Seven graduates of the South Pike School District returned to their roots to be inducted in the district’s inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame.
Inducted Friday night at Eva Gordon Elementary School were Dr. Leslie Daniels of Greenwood, Dr. Jerry Wayne Dillon of Chicago, Magnolia Alderman Abner J. “Bud” Flowers, former pro football player Joe Lowery of Jackson, Federal District Judge Keith Starrett of McComb and Hattiesburg and Dr. Maude Andrews Wright of Jackson.
Inductees, Magnolia dentist Dr. Chip Leggett and former U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton of Jackson, were not able to attend. Starrett spoke on behalf of his friend Lampton, who has been hospitalized for injuries related to a serious accident he suffered several years ago.
Lampton is a 1968 South Pike graduate and served as 14th District Attorney, until receiving an appointment by President George W. Bush in 2001 as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.
South Pike Superintendent Dr. Bill Gunnell greeted the crowd of supporters. “Welcome back to everyone. I’m glad to have this many people attend and be a part of this.”
Surprise inductee and the district’s first Alumnus of the Year was Magnolia mayor and longtime Eva Gordon principal Melvin O. Harris. He was on the committee that drafted the nominees but didn’t know he was an honoree.
South Pike graduate Sam Hall said, “I don’t think (Harris) gets enough credit for what he did in the South Pike School District.”
Hall remembered having Harris as a principal and said he brought out the paddle when necessary.
“If you got out of order, he’d put you back in order. Looking back, I’m really thankful for him. He made men out of us at a young age,” Hall said.Harris’ son, Patrick, said his father is proudest of three personal best moments: marrying his wife Mennie, becoming principal at Eva Gordon and becoming the first black mayor of Magnolia.
Patrick said his father was a principal “at a time when teachers ruled classrooms and neighborhoods raised kids.”
Magnolia resident Jimmy Harris introduced Flowers, a 1941 graduate of Magnolia High School, World War II veteran, family man and Magnolia alderman since 1990.
“The Bud I know is strong, sensitive to the needs of others, faithful and caring,” Harris said. “He is the true epitome of a true Southern gentleman, and I’m honored and privileged to call him my friend.”
Flowers received two Purple Hearts for his war service and is one of only three living original 50 members of the Magnolia Rotary Club.
Daryl Daniels introduced his father Leslie, who is a 1958 graduate of Pike County Agricultural High School.
He talked about his father’s nearly 48-year education career that took him from South Pike, then to Tougaloo College and a two-year stint in the U.S. Army. After his service, Daniels earned master’s and specialist degrees in education from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.
Daniels was the first African-American McComb High School principal and first black superintendent of McComb and Greenwood school districts.
Vickie Dillon Mumford introduced her brother, Dr. Jerry Wayne Dillon, a periodontal expert and 1979 honor graduate of South Pike. Mumford spoke of her brother’s love of education, music and his profession. Dillon established Lake Luvarn near Magnolia and owns The Eagle’s Nest Lodge on the property in honor of his parents, the late Monroe and Luvarn Dillon.
He attended Alcorn State University, Meharry Medical College and Northwestern University, where he completed post-graduate studies as well as specialty training in oral biology.
Gail Lowery introduced her husband, Joe, a football standout and 1972 graduate of South Pike High School and a 30-year law enforcement officer.
She said gets e-mails from people who remember her husband’s abilities as a running back for Jackson State University “as if it were yesterday.” It was while at JSU that the Buffalo Bills drafted “Rubberneck Lowery” as running back. Lowery’s No. 35 South Pike jersey has been retired.
Inductee Wright is a 1971 graduate of South Pike and is a graduate of Tougaloo College and Tufts University School of Medicine.
She is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and has practiced in Jackson since 1983. She is medical director of the child psychiatry unit at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson and is on staff at University Medical Center. She and her husband, Cecil, who recently suffered a stroke, live in the Jackson area.
Barbara Starrett introduced her husband and inductee Keith, a 1969 graduate of South Pike. She spoke of Starrett’s legal career and successes in the judiciary. She noted his 17 years in private practice, time as an assistant district attorney and his appointment by President George W. Bush as a federal district judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
She also noted his widely copied establishment of the state’s first felony-level drug court and his continued work in expanding drug court to Mississippians.
Leggett is a 1966 graduate of South Pike and earned degrees from the University of Mississippi and the University of Tennessee. He is a lifelong resident of Magnolia.
