Athletes Honored at MC Sports Hall of Fame April 24

Norman Minton coached notable players like former Gov. Ray Mabus and Jackson Prep football coach Ricky Black over the years.

A 1963 Mississippi College graduate who played fullback and halfback for the Choctaws, Minton is part of a strong lineup as the newest members of the MC Sports Hall of Fame.

A Clinton resident, Minton joins other former MC athletes who will be honored at their alma mater Saturday April 24. Former Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale is the master of ceremonies at the 6 p.m. event at Anderson Hall.

The ex-Brookhaven High football standout coached for years at Forest Hill High in Jackson. Minton finished his career as Siwell Road Junior High head coach and athletic director. Laurel and Ackerman were other coaching stops for Minton, who played "tough as nails" as a 150-pounder at MC, teammates recall.

Minton "certainly deserves to be in the college's Hall of Fame," says Enis Proctor, executive director of the Mississippi High School Activities Association. "Norman is a fine person who was as tough as they come."

Minton's late wife, Twana, worked with Proctor and other MHSAA staffers at their Clinton offices.

Others being honored that evening on the Clinton campus include:

-- Richie Taylor, 1993 MC graduate. Among national honors, Taylor played in the 1992 U.S. Amateur at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. He was named to the All Gulf South Conference team in 1993. He was team MVP in 1991, 1992 and co-MVP in 1993.

--Chris Michael. The Choctaws baseball player was MVP of the 1976 team and made the All West Division of the Gulf South Conference in 1975-76. He also was an outstanding pitcher with wins against teams like Delta State, William Carey and Belhaven.

--Tony Eddins, Class of 1987. The most valuable player for the football team in 1986 and Gulf South Conference Player of the Week three times. Pro football's Cleveland Browns drafted him as a free agent.

--Van H. Savell, Jr., member of the 1987 class. Savell was a stellar performer on the track team who set records in the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter events. He was also an NCAA Division II All-American in cross country in 1986.

--Darrell DeWayne Hopkins, Class of 1988. Hopkins was team captain with the Choctaws football squad in 1987 and voted the best defensive player that year. He was named to the Gulf South Conference All Academic Football team in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

--Randall A. Boone, Class of 1957. Boone was a basketball star at Jones County Junior College and MC. He also coached basketball and football for five years before entering the insurance industry. Boone retired after 25 years as vice president with Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.

--Lori Lee Bustin Touliatos, a 1990 MC graduate. Touliatos was voted the most valuable player of the MC tennis team in 1987 and 1989. Now a Memphis resident, Touliatos won the All Gulf South Conference Sportsmanship Award in 1988. She's run marathons since 2002 and is qualified for the 2010 Boston Marathon.

For more information on the event, contact Lori Bobo at lbobo@mc.edu or Ross Aven at aven@mc.edu.