EMCC to honor 2014 Sports Hall of Fame inductees this weekend during Homecoming festivities on Scooba campus

SCOOBA – In conjunction with East Mississippi Community College's Homecoming festivities this weekend (Oct. 3-4) on the Scooba campus, 17 new members will be formally inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Fame.

EMCC's 2014 Sports Hall of Fame inductees will be honored with a Friday night reception and banquet to be held at the F.R. Young Student Union.  The 17-member class is also scheduled to be recognized Saturday afternoon at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field during halftime activities of the top-ranked Lions' 2 p.m. Homecoming football contest against nationally ranked Jones County Junior College.  Saturday's meeting will be a rematch of last year's MACJC State Championship Game, claimed by East Mississippi, 61-24, in Scooba.    

The 2014 induction class of the EMCC Sports Hall of Fame consists of: Thomas Adkins; George Belvin; LeGarrette Blount; Orlando Bobo; Ronnie Carter; William  D. "Buddy" Conn; Lavertte "Junior" Files; Rick Garner; Tom Goode; James "J.J." Johnson; John Mason; Don Massey; Steve Moore; Eddie Permenter; Rod Richards; Antowain Smith; and Tommy Smith.

East Mississippi Community College will also honor the school's 2014 Alumnus of the Year recipient (State Representative Jeff Smith) and Distinguished Service Award winner (the late State Senator Terry Brown) this weekend in Scooba.  Smith and Brown will be honored during EMCC's alumni/friends luncheon set to take place Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the F.R. Young Student Union on the Scooba campus.  The award recipients are also slated to be recognized during Homecoming halftime festivities of Saturday afternoon's EMCC-JCJC football contest.

For additional information about EMCC's 2014 Homecoming Weekend festivities on the Scooba campus, please visit either the school's main website at www.eastms.edu or athletics website at www.EMCCAthletics.com.

EMCC'S 2014 SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

THOMAS ADKINS – Former United States Marine Corps veteran who currently lives in Starkville and is presently working part-time with Mississippi State University's Center for Distance Education… After retiring from active duty in 1999 following 25 years of military service, Lieutenant Colonel Adkins became the associate director of the Technology Resource Institute, an economic development administration-funded university center, in MSU's College of Business… Following a standout prep career at DeKalb Attendance Center, Adkins played football and baseball at East Mississippi before becoming a two-year baseball letterman for Coach Pete Taylor at the University of Southern Mississippi.

GEORGE BELVIN – After playing for Hall of Fame football coach L.J. Davis at Enterprise High School, George Belvin was a standout wide receiver for coaching legend Bob "Bull" Sullivan at East Mississippi… Following a tour of duty in Vietnam as a member of the United States Marine Corps, Belvin resumed his education and football career at Mississippi College before embarking on a high school coaching/teaching career… He served a 15-year stint as the head football coach at Clarkdale High School while guiding the Bulldogs to a pair of conference championships and several bowl game appearances… Currently residing in Enterprise, Belvin also spent 21 years in the Air National Guard before retiring in 2004.

LeGARRETTE BLOUNT – Currently starring for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, LeGarrette Blount was a two-time All-American for head coach Roger Carr at East Mississippi during the 2006 and 2007 seasons… The Florida native posted a pair of 1,000-yard seasons as one of the nation's leading rushers for EMCC before moving onto the University of Oregon, where he tacked on another 1,000-yard season as a junior with 17 rushing touchdowns… Blount gained instant credibility in the professional ranks by becoming only the second undrafted rookie running back in league history to have a 1,000-yard season… After three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he enjoyed a successful one-year stopover a season ago with the New England Patriots before being picked up by the Steelers.

ORLANDO BOBO – The late Orlando Bobo was an all-state product from West Point who played for fellow West Point native Tom Goode's East Mississippi teams in 1992 and 1993… An NJCAA All-American as a sophomore for the Lions, Bobo capped his collegiate career at Northeast Louisiana University (now Louisiana-Monroe) by being named Division I-A All-Independent as a senior… Bobo's five-year NFL career as an offensive lineman was highlighted by being a member of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens team that beat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV… He also played the 2004 season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League before passing away in 2007 at just 33 years of age. 

RONNIE CARTER – Presently living in Pleasant View, Tenn., Ronnie Carter was a two-sport athlete (football and basketball) at Lee High School in Columbus before playing the 1963 football season at East Mississippi under the guidance of Bob "Bull" Sullivan… Upon finishing his undergraduate degree at Bethel College in Tennessee, Carter enjoyed a lauded 42-year education career… After an 11-year stint as a math teacher and multi-sport coach in Nashville, Carter joined the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association in 1978 and was elevated to TSSAA executive director in 1986 before retiring in 2009… A member of several Halls of Fame, he continues to do consulting work with the Varsity cheerleading organization and serves as executive director for USA Cheer.

WILLIAM D. "BUDDY" CONN – The late William D. "Buddy" Conn was an All-Choctaw Conference football performer at Noxubee County High School before playing as a two-way lineman for Bob "Bull" Sullivan at East Mississippi… A two-time all-state selection and team co-captain for the Lions as a sophomore, Conn was recruited by University of Alabama coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant among others… Conn instead opted to start a family and settled in the Shuqualak area, where he remained for the rest of his life working various jobs as a welder… Having become disabled several years prior to his death due to back injuries, Conn died in 1999.

LAVERTTE FILES JR. – Currently residing in the Clarkdale community south of Meridian, Lavertte "Junior" Files attended Meridian High School before playing for Hall of Fame football coach Bob "Bull" Sullivan at East Mississippi… Despite being tempted by football scholarship offers from various universities, Files opted to enter the work force as a lineman for East Mississippi Power Company… He later served our country for 27 years in the Air National Guard... During this time, he also spent six years traveling abroad working for the Lockheed Corporation as an electronics technician… Files also worked in the electrical field and then as an independent contractor for businesses and homes for more than 50 years.  

RICK GARNER – Rick Garner was a former standout quarterback at Starkville High School who then played football at East Mississippi for legendary coach Bob "Bull" Sullivan… Following a two-year stint in the United States Army, Garner earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from Mississippi State University… After coaching football for five seasons at Caldwell High School in Columbus, Garner began a career-long association with Hollis Roofing, Inc., and currently serves as the Columbus-based company's co-vice president and project manager… The recipient of EMCC's 2011 Distinguished Service Award also owns Riverhill Property Management and Real Estate, LLC in Columbus.

TOM GOODE – West Point native Tom Goode is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson as well as Mississippi State University's Sports Hall of Fame… His illustrious athletic career spanned nearly 50 years beginning with his collegiate days as an All-American offensive lineman at Mississippi State University… The highlight of Goode's nine-year professional football career (1962-70) was most notably being the snapper for Jim O'Brien's game-winning field goal in the Baltimore Colts' Super Bowl V victory… Following his retirement from pro football, Goode spent the next 20 years serving as an assistant football coach at four different SEC schools… He concluded his college coaching career during a 12-year (1992-2003) stint as head football coach and athletic director at East Mississippi.    

JAMES "J.J." JOHNSON – James "J.J." Johnson's football career was resurrected on the Scooba campus when he joined head coach Tom Goode's East Mississippi football team following a stint in the United States Naval Academy… The Mobile, Ala., native rushed for 909 yards and scored 15 touchdowns as a sophomore for the EMCC Lions to earn NJCAA All-Region 23 honors… Johnson then posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for head coach Jackie Sherrill at Mississippi State University, running for an SEC-high 1,383 yards and a dozen scores as a senior to earn the 1998 Conerly Trophy as Mississippi's best college football player… A second-round NFL draft pick, Johnson played three seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

JOHN MASON – Currently residing in DeKalb, John Mason played football at Foley (Ala.) High School before coming to East Mississippi to play for the late Bill Buckner during the 1973 and 1974 seasons… After graduating from Mississippi State University, Mason began a successful 29-year coaching and teaching career… Following a couple of different coaching stints at West Lauderdale High School, he settled in to enjoy a 19-year tenure as an assistant football coach at Meridian High School, where he helped lead the Wildcats to a state championship as well as a state runner-up finish and six division titles… Mason most recently has worked part-time for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

DON MASSEY – A career school administrator, Don Massey played football at Meridian High School and East Mississippi before moving onto Mississippi College and Livingston State University (now West Alabama)… He began teaching and coaching football at West Lauderdale High School before returning to serve as the school's principal for four years prior to an eight-year administrative stint as principal at Union High School… Presently living in Union, Massey later spent 17-plus years working in the Neshoba County School District as an elementary counselor, high school counselor and middle school assistant principal. 

STEVE MOORE – Steve Moore's influential 40-year career in the oil industry was set into motion while growing up on a small farm near Brooksville… A member of the Noxubee County High School Hall of Fame, Moore went on to play for head football coach A.J. Kilpatrick at East Mississippi before accepting an academic scholarship to attend Mississippi State University… Following his military stint in the United States Marine Corps, Moore began his successful oil industry career with Gulf Oil/Chevron… He continues to serve as one of the company's senior petroleum engineering mentors for Chevron's Gulf of Mexico Business Unit… Married to the former Janie Cooper of Brooksville, Moore and his brother Ernie, a fellow EMCC Sports Hall of Famer, currently co-own the old family farm.

EDDIE PERMENTER – Eddie Permenter currently resides in Starkville after spending 32 years as a welding technician at West Point-based Babcock & Wilcox (B&W)… Permenter was a three-sport letterman at Noxubee County High School before making the short trek to Scooba to play football for legendary coach Bob "Bull" Sullivan's East Mississippi Lions… He was recruited by the likes of Tulane and Jacksonville State before opting to stay close to home and raise a family… Permenter previously owned a cattle farm in West Point and continues to stay active in business ventures as owner of the Starkville-based K&E Janitorial Services.

ROD RICHARDS – Born in Mashulaville, the late Rod Richards was a three-sport athlete at Macon High School before enrolling in the United States Air Force and serving with the K-9 Division of the USAF's Air Police… Following his tour of duty, Richards played the 1956 and 1957 football seasons at East Mississippi under the guidance of legendary coach Bob "Bull" Sullivan… Having received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Memphis State University, Richards made a tremendous impact within the Memphis City Schools as a system-wide driver education teacher and administrator… The decorated Korean War veteran was honored with the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star, and Good Conduct Medal.

ANTOWAIN SMITH – A product of Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, Ala., Antowain Smith enjoyed a successful nine-year professional career with four different NFL teams before retiring in 2005… Selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft as the 23^rd pick overall by the Buffalo Bills, Smith spent four seasons with the Bills before signing with the New England Patriots… He picked up two Super Bowl rings with the Pats before closing out his pro career with one-year stops at Tennessee and New Orleans… Following a sophomore season under head coach Tom Goode at East Mississippi when he rushed for over 1,000 yards, Smith developed into the 1996 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year at the University of Houston with 1,239 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.

TOMMY SMITH – Tommy Smith was a three-sport standout (football, basketball and baseball) at West Lauderdale High School before having the honor of playing for coaching legends Bob "Bull" Sullivan and Keyes T. Currie at East Mississippi… Though courted to the university level by the likes of Georgia Tech and Miami (Fla.), Smith instead opted to enter the work force and began a 23-year career as a telephone repairman for Hughes Telephone Company… Presently residing in Collinsville, Smith has also raised beef cattle and later became an owner of a poultry farm.