Putting a Wrap on 2015

Putting a Wrap on 2015
By
Bill Blackwell
 
2015 has been a very good year here at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.  We inducted a 6 person class of Hall of Fame worthy coaches and players that bring our total of inductees to 286 members.  Our next class has already been selected with Jackie Sherrill, Kay James, Wesley Walls, Sean Brewer, Larry Smith and the late Willie Heidelburg being added this coming July 30th.
 
Thanks to the efforts of the staff, and the contributions of many we have been able to replace worn carpeting, add a fabulous signage package, update some of our exhibits and add new attractions to our collection.  A wonderful new storage facility allows us to organize and preserve much of our archived materials.
 
We did lose one of our original staff when Margaret Ferriss-White retired in the fall but she continues to supply aid and support for the facility she helped build.  Four more Outstanding Player Awards were given through the C Spire Conerly Trophy, the C Spire Howell and Gillom Trophies and the C Spire Ferriss Trophy.  We had another great turnout for our annual Farm Bureau Watermelon Classic 5k Race.  Our golf tournament and other fund raising events were also well attended and the BanCorp South Induction Banquet was the largest ever with over 800 people at the event.
 
So what can you look forward to in 2016 from your Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum?  Well, Executive Director Rick Cleveland has been diligently working to finish a new welcome video to replace our current offering that has been in use since the building opened back in 1996.  It should debut near the end of our first quarter in 2016.
 
Beginning in March we will be hosting a Smithsonian traveling exhibit entitled “Home Town Teams”.  This display will tell how sports has shaped American culture in many ways.  Your Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame was chosen as the first stop on a state-wide tour of 5 other locations.  We will offer special speakers and events throughout the six week stay.
 
As the calendar rolls into January we hope you will come and see the many changes that have taken place here at our home on Lakeland Drive and come back often.  Our charge has been to educate the younger generations and tell the stories of all of the World Class Athletes that our state has produced.  Mississippi has a great athletic heritage and we want you and your children to know about the people who brought the athletic accomplishments home.