– SHEPARD continued on page 17

ALUMNI NEWS

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Irons joins ECCC Athletic Hall of Fame

Barry Irons of Philadelphia, East Central Com munity College alumnus and former Warrior foot ball standout, joined an esteemed group of former athletes as a member of the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming activities held Oct. 17. When notified of his selection, Irons said, “I was shocked and humbled when Dr. (Billy) Stewart called me. I am just so honored to be selected a member of the ECCC Athletic Hall of Fame. I will always cherish my memories of my time at East Central and all the experiences I have had with the college since.” Irons was a standout player and team captain at Philadelphia High School before signing on to play for Coach Ken Pouncey’s East Central squad in 1967. “The older I get, the more I ap

preciate my EC years. Not only do I cherish my football career and those memories, but my fellow classmates as well, and just the total experience of meeting all my fellow students and getting to know them. I still run into them and talk about the memories of our time at East Central.” Irons said playing junior college football was an experience he’ll never forget. He said it was tough, just like he had always heard it would be. “It was an experience just show ing up that first season. I had always heard it was tough and I wondered if I could do it. Coach Pouncey and Coach (Billy) Baucum were in their first sea

practice and had to leave and go see Dr. (Aus tin) Boggan to drain fluid from my knee. Coach Pouncey had locked the gates because he was a little upset from our last game. When it came time for me to leave, the manager told Coach the gates were still locked and he told us to climb over the gates to get out. And we did it without hesitation! I recovered and was able to play in the next game,” he said. He was an Honorable Mention All-State selec tion following the 1968 season and played in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star game under legendary East Mississippi coach “Bull” Sullivan. When asked about playing for Coach Sullivan, Irons said, “We had a secret full scrimmage one morning about 4 a.m. with a heavy frost on the ground. My how times have changed! You couldn’t get away with that these days. I was the long snapper on offense and played defensive end and defensive tackle. I remember walking out onto the field before the game and my legs felt like they weighed 200 pounds each. We were all so excited. But after the game got started, we all settled down and had a great time.” Irons was not only a leader on the football field, but also served as president of his freshman class at East Central and as Student Body Association President during his sophomore year. He was a freshman class favorite, received the Citizenship Award and also was a member of the Engi neering Club. “I appreciate my teachers, coaches, and the administra tion I had the pleasure of working with on several occa sions,” Irons said. “Mr. Ovid Vickers encouraged me to run for SBA president. Coach Pouncey and Coach Baucum worked with me to be a better football player. Frank Rives, Frank Cross, Tommy Thrash, Pace Guthrie, George Mason, George Abraham, Alfred Deaton and many others chal

son at East Central and they were young and tough. We had a good first year. We got beat by Perk (now Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College) pretty bad that first game, but we ended strong with a 7-3 record overall.” Irons was the starting center as an ECCC freshman and during his sophomore season played both center and nose guard. “During my sophomore year, Coach Pouncey put three freshman players in my room. I was Student Body President at the time and was having to go to meetings between prac tices so I wasn’t really able to get to know them well. After about three or four days of two and three a day practices, I came back to our room to find that all three of them had packed up and left!” He said they started with about 70 players during sum mer practice and ended up with 29 during the regular season. “You had to really want to play junior college football!” he added. Irons also remembers the time during football practice when he had to jump a seven-foot gate to get to a doctor’s appointment. “I had a knee injury and was not dressed out, but I was at

– IRONS continued on page 16

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Hampton inducted into ECCC Athletic Hall of Fame

East Central Com munity College alumnus and former Lady War rior basketball standout Pam Green Hampton of Quitman joined a distinguished group of former athletes Oct. 17, when she was inducted into the college’s Ath letic Hall of Fame during Homecoming activities. Hampton said she was shocked and honored when she was notified of her award. “Earlier this year, I was inducted into the

won the Sub-District 6A East Championship and advanced to the South State Tourna ment. Hampton aver aged 12 points and seven assists per game that year. She was se lected All District and All Conference. During her senior year, the Lady Bobcats won the Sebasto

pol Invitational, the Cherokee Conference Tourney, and the Divi sion V-North Tourna ment, and had the best showing in school history as they finished State Runners-Up in Class 1A. Hampton averaged 10 points, six re bounds, and nine assists during the historic season and was named All Conference and All State.

Scott County Sports Hall of Fame,” said Hampton. “To be inducted into both of these the same year is one of the best feel ings ever. I played basketball at EC because I loved the game, never knowing 32 years later anything like this would ever happen. Flabbergasted would be an understate ment!” She was a standout athlete at Sebastopol Attendance Center where her love of basket ball began as a sixth grader.

“My parents in the bleachers cheering me on is a feeling I will never forget. The whole community would come to the games and cheer. Man, it was loud! We didn’t win the championship that year, but we sure made some memories.” Pace, who had coached her sophomore season at Sebas topol, was now the head coach at then East Central Junior College and signed Hampton and two of her teammates to scholarships. “He recruited all of us Sebastopol girls, Penny Graham Scott, Deborah Blaylock, and myself. People were calling ECJC Sebastopol Junior College.” She averaged seven points and four assists per game dur ing her freshman season and helped lead the Lady Warriors to a winning record. During her sophomore season, she averaged 18 points per game and 11 assists while shooting 62 percent from the three-point line, quickly earning herself the nickname “Three-Point Pam.” “I loved shooting behind that line. And I still get called that nickname from time to time,” she said. She scored a career high nine three-pointers during a game at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Sum mit on a night where even the home crowd student section got excited and began cheering for Hampton to shoot! “Coach Pace also informed me right before I left East Central that I was two three-pointers shy of the national re cord. I can’t remember what that record was, but I will never forget that,” she said. Hampton and the Lady Warriors completed the season

“My science/health teacher, Coach Tony Bell, would take us to the high school gym during recess and let us compete in layups against the boys. That is when my love for basket ball started.” Hampton participated in various activities, including bas ketball, track, and cheerleading, throughout her high school career while also maintaining stellar grades in her academic coursework. She received the hustle award her freshman year and dur ing 10th grade was named All Cherokee Conference and Best Offensive Player. She averaged 10 points and six assists per game that year. It was also during her sophomore season when their coach left during the middle of the school year and then high school principal Sammy Pace took over as head coach. “He coached us for the rest of the year,” Hampton said. “He was a great coach and I learned a lot from that man. It was not just about basketball either. He taught us a lot of life lessons.” Another coaching change came during her junior year when Truman Moore took over as head coach of the Lady Bobcats. “He was this very high-strung, loud-mouth, tobacco-chew ing, technical-receiving crazy man, but we all loved him. Because we knew he loved us and cared for us and wanted us to win.” The team continued to succeed under Coach Moore and

– HAMPTON continued on page 21

ALUMNI NEWS

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Irons

relationships. Football made men out of us. And I learned that when tough things come along, I can just tell my self, ‘I played junior college football. I can do anything!’” And he did. Irons beat the cancer and returned to MSU to complete his degree in Industrial Technology in 1972. He began his career with AMBAC Industries in Columbus as a methods engineer. He then went to work for Rockwell International in Tupelo where he served in various capacities includ ing industrial engineer, shift supervi sor, consulting industrial engineer and operations manager. He was chief industrial engineer with Eljer Plumb ingware in Tupelo before returning to Philadelphia in 1992 to take an engineering position with Chahta Enterprises in Choctaw. He purchased Philadelphia Dry Cleaners in 1994 and was owner and president until his retirement in 2012. After a year and half of retirement during which time Irons said he was able to “catch up on his sleep,” he went back to work part-time as a cou rier for The Citizens Bank of Philadel phia. These days he is officially retired and belongs to the coffee club at Strib ling Drug Store, where he says he and Nowell and a few other retired folks “work out all the world’s problems.” Irons remains an active member of the East Central Community College

family as a lifetime member of the Alumni Association and a member of the Warrior Club. He most recently served as a team captain for the fun draising campaign to build Warrior Hall, a new football operations center located near the north end zone of Bai ley Stadium, and was instrumental in the project’s completion. In addition, he has made various contributions to the scholarship fund at East Central. Active in his community, Irons also supports the Philadelphia High School Athletic Booster Club and the Missis sippi State University Alumni Associa tion and Bulldog Club. He is a past member and officer of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers, and a past board member of the Philadelphia Chamber and Main Street Association. He currently attends First United Methodist Church in Philadelphia where he serves as an usher captain and has served on the missions auc tion team, finance team, and staff par ish committee. Irons is married to the former Betty Margaret Stribling of Philadelphia and they have three children: Jenny Irons and husband, George Hobor, of Maplewood, N.J.; Dan Irons and wife, Karen Bretz, of Westerville, Ohio; and Mary Margaret Irons Massey and hus band Will of Louisville. They have four granddaughters.

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lenged us to be better students and will remain in my memory forever. Dr. Charles Wright, Dean Denver Brackeen, Dean Jim Lightsey, and Dean Clayton Blount all helped me a lot in my duties as SBA president.” Following his graduation from East Central, although he had a couple of senior colleges show interest in him playing football at the next level, Irons decided to forego an athletic career to concentrate on a degree in engineering at Mississippi State University. He and his friend, Sam Nowell, who also attended East Central and played on the basketball team, were room mates and engineering majors at MSU and where Irons remained involved in the game he loved as a member of an intramural football team. However, he would soon have to completely give up playing the sport he loved, even intramurals, as just a few weeks into the semester after hav ing numerous severe nosebleeds, Irons was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his nasal cavity that required sur gery and cobalt radiation treatment. “It was a difficult time in my life for sure,” he said. “Football impacts people in different ways. I learned to play on a team. I got really close to the players and formed some great

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