The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame will induct six new members in its class of 2018 in a ceremony Saturday at the Jackson Convention Center.
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame is set to hold the induction ceremony for its class of 2018 Saturday at the Jackson Convention Center.
The induction banquet begins at 5:30 p.m., with the presentation of the inductees at 7 p.m. A meet and greet will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum (standard museum admission fee applies). For ticket information, call 601-982-8264, email generalinfo@msfame.com or visit msfame.com.
This year's class has a distinct coaching theme, as five of the inductees served as coaches in their respective sports in the Magnolia State.
Jackson served as the girls' basketball coach at Murrah High School in Jackson beginning in 1983, leading the Mustangs to a record nine Class 5A championships. She amassed a career record of 692-167 as her teams claimed numerous state titles. The Kosciusko native was the first coach to be named the Clarion Ledger All State Coach of the Year three times. Her other accolades include WBCA All American Coach (1999-00), McDonald's All American Coach (2004-05) and USA TODAY Most Caring Coach in American (1998).
Stribling coached basketball at the high school and college levels for 55 years. His boys' basketball teams at South Leake High School won a state championship, accrued a record of 741-171 and never had a losing season. The girls' team won two state championships under his leadership as well. At Mississippi Valley State, his teams won four SWAC Championships and three SWAC Tournament Championships, earning three NCAA Tournament bids along the way. After a short-lived retirement, Stribling continued coaching at Tougaloo, where his teams won four GCAC titles and a GCAC tournament while making five trips to the NAIA Tournament. His induction to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame is the latest of his Hall of Fame honors, as he is already a member of the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame, the SWAC Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Valley State Hall of Fame.
Jones, now in his 15th year as Mississippi College's athletic director, served as head coach at MC for 16 years, Copiah-Lincoln Community College for four years. In his head coaching career, he compiled a record of 436-130. He also served as an assistant coach at Southern Miss for eight years prior to his head coaching stints. He led MC to a total of five conference titles — one in the Gulf South Conference and four more in the American Southwest Conference. He also led his team to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 three times. He was named ASC Coach of the Year three times while at MC and Junior College Coach of the Year twice while at Co-Lin, also earning membership in the Co-Lin Sports Hall of Fame. Since he became athletic director at MC, the school has returned to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference.
Brewer is being honored both as a player and a coach. He played quarterback, defensive back, punter and holder for placekicking for Ole Miss from 1957-1960, earning All-SEC status as a defensive back. Brewer played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins in 1960 and in the CFL for the British Columbia Lions in 1961 before beginning his coaching career at Stephen D. Lee High School in 1963. He held a record of 70-17-2 when he left the high school coaching ranks in 1970 to pursue coaching at the collegiate level. After two years asa an assistant coach, he became head coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, earning a record of 38-24-2. He took over as head coach at Lousiana Tech in 1980, going 19-15-1 there before returning to Ole Miss to coach in 1983. He led the Rebels to five bowl appearances and a 67-56-3 record in 11 seasons, earning SEC Coach of the Year four times.
Walker is in his 30th season as Ole Miss' track and field coach. An Oxford native, he played both basketball and track, playing freshman basketball at Ole Miss before transferring to Mississippi College, where he lettered in cross country, track and basketball. He began collegiate coaching at MC, leading the Choctaws to three Gulf South Conference titles. During his time at MC, Larry Myricks won NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and AAU titles in the long jump, while Joe Boyles earned an NCAA Division II steeplechase championship. Walker has also coached at Ole Miss, Florida and Louisville. While coaching at Ole Miss, he led the Rebels to 11 top 20 finishes. His teams earned All American designations 124 times. At least one of his athletes or former athletes participated in every Olympic Games from 1976-2000 and then again in 2008. He is a member of the Mississippi College Athletic Hall of Fame and the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame.
Moore, the only posthumous member of the 2018 Hall of Fame class, was a professional boxer and the longest-reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time. He held the light heavyweight title from December 1952 until May 1962. Nicknamed "The Mongoose," he had one of the longest careers in boxing history, stratching through four decades. Moore recorded the most knockouts (132) in boxing history and moved up in class to get shots at the heavyweight title. He is the only athlete to fight both Rocky Marciano and Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). Born in Benoit in 1913 as Archibald Lee Wright, he moved to St. Louis to live with an aunt and uncle, adopting his uncle's last name. He started boxing professionally in 1935. Moore fought and lost to future heavyweight champ Ezzard Charles in 1946, then defeated Joey Maxim in 1952 to win the light heavyweight title at age 36. In 1955, Moore faced Marciano for the Heavyweight title and, despite knocking the champ to the canvas in the second round, lost the decision. He got another shot at the heavyweight title in 1956 against Floyd Patterson, but he lost by knockout. Moore was stripped of his light heavyweight title in 1962 but continued fighting as a heavyweight. He faced Ali in 1962, falling to the legend in a fourth-round knockout. Moore retired in 1963. He started and ran the ABC Youth Foundation in San Diego, California, which helps at-risk youngsters learn responsibility and work ethic. His son, Billy Moore, stills runs the foundation today.
April 15, 2019, 8:17 p.m.