Warrior Magazine June 2020

Annie Pearl Matthews (’50), a retired social studies educator from Winston County, was inducted into the Mis sissippi Social Studies Educators Hall of Fame. She spent 47 years as an educator in both the Louisville Mu nicipal School District and at Choc taw Central High School. She also had stints at Neshoba Central High School, Mary Holmes College, and was an adjunct instructor at ECCC for 15 years. Alumni Updates 50 s 80 s •

Association, and First Team All-State. He later went to play for Delta State where he received the Sportsmanship Award. He was inducted in the ECCC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

High School and ECCC, where he played baseball for both the Rockets and the Warriors. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Mississippi State University in 1997 and his master’s degree from MSU in 2008. He and his wife, Sharon, also an ECCC graduate, have two children, Haley and Tyler. Former Warrior basketball player and ECCC Athletic Hall of Fame member Marcus Mann (’94) was the subject of a recent feature in The Carthaginian which highlighted his road from local basketball star to the 40th draft pick of Golden State Warriors back home to Mississippi to a higher calling as a pastor. Phyliss J. Anderson (’94), while serving as tribal chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, was selected 2019 Tribal Leader of the Year by the North American Finance Officers Association. The award honors a tribal leader who has displayed significant foresight and resolve in the financial advancement of his or her tribal nation. Joey Crain (’97) of Forest has been named senior care director at Merit Health Rankin. He is a registered nurse with a master of nursing/ healthcare administration degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Crain provides oversight to the geriatric inpatient behavioral health unit. He and his wife, Julie, have four children. Alumnus and former Warrior football player Cyrus Ben (’98) was elected tribal chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in elections held in 2019. Barry Richardson (’98) was recently named athletic director at Philadelphia High School where he also serves as a mathematics teacher. Zach Sanders (’98), longtime assis tant coach, has been named to head the Lady Rockets softball team at Neshoba Central High School. Sand ers has been part of the Lady Rockets program since the spring fastpitch season of 2013. The Lady Rockets have been a dominating powerhouse as they have won eight straight slowpitch championships and seven

Mike McMullan (’84) was recently named associate dean of

student affairs for the University of Mississip pi Medical Center School of Medicine. Longtime Union football coach and athletic director Brad Breland (’88) recently announced his retirement from the school. He had served as head football coach at his alma mater since 2001. Breland is a 1986 gradu ate of Union High School. In May he was announced as the new head foot ball coach at East Rankin Academy in Pelahatchie where his assistant coach will be brother Jeff Breland (’83) of Lake. Jeff Breland was a two-sport athlete at East Central and inducted into the ECCC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. Gene Cliburn (’88) of Union serves as principal of Tucker Elementary School and was recently featured in The Neshoba Democrat for his work. He is a longtime educator and has positions with both Philadelphia and Union schools. Stacie Clark (’91) was recently named Teacher of the Year at Neshoba Central Elementary School. She teaches fourth grade and has taught at Neshoba Central for 27 years. Ken McMullan (’92) received his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University. Tommy Holland (’94) of Philadel phia was recently named Adminis trator of the Year for the Neshoba County School District. Holland is the student services and maintenance director for the Neshoba County School District and also serves as athletic director. He is the district hearing officer, works closely with the alternative school, and supervises the coaching and maintenance staffs. Holland is a Neshoba County native and graduate of Neshoba Central 90 s •

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R. Keith Livingston (’61) of Ruckersville, Va., recently published his autobiography, This Beautiful Thing

Called Church . Born and raised on a farm in Winston County, this coun try boy’s life sky rockets from his humble beginnings to the corporate world of one of the most prestigious companies in the U.S. He credits the Christian foundation taught by his parents and the accountability and fellowship of his church families over the years for the wonderful life he and his family have enjoyed. He and Kathryn Rainer (’61) have been married 58 years. They have two sons, Lee and Steve. His book is avail able at Amazon, Barnes & Nobile, the Apple Store, and the Bookstore for Xulonpress. He can be reached at rkl. tbtcc@gmail.com. Leake County native Truman Moore (’61) was recently selected for induc tion into the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame. He had stints at Lucedale, South Leake, and Scott Central high schools, before spending nearly half of his 40-year career at Sebastopol. He coached both boys and girls basketball and baseball. He retired in 2004. He and his wife, former ECCC mathematics instructor and alumna Gary Ann, reside in Leake County. Former Warrior football player Rex Keeton (’65) of Morton was selected for induction into the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame. Keeton is a na tive of Morton, and during his time at East Central he played football on the 1963 and 1964 Warrior teams. He was team captain in 1964 and select ed the Most Valuable Lineman in the Mississippi Junior College Athletic

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