Hall of Fame
RECOGNITION BANQUET
Sports & Alumni HALL OF FAME
RECOGNITION BANQUET
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Frank Haney Union
Master of Ceremonies - Blake Long, Sports Information Director
CEREMONY
Welcome and Remarks
Dr. Ricky Ford, President
SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Introduction of Inductees and Presentation of Awards
Blake Long, Sports Information Director
Kent Farris, Athletic Director
ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
Introduction of Inductee and Presentation of Award
Patrick Eaton, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Development Foundation & Alumni Association
MEAL
Invocation
Mike Lester, Sports Hall of Fame Committee Member and Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee
SPORTS Hall of Fame
Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Sports Hall of Fame was conceived in the interest of recognizing coaches, athletes, and administrators who coached and/or played or were loyal supporters of Northeast athletics.
Acknowledging the fact that there have been many outstanding athletes who have contributed greatly to the sports programs at Northeast through the years, Northeast wished to begin a program of recognition whereby individuals may be recognized for their contributions to athletics at Northeast.
By-Laws for the Sports hall of Fame were drafted and approved by a committee made up of coaches, fans, and members of the Northeast Board of Trustees in 2007. The framework was established to recognize ten individuals the first year and up to five individuals each year thereafter.
During its inaugural Sports Hall of Fame class, Northeast inducted Harold T. White, W.B. “Bill” Ward, Ken Lindsey, Chuck “Doodle” Floyd, Gene Garrett, Adrian Smith, Kenneth “Cat” Robbins, David “Nub” Strickland, Earline “Woodsie” Woods and Bonner Arnold as members.
2025 - 26 SPORTS HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE
Ken Basil, Northeast Board of Trustees Member
Greg Davis, Football Head Coach
Patrick Eaton, VP of Institutioal Advancement & Foundation Executive Director
Kent Farris, Northeast Athletic Director
Richy Harrelson, Baseball Head Coach
Malcolm Kuykendall, Alumni Representative/Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Jim Lamb, Alumni Representative/Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Mike Lester, Alumni Representative/Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee
Blake Long, Sports Information Director
Jody Long, Softball Head Coach
Brenda Mayes, Assistant Athletic Director/Volleyball Head Coach
Brian Middleton, Women's Basketball Head Coach
Cord Wright, Men's Basketball Head Coach
SCAN THE QR CODE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE
Sports Hall of Fame
1. Former Northeast athletes shall be eligible for selection to the Sports Hall of Fame on the basis of his or her record as a player and/or contributions to the college only after he or she has been out of active intercollegiate athletics for at least 3 (three) years.
2. Former Northeast coaches and/administrators shall be eligible for selection on the basis of his or her records as a coach, athletic director, and/or contributions to the college only after he or she has been out of regular and active coaching or out of regular and active athletic administration at Northeast Mississippi Community College for at least 3 (three) years or at the discretion of the selection committee.
3. Support of Northeast Mississippi Community College Athletics will be considered in the selection.
4. Inductees must be able to attend the induction ceremonies. If they cannot attend, they shall be honored the following year. In the event of a posthumous induction, a representative of the family must be able to attend.
5. After the initial induction, the Northeast Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame will induct a maximum of 5 (five) honorees annually.
6. A two-thirds vote of the committee shall be required for election into the Sports Hall of Fame.
7. If a nominee is not selected the year his or her name is submitted, his or her nomination shall be retained for consideration by the selection committee.
SELECTION:
1. A selection committee, which will be chaired by the college’s Athletic Director, will be comprised of the chairman and nine additional members to include the director of alumni activities and the head coach of each sport or his/her designee.
2. Two-thirds of the selection committee must be present in order to select inductees.
3. The selection committee shall conduct its proceedings and selections in executive session and all matters that come before it, including the vote of the committee, shall be treated as privileged and confidential.
4. The selection committee shall consider and evaluate all nominees placed before it by the nomination ballot, together with all information pertaining to such nominees including such information as the members of the selection committee may provide through personal knowledge and investigation.
5. The selection committee shall keep an accurate and continuing record of all nominees and all members elected to the Sports Hall of Fame and such records shall be considered to be the property of Northeast Mississippi Community College.
6. In the event a member of the selection committee is nominated to the Hall of Fame, this member would be required to recuse himself or herself from voting for that year.
7. One additional member will be added to the selection committee each year. This member will be selected from past inductees on a one year rotating basis by the selection committee.
ALUMNI Hall of Fame
Northeast Mississippi Community College's Alumni Hall of Fame was established to recognize the achievement of outstanding alumni who have excelled personally and professionally, making a continued and significant difference in their community on a local, state, national, or international level.
2025 - 26 FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Zeb Taylor, President
Steve Morgan, Vice President
John Floyd, Treasurer
Dr. George Nock, Secretary
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Elena Renfrow, SGA President
ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE
Barbara Shackelford, Alumni Relations President
EMPLOYEE
ENHANCEMENT FUND
Dr. George Nock, EEF Chairperson
DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
D. Patrick Eaton, MBA, CFRE Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Foundation Executive Director
Tiffany Johnson, CEOE Foundation Financial Officer
Lexie Fields, MBA Foundation Scholarship Specialist
NEMCC PRESIDENT
Dr. Ricky G. Ford
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES
Alcorn County:
John Anderson
Reid Bostick
Brian McCutchen
Zeb Taylor
Ken Williams
Prentiss County:
Jason Coley
John Floyd
Steve Morgan
Lonnie Murphy
Hal Wright
Tippah County:
Dr. Marshall Hollis
Douglas Jackson
Kyle Smith
Tishomingo County:
Janet Cornelison
Larry Greene
Union County:
Mike Staten
Vance Witt
SCAN THE QR CODE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE
1. Individual must be an alumnus of Northeast Mississippi Junior/Community College. An alumnus is any person that has a verifiable academic transcript with the college.
2. Award is presented to the alumnus who has demonstrated outstanding traits of leadership and character to such an extent that it has brought great credit to the recipient and to the alma mater.
3. Nominee is distinguished in his/her chosen profession.
4. The accomplishments to be recognized may be achieved through the nominee's career, service, or volunteer efforts.
5. Nominee has demonstrated a high level of integrity in his/her personal life and has gained the recognition of various other persons around him/her.
ALUMNI HALL OF FAME NOMINATION & SELECTION PROCESS
NOMINATION PROCESS:
Nominations can be initiated by anyone including the nominee. All nominations must be received in an electronic (email) written format and include the following:
1. Completed nomination form
2. A written nomination letter explaining why the nominees hould be considered for the award and summarizing the nominee’s collegiate, professional accomplishments, and community involvement. (community service, awards, organizations, etc.)
3. At least two letters of support
4. Electronic headshot of the nominee
SELECTION PROCESS:
The Northeast Alumni Relations Council members will review and select from the nomination documents. A maximum of five individuals will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame each year.
AWARDEE WILL RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING:
1. Award recognition at the annual homecoming Alumni & Sports Hall of Fame Recognition Dinner.
2. ‘Grand Marshall’ during homecoming court ceremony during half time of homecoming game.
Andy Greening
( FOOTBALL, 1975-76; BASEBALL, 1976-77; FOOTBALL COACH 1998-2007)
Andy Greening’s leadership and drive to win led to great successes both as a multi-sport athlete and a coach at Northeast Mississippi Community College. The Corinth native arrived at Northeast in the fall of 1975 to play football for hall of fame headman W.B. “Bill” Ward. He also suited up for two seasons of baseball as well.
Greening, who was listed as a 240-pound lineman, was voted by his peers as one of two team captains going into his sophomore campaign. The Tigers went 4-6 overall that year with three wins coming by single digits.
He was a first baseman for the Tigers in the springtime. Greening was presented with the prestigious Tiger Award, which is still given annually to a player from each sport at Northeast that consistently represents themselves and their team in a positive manner.
Greening came home to Northeast
in 1998 to serve as defensive coordinator under coach Laurin Collins. He guided the Tigers achieve unparalleled prosperity on the gridiron over the next decade.
Northeast started its return to prominence in 2002 by claiming the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division title. It snapped a 22-year stretch between championships and a 15-year playoff drought for the Tigers.
Greening’s defense was the backbone behind each of Northeast’s seven wins that season. The Tigers allowed only 10 points on average while conceding a touchdown or less in six of their 10 total contests.
Northeast held three opponents scoreless, including Coahoma Community College, East Mississippi Community College and Mississippi
Delta Community College. It is still tied for the most shutouts in a single year in program history.
Greening was promoted to head coach at his alma mater the following year. His teams captured 22 victories, which at the time of his departure was second most at Northeast behind only his mentor in Ward.
He now sits as the fourth winningest coach in school history in terms of overall triumphs. His winning percentage is the second best since the program was reinstated in 1968.
His 2004-05 teams were among the tops in the country. They combined to post a 14-5 record, including an 11-1 mark inside the MACJC North Division to secure back-to-back championships.
The 2005 edition of the Tigers completed the college’s lone undefeated regular season. Northeast went 7-0 and rose to as high as No. 2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) rankings.
The Tigers boasted one of the top 10 rated offensive and defensive units in the nation. Seventeen men from that team alone moved on to four-year institutions.
Northeast accepted its first-ever invitation to a NJCAA bowl game to close that special year. The Tigers met Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College in the Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl Classic in Mount Pleasant, Texas.
Chris Bradwell was perhaps the most decorated athlete to star under
Greening at Northeast. He was tabbed as the NJCAA Region 23 Defensive Player of the Year along with Most Valuable Player of the Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl Classic.
Five Tigers that played for Greening eventually signed with NFL franchises. They include Mario Addison (Chicago), Bruce Hall (Buffalo), Michael Ricks (Baltimore), Justin Sanders (Detroit) and Bradwell (Tampa Bay).
Addison went on to became the first representative of Northeast to compete in the Super Bowl when his Carolina Panthers met the Denver Broncos at San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium in 2016.
Greening was a two-time MACJC Coach of the Year with the Tigers. He has also served as headman at nearby Alcorn Central, Amory and Booneville high schools as part of a 40plus year coaching career.
He left Northeast to take the position of defensive coordinator at the University of West Alabama. Greening helped the Tigers reach the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time
Jessica Hooker
( WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, 2004-06)
Jessica Hooker was part of a special group that helped legendary Northeast Mississippi Community College women’s basketball coach Ricky Ford reach the promised land one last time in his storied career.
Hooker and the Lady Tigers secured the 2006 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 23 title with a thrilling 74-73 victory over CopiahLincoln Community College.
Northeast overcame a late deficit thanks in part to a game-high 25 points from Hooker. Her efforts lifted the Lady Tigers to their first NJCAA tournament appearance since the 198687 national championship season.
Hooker was named to the All-Region 23 Tournament team. She added a team-best 20 points as Northeast beat longtime rival Northwest Mississippi Community College for the fourth time that year in the semifinal round.
The Lady Tigers also snapped an eightyear drought between Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) championships. Hooker produced 30 points in another title matchup with Co-Lin.
Hooker accounted for a combined 41 points during national tournament contests in Salina, Kan., against the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) and Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College.
Northeast entered the playoffs with momentum after a sensational 8681 double overtime triumph over Northwest that wrapped up the MACJC North Division crown. Hooker had 35 points in the post to pace all players in the contest.
The Brownsville, Tenn., native was recognized as a NJCAA All-American at the conclusion of that season. She topped the Lady Tigers with 22.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Her points average was the eight best in the entire country. Hooker also connected on 60.9 percent of her field goal attempts, which came in at ninth in the NJCAA.
Northeast checked in at No. 21 in the final NJCAA ratings before nationals. The Lady Tigers as a whole ranked 15th in the country with 81 points per contest and 18th with a 49.9 overall shooting percentage.
Hooker was selected by her peers as a team captain prior to her phenomenal
Hooker concluded her basketball journey at McNeese State (La.) University. She guided the Cowgirls to a 10-win improvement between her junior and senior years.
She was presented with the Frances T. King Memorial Rebound Award in 2007 and the Coaches Award in 2009 by McNeese State. She still has the eighth best career three-point percentage in program history at .353.
Lindsey Thompson
( SOFTBALL, 2001)
A change of scenery proved to be beneficial for both Lindsey Thompson and the Northeast Mississippi Community College softball program at a critical time in its history.
Thompson spent her freshman year at Meridian Community College, but returned closer to her hometown of Mooreville once Northeast made the switch from slow-pitch to fast-pitch competition.
She was instrumental in helping the Tigers establish themselves as a perennial power in their fledgling years. Northeast rose to as high as No. 5 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II rankings that very first season.
Thompson and the Tigers went on to claim a share of the inaugural Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division championship alongside East Mississippi Community College.
Northeast compiled a 2812 overall record plus a 16-4 mark against division opponents. The Tigers concluded their outstanding year with a run to the semifinals of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.
Thompson was well decorated for her role in Northeast’s success. She was recognized by head coach David Carnell as one of two team captains along with Kelly Livingston and earned the Tigers’ most valuable player (MVP) award.
The every day catcher for Northeast obtained All-American distinction from both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the NJCAA. She was an All-Region 23 and all-conference performer as well.
Thompson posted a .438 batting average and a .508 on-base percentage, which were both second best on the team. Those figures are still fifth best in a single season in program history.
She continued her career on the diamond at the University of North Alabama. Thompson received AllGulf South Conference (GSC) second-team accolades during each of her two years with the Lions.
Thompson led the Lions in several statistical categories offensively while also handling their pitching staff from behind the plate. She topped North Alabama as a junior with five home runs and 33 RBIs.
She had a team-best .293 batting average and 11 doubles during her senior campaign. Thompson was also
the Lions’ most patient batter with 40 combined walks over two seasons.
Thompson served North Alabama as an assistant coach as well. She instructed Megan Garst, who secured consecutive conference pitcher of the year honors from 2018-19.
She was a state champion at Mooreville High School in 1999. Thompson was named to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal all-area lineup and participated in the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) All-Star Game.
Barry Todd
( FOOTBALL, 1976-1977)
Barry Todd was one of two players on the 1977 edition of the thenNortheast Mississippi Junior College football team that obtained the prestigious title of AllAmerican.
Todd received secondteam honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) as a defensive back following the Tigers’ best season in eight years.
Northeast went 6-4 overall and 4-2 inside division play. The Tigers claimed a share of the north half runner-up position for the first time in program history.
Todd and the Tigers blanked Coahoma Community College, Holmes Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College. It is still tied for the most shutouts in a single year by any Northeast defense. Perhaps the most impressive of
those wins was the 10-0 decision at Holmes. The Tigers did not allow a pass completion during the entire game and held the Bulldogs to limited rushing yardage.
Todd had one of the top performances of his sophomore season that night. He racked up nine solo tackles plus forced two Holmes turnovers between a fumble recovery and an interception.
Northeast gave up two touchdowns or less in seven of its 10 total contests.
The Tigers had a six-game stretch that started with a week two triumph over Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in which they averaged only 7.7 points allowed.
Todd secured all-conference recognition as well that year. He
donned the black-and-gold uniform one final time to represent Northeast in the state all-star game. Northeast compiled an even 10-10 record with Todd on its roster. The Tigers tied for a season-low of seven points conceded in victories over Southwest Mississippi Community College and Holmes during his freshman campaign.
The Memphis, Tenn., native earned a scholarship after Northeast to Delta Stat e University. However, an offfield injury unfortunately ended his career on the gridiron prematurely.
Todd developed a reputation of being a tough defender. A comic in The Beacon featured a man in a full body cast laying in a hospital bed with the caption, “…and then Barry Todd and Jerry Reno hit me at the same time!” with a doctor replying, “Two Tigers at once? No wonder…”
Hudsom Hickman
( ALUMNI, 1967 - 1969 )
New Albany native, Hudson Hickman, a distinguished television and film producer and longtime entertainment executive, has been selected as the 2025 inductee into the Northeast Mississippi Community College Alumni Hall of Fame.
Hickman attended Northeast from 1967 to 1969, where his experiences in the theatre program sparked a lifelong passion for storytelling. After Northeast, he earned a B.A. in Speech and Theatre from North Central College and a master’s degree in Theatre from Texas Tech University.
Over the course of a five-decade career, Hickman has combined creative excellence with executive leadership. He served more than a decade as Head of Production and Post-Production for MGM Worldwide Television, overseeing hundreds of hours of programming. He has worked on productions for Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers Studios,
Columbia Pictures, CBS Productions, and Aaron Spelling Productions.
Most recently, Hickman is known for acclaimed projects Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (2015), Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (2016), Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones (2019), Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (2020), and Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas (2022). Those productions earned multiple Emmy nominations and in 2021 Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. A six-time recipient of the Christopher Award honoring television programming which affirms the highest values of the human spirit, Hickman’s other credits include the popular television classics The Love Boat and MacGyver.
Importantly, Hickman emphasizes that these achievements are shared honors.
“My success is shared with the talented team of producers on these projects, especially my dear friend of 45 years Sam Haskell, founder of Magnolia Hill Productions, who has served as lead producer and creative partner for the past decade,” Hickman said.
“Hudson Hickman’s journey—from the Northeast theatre program to the Emmy stage—embodies the spirit of Northeast, where big dreams take root and grow into remarkable accomplishments,” said Patrick Eaton, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Development Foundation & Alumni Association.
“Beyond his professional success, Hudson remains a generous supporter of Northeast and a valued donor to the Northeast Development Foundation.”
None of this work was accomplished alone. I am touched that Northeast has chosen me this year. Of the three colleges I attended—Northeast Mississippi Community College, North Central College, and Texas Tech University—
Northeast is the school I remember with a special fondness.
It’s the source of so many
cherished memories.
- Hudson Hickman
SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Bonner Arnold
Charles “Doodle” Floyd
Gene Garrett
Kenneth Lindsey
Kenneth “Cat” Robbins
David “Nub” Strickland
Adrian Smith
W.B. “Bill” Ward
Harold T. White
Earline “Woodsie” Woods
Harvey Childers
Gerald Caveness
Clyde Jones
Larry Parker
Evelyn Thompson
David M. Carnell, Jr.
Phyllis Stafford Dilworth
Mike Grier
Kunshinge Sorrell Howard
Jack Martin
Jim Drewry
Johnny Buskirk
Vincent Del Negro
Sherry Slayton Holland
Ricky Ford
Vondenstein Dannelly
Kuykendall
“Myrl” Crowe Mike Lewis Ray Scott Larry “Jerry” Reno
T. Crosby
“Ned” Davis
McNeely
Lothenore
Wilkerson