Homecoming 2010 Attracts Mississippi College Graduates

Thousands of Mississippi College alumni will return to the Clinton campus Oct. 14-16 for a golf tournament, a Choctaws football game, an awards dinner, a parade along College Street and much more.

There are events literally for all generations of the family at MC that recently began its 185^th academic year. This season’s homecoming theme is “MC: The Legacy Continues.”

Come early on Thursday Oct. 14 and see MC’s soccer team face Texas Lutheran as the Lady Choctaws kick things off with a game at 1 p.m. followed by the men’s team at 3 p.m. at Longabaugh Field. There’s a 50-Year Club reunion set for 6:30 p.m. that evening at Anderson Hall.

Some of Friday’s activities include the 11 a.m. Homecoming Golf Tournament at the Live Oaks Golf Course. Sponsored by the National M Club, the event begins with lunch followed by a shotgun start at noon. The tournament is open to students, alumni and guests.

Friday’s events proceed with a 6 p.m. National Alumni Association meeting and alumni awards dinner at Anderson Hall.

Then it’s onto Saturday morning with more than 200 runners expected for the Hap Hudson 5K Run in honor of the longtime MC coach and physical education teacher. The event begins at 8 a.m. at Cockroft Hall and winds through historic downtown Clinton.

Catch your breath, and stay around campus as alumni and friends honor a living legend, internationally celebrated artist Sam Gore at a 10 a.m. reception at the Gore Galleries. A 1951 MC graduate, Gore’s career has spanned more than a half-century.

Food is always part of the scene for homecoming and alumni can expect to reconnect with friends and enjoy a cookout on the Quad  starting at 11 a.m. Stick around and President Lee Royce plans to address visitors and meet Choctaw athletes at noon.

Saturday’s Homecoming Parade at 1 p.m. will bring legions of alumni, faculty and students to College Street. And don’t forget the MC Singers in concert at 1:30 p.m. at Provine Chapel. MC’s homecoming kickoff against East Texas Baptist University is set for 3 p.m. at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

Football is a big attraction, but so are the many class reunions over the weekend.

MC leaders will hand out major awards during Homecoming, too.

The 2010 Alumnus of the Year is the late Rev. William P. Smith III, of Tupelo. The beloved MC graduate of the Class of 1959 was a devoted member of the MC family who faithfully served on the university’s board of trustees and as president of the Alumni Association. A Virginia native, Smith was a longtime Baptist leader in Northeast Mississippi.

The Young Alumnus of the Year is Dr. James Robert Futral, Jr., a member of the Class of 1993. Futral serves as pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison where he’s led since September 2003. Futral received his bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies at MC, and a master of divinity and doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Larry Drawdy, who received his bachelor’s degree in 1963 and master’s in 1965, both from Mississippi College, and a doctorate at Mississippi State University, is the recipient of the Order of the Golden Arrow Award. He is the interim deputy superintendent at the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of School Improvement, Oversight and Recovery. He is former superintendent of the Biloxi public schools.

The Award of Excellence goes to Mack Murriel of Clinton, who worked at Mississippi College for a half-century until his recent retirement. He joined the MC Food Services Department in January 1960. After going to work in the dish room as an 18-year-old in 1960, he also served as a cook and was head chef from 1984 through his retirement.

MC departments and schools will honor other outstanding alumni with other awards at the 2010 homecoming.

For a complete schedule of MC's Homecoming events - from alumni reunions to department receptions and 50-Year Club gatherings - go to the university's web site at www.alumni.mc.edu/homecoming or call alumni affairs at 1.866.232.3945 or 601.925.3252.