Greeting Readers, Matthew 25:21 speaks about God’s words about work, and they read: Jesus said, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

The Jackson State University Brookhaven/Lincoln County Alumni Association, Blue and White Scholarship Ball was held Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the FEMA Building on Beltline Road in Brookhaven. The building was beautifully decorated to portray Jackson State colors. The alumni, their guests and loyal supporters also sported blue and white to represent JSU. A program was presented for this joyous and beneficial occasion with Cora Edwards serving as the program guide. Robert Kenny offered the Invocation followed by greetings and the occasion by Rebecca McCall. Mary Buie Smith came forward and introduced the scholarship and book recipients that has benefited, and she spoke about others who continue to benefit from this local group generosity.

A special presentation was made by the president Flora Kelly to commemorate the late Mr. Melton McMorris Sr. who was a loyal member of the Brookhaven/Lincoln County JSU Alumni Association. He is the son of Sam and Della McMorris, the spouse of Mary Frances Lyons McMorris and the father of Melton Jr., Myrtle, Charles, Myrtis, Larry, Jesse, Loretta, Quitman and Emma. He attended Lincoln County Training School at Bogue Chitto and received a Bachelor of Science from Jackson State University in Jackson. He did further study at the University of Illinois, Southern University of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and obtained a Master of Science from Utah State University. His teaching career was with the Lincoln County School System and in Santa Maria, California. He has received numerous awards and recognitions. His community involvement includes past president of the local American Red Cross, past president of the local branch of the NAACP, past vice president of the Brookhaven Chapter of the Jackson State Alumni Association, former member of the Democratic Executive Board and the Bogue Chitto Community Center. He served as a deacon and as an adviser to the education ministry at New Zion Union M. B. Church pastored by Rev. Eugene Edwards. Mr. Melton McMorris truly believed that a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

It was with great honor and pleasure that the Brookhaven/Lincoln County Chapter of the Jackson State University Alumni Association recognize Mr. Melton McMorris for his dedicated and loyal services to this group. A plaque was given in his honor to his wife, Mary F. McMorris. The presiding president Mrs. Flora Kelly gave closing remarks followed with music, provided by Derrick Lewis and finger foods were served.

A golden celebration was held to commemorate the 50^th year anniversary of football at Loyd Star Attendance Center on Oct. 16 on campus. This celebration started in the cafeteria with an informal reception of former football players, coaches, spouses, families and friends. The main focus was on the first group of football players that played on the “W. E. Sambo” Football Field in 1965. Group pictures were taken of these players and coaches. There were football players there from different years and eras to join in this celebration.

I interviewed some of the players and the coaches that were present: I was delighted to hear what they had to say, and they did it with great enthusiasm.

Coach Jack Case is proud to have been a part of the history of Loyd Star football and is thankful to still be alive to witness this celebration. He was very proud to see some of the guys that he worked with during the years of 1965-66, 1966-67, 1970-71 and 1971-74 at this celebration. His wife accompanied him, and she was glad to be a part of this celebration.

Coach James Cothern served as the assistant coach in 1966 and as the head coach 1967-68. He stated that those were the good ole days, some very good years. He met and married his wife Betty Cothren while coaching at Loyd Star, and their daughter Dana Rushing teaches ninth through 12th science classes at Loyd Star today.

Coach Ricky Ferguson was one of the elite players of the Class of 1965 who had the distinct opportunity to be a student, a player and return in 1974 to become the head coach of Loyd Star football team. He enjoyed coaching football there from 1974-1980. He stated that he had great memories from those days as a player and as a coach. The guys that he worked with turned-out well. His wife Cathy Ferguson also taught at Loyd Star. This celebration was a great ideal.

Coach Roe Burns served as the head coach from 1980 – 1999, and he is proud to have worked in this position. He is happy to have been a part of this grand celebration, and it has meant a lot to him and his wife. He would like to thank Loyd Star for the recognition.

Ricky Smith remembers serving as assistant coach under coaches Ricky Ferguson and Roe Burns for about 20 years. He is glad to have been a part of this celebration, and the memories are great.

Wayne Smith was the first quarterback to accommodate Lloyd Star football field, and he and his fellow classmates are honored to have had this distinct opportunity. This group name and their jersey number was as follows in 1965: 10-Wayne Smith, 12 -Edsel Criswell, 20 -Mickey Vaughn, 21 -Danny Bo Allen (deceased), 25-Joe Lofton, 35-Mike Assink, 38 Ricky Ferguson, 40-Mike Calcote, 41-Danny Ferguson, 45-Carroll Bruce Smith, 54-James McCullough, 58-Jerome Newell, 60 Ray Case, 64-Douglas James, 65-Leslie Smith, 65-Donald Cade, 67-Jerry Case, 69-Lanny Taylor (deceased), 70-Mitchell Falvey, 71-Dwayne Britt (Deceased), 72-Rickey Falvey, 75-Charles Ray James, 77-Steve Britt (deceased), 78 Gary Norton, 80-Floyd Wayne Trout, 81-Gerald Williams, 82-Carroll Britt, 85-Mickey Smith, 86-Ronny Montgomery, and 88-Terry Vaughn. Coach Donald Hillman, Mitchell Britt, Danny Fred Smith, Donald Walker and Mr. Bart Calcote.

The 1965 Players present were presented at the game against Enterprise on Oct. 16 during halftime on the football field, were, numbers: 10, 12, 20, 25, 38, 40, 41, 45, 58, 60, 65, 67, 80, 81and 88. Number 21 was represented by Seth Allen, and number 71 represented by his uncle Dykes Britt. Number 77 was represented by Bruce Britt.

Webb Britt, class of 1971, played from 1968-1971 and is proud to have had the opportunity to play. He stated that those were the good ole days. His sons Keith Britt 1990-92 and Jody Britt 1996-98 were also athletes at Loyd Star. Also, Tim Vaughn and Donald Fisher were vital  students and football players of the class of 1971 era. Keith Jones stated that he had the opportunity to play from 1976-1980 and is proud to have been in his era. Virgil Roberts remembered Jesse Hartwell and himself of the class of 1972 along with their teammates playing football together on the W.E. Sambo Football Field. Gary Walker remembered playing football from 1979-1982, and these are proud memories.

Mickey Vaughn from the 1965 football team and Terry Britt were vital in putting together this 50^th year golden anniversary celebration. They are glad that each of you came out to commemorate this grand celebration and are proud of its success.

During the football game to honor this occasion: Loyd Star versus Enterprise: the Loyd Star Quarterback who served was Michael Anthony Harvey II and the Loyd Star player who made the first touchdown was Parker Flowers followed by a touchdown and field goal by Blake and one by James Beard Jr. Then Parker made another touchdown with the field goal conversion by Michael Harvey, followed by Pat Price with conversion by Parker and another touchdown was by Parker Flowers. The final touchdown was by Pat Price with the final score Loyd Star 54 and Enterprise  32. Coach Adam Cook along with his coaching staff would like for this to go down in the history of Loyd Star Attendance Center archives as being a fun and an exciting evening and one that can be deemed as successful for the 50^th year golden anniversary of football at Loyd Star. This win was positive for this young team and coach Cook, his staff, the faculty, staff, students, parents and the community are proud of these guys.

If you have any Loyd Star Area News to Report, please call Carolyn E. Beard Humphries at 601-833-5753.