‘Legends’ coaches recognized for contributions
Area coaches honored by the Community Engagement Council Aug. 4 at Southwest Events Center and special guests include, seated, from left, Sen. Gary Brumfield, coaches Ken Murphy, Cynthia Magee, Evelyn Hasley, Leon “Pop” Magee, Min. Teddi Gatlin, Community Engagement Council, coach Jimmy Lee; back row, standing, coaches Danny McCallum, Steven Fortenbrerry, Robert Conerly, Gwynn Holmes, Dwight Smith, Vern Lee, Zachary Fortenberry and Eld. Glenn Allen, master of ceremony.
In what they hope will be an annual event to recognize teachers, community leaders and others who have made contributions over the years to the community, primarily as mentors to area youth, the Walthall Community Engagement Council held its first event recognizing a group of former coaches who, as Eld. Glenn Allen put it, “had a lasting effect on those of my generation and generations that followed.” (About 60 years old and under.)
Allen said the list of those honored recently “is by no means inclusive,” as the coaches were those that impacted the lives of not only the athletes they coached, but other students, as well, as most coaches taught academic subjects in addition to their coaching activities.
“Coaches have a unique relationship with their students. They not only spend classroom time with them, but spend a great deal of out-of-class time, after school and on weekends. In lots of cases, coaches end up as surrogate parents, students coming to them for advice on everything from classwork to problems they’re having at home. And just about every coach here today has carried a student home if he or she missed the bus after school or after practice,” Allen said.
“Tonight, we honor this special group for helping guide generations of students, many of whom credit their successes today on the training they received in Walthall County Schools.”
Allen said the group represented a cross section of the county. Some spent years at one campus, others taught and coached at several campuses and some even migrated to Louisiana during their careers.
Coach Gwynn Holmes’ career included coaching teams at Dexter, Salem and Tylertown and even taught in Louisiana during his time in the profession.
Coach Leon “Pop” Magee is a legend in the world of track. He is the father of the track and field program at THS. When you see those fast running backs on today’s Chiefs football teams, you can trace that speed back to Coach Magee.
Coach Zach Fortenberry is today a member of the Walthall County School Board. He’s the youngster, the baby of this group.
Many of our coaches became accomplished in other areas. Coach Cynthia Magee became principal of Tylertown High School and later served as Walthall County Superintendent of Education.
“We’ve just mentioned a few, but each of their former student athletes has a special story of how they related to their former coach, and what that still means to them today,” Allen said.
