Todd Haygood is an administrator in the Franklin County School District, serving as principal of the alternative school and as district transportation director.
He’s a former football player, both at the high school and collegiate level.
But it was archery that he spoke passionately about at the McComb Rotary Club Wednesday.
Haygood, who has loved bows and arrows since he was a kid in Amite County, coaches the sport in Franklin County and promotes it everywhere he goes.
He claims it’s the fastest growing sport in the nation — one that anyone can compete in, regardless of skill and physical handicaps.
It allows kids who aren’t able to participate in traditional ball sports — even those in wheel chairs and severe disabilities — to compete, he said. “Kind of like golf, they compete against other kids and also themselves,” he said.
Archery in Mississippi Schools (AIMS) is sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the Foundation for the state agency.
AIMS instructors, such as Haygood, are certified by the National Archery in the Schools Program.
An AIMS brochure says “Mississippi has over 20,000 students per year shooting in the program” with a “zero percent injury rate.”
Haygood said Percy Quin State Park has one of the “finest ranges there is.” He credited Billy Jacobs, sales manager at Howell Motors, for volunteer work at the range.
Haygood also mentioned the late Bob Lambuth for his work in promoting archery, as well as Gary Randall.
Haygood is hoping to help introduce the sport to area schools that don’t have it — McComb does — and also to the collegiate level.
Southwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. Steve Bishop, who introduced Haygood, said he hopes to start an archery program at SMCC.
