Warrior Magazine June 2020

awards from the Mississippi Press Association including three “Best Column” honors for weekly newspaper writing. Bubby Johnston, former ECCC vice president for public information and one who spent time traveling to speaking engagements with Vickers when they were both employed at the college, wrote on his Facebook page, “He was much in demand as a speaker, as those who knew him can attest. What an enjoyable experience it was for me to hear this master of the English language entertain and inform so many people with his “MS Folklore” presentation and other topics of interest, including his love for EC. He made a point of mentioning the many successful EC alumni during his remarks. Mr. Vickers often referred to his comments to civic clubs, etc., as his ‘Dog and Pony Show.’ After making several trips with this ‘EC Legend,’ he commented, ‘Bub, I know you are getting tired of hearing the same stories over and over.’ I responded, ‘No sir! I am not.’ And I never got tired of hearing the same stories. They were classics ... and thoroughly enjoyed by all his many audiences through several decades. I can still hear the laughter he brought, as well as his many Folklore tales, which helps ease the sorrow about his passing. I was not fortunate to have attended one of his classes at EC. But thank goodness I was able to experience his ‘Dog and Pony Shows’ and more importantly, to experience his love, friendship, and guidance for many years. Rest in Peace, Mr. Ovid Vickers! You will always be missed by the EC Family and all who knew and love you.” In 2000, Vickers was commissioned by 62nd Governor Ronnie Musgrove to write and read an original poem at the January inauguration. In 2003, he was recognized by the Mississippi Humanities Council with the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Humanities, and in 2005 he was named one of Mississippi’s Ageless Heroes by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi. Prior to his retirement, Vickers twice served as president of the Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, and in 1990 was selected the organization’s College English Teacher of the Year. He served as an officer in the Southeastern Conference on English in the Two-Year College and was honored by SCETC in 1990 for his dedication and service. In 2004, SCETC presented Vickers with the prestigious Doster Award for his contributions to the organization and for co-authoring its history. Also, the Ovid S. Vickers Award for Excellence in the Teaching of English was created as an annual honor of the Two-Year College English Association of Mississippi to recognize an outstanding English instructor teaching fulltime in one of state’s community colleges. He published two books with profits benefiting the East Central Community College Foundation. His first book, The East Central I Knew: A History of East Central Community College, covers the college from its beginning in 1928 through 2013. His second book, Notes in the Margin: A Collection of Columns About East Central Community College, is a collection of essays Vickers pulled from his weekly newspaper columns, which highlight various people, places, and events associated with East Central Community College. Although recognized as a writer and speaker, Vickers was first and foremost a classroom teacher and was the first recipient of East Central’s Outstanding Instructor of the Year Award in 1982. He received the ECCC Alumni

Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. Upon his retirement, the college honored him with the naming of the Ovid S. Vickers Fine Arts Center. Vickers remained an integral part of the ECCC campus and Decatur and surrounding communities during his 25 years of retirement. Maria McLeod, assistant to the vice president for public information at ECCC who worked with Vickers on The Warrior alumni magazine his second book about East Central, Notes in the Margin. This photo has always been among my favorites and is how I will remember him, smiling as he sat in front of his typewriter. Wherever you saw him, you could always count on him for a great story, the latest news around campus or town, and for him to always treat you the same every time. He never failed to ask about my family. He and Mrs. Carol were always the first to open their home for a social gathering, shower, or retirement party, and

articles, wrote on her Facebook page, “Mr. Vickers will certainly be missed by all who knew him. I took this photo (the one shown on previous page) a few years ago in his office in Burton Library as we were preparing the cover for

all were welcome, wine drinkers and tee-totalers alike. And you were never judged for whichever one of those you happened to be. For much of his retirement, he still maintained an office on campus and you could see him walking from his home across the way most any day of the week. He was East Central’s biggest fan and always supported everything from academics, to fine arts, to athletics. I’ve missed seeing him as much the last few years as he no longer had that office nor did he venture out from home too much. But the times I did get to talk to him or see him, he was always the same smiling storyteller he has always been. Rest in peace, friend.” Vickers is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol Farish Vickers, and their three adult children, Nona Vickers of Birmingham, Ala.; Harriet Vickers Laird of Starkville; and Ovid Vickers III of Raymond, six grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. The family suggests that donations can be made to the Ovid S. and Carol F. Vickers Scholarship through the ECCC Foundation, P. O. Box 129, Decatur, MS 39327.

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