Former EMCC President Dr. Tommy Davis inducted into Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame

SCOOBA – Former East Mississippi Community College President Dr. Thomas L. "Tommy" Davis Jr. was one of 15 individuals inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame during Tuesday night's 10^th annual induction banquet held at the Clyde Muse Center on Hinds Community College's Rankin Campus.

Along with one individual from each of the state's 14 other community colleges, Davis was formally inducted this week after maintaining a distinguished career of nearly 50 years as an administrator, educator and athletic coach primarily within the Magnolia State.  Born in Prentiss County, Davis has represented EMCC through the years as a standout student-athlete, a well-respected college president and now in retirement as a loyal supporter of the school he helped revive some 25 years ago.

The eldest of eight children, Davis graduated from Calhoun City High School in 1952.  Following an outstanding prep football career, Davis played tight end as well as defensive end for Hall of Fame football coach Bob "Bull" Sullivan at East Mississippi Junior College.  Davis received his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College.  He later earned a master's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and his doctorate in educational administration from Mississippi State University.

A member of the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame, Davis spent two decades teaching and coaching in the high school ranks, including in-state stops in Pachuta, Meridian, Heidelberg and Columbia along with an out-of-state stint in suburban St. Louis, Missouri.  He also coached collegiately at Louisiana College prior to joining Holmes Community College in 1971 as director of athletics and head football coach.  After receiving his terminal degree, Davis moved into college administration at Holmes.

Davis' 14-year East Mississippi Community College tenure was highlighted by tremendous enrollment growth, the addition of much-needed facilities on both the Scooba and Mayhew campuses, as well as the creation of new campus programs and activities.  For a number of years under his leadership, EMCC was one of the nation's fastest-growing community colleges while expanding from just over 1,000 students in 1990 when Davis took over as president to 4,000 students enrolled at the time of his retirement in 2004.  For his administrative efforts, the 2002 EMCC Sports Hall of Fame inductee was named the college's Distinguished Service Award recipient and Alumnus of the Year in 2004.

Active in church work as a deacon and Sunday school teacher, Davis is married to the former Rita Chatham, of Rose Hill.  Currently residing in Meridian, they have two sons, Thomas L. Davis III and Jonathan E. Davis.

This year marked the 10th class of the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame.  Davis joins previously elected EMCC inductees Tom Goode (2015), Randall Bradberry (2014), Retha Hand Henderson (2013), Johnny Fisher (2012), Joe Rowell (2011), Tom Scarborough (2010), Elbert "Lum" Wright (2009), Ken Waddell Sr. (2008), Don Edwards (2008), Clyde "Baby Doll" Pierce (2007), Bill Buckner (2007), and Bob "Bull" Sullivan (2007).

Other newly elected members honored during Tuesday's Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies included: James Washington Sr. (Coahoma CC); Troy C. Greer (Copiah-Lincoln CC); Marcus Thames (East Central CC); Minor Hines (Hinds CC); Mike Kinnison (Holmes CC); Billy Q. Caples (Itawamba CC); Deion Branch (Jones County JC); Sean Covich (Meridian CC); Michael DeJean (Mississippi Delta CC); Connie Winstead-Mackay (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC); Phyllis Stafford Dilworth (Northeast Mississippi CC); Fred Thomas (Northwest Mississippi CC); Jeffery Posey (Pearl River CC); and Charleen Newcomb (Southwest Mississippi CC).