Caption: In this photo from 20 years ago, June 26, 1999 12 basketball standouts from Marion County, seven from Columbia Academy and five from West Marion High School, attended the 1999 Pearl River Community College basketball camp. They included, front row, from left, Scott Dale (CA), Anthony McKenzie (WM), Blake Powell (WM), Jeremy Stringer (WM), Brandon Warren (WM) and Shane Turner (WM). Back row, Tucker English (CA), Chris Kendrick (CA), Rodney Livingston (CA), Chase McDaniel (CA), Patrick Loftin (CA) and Warren English (CA).
65 years ago, July 1, 1954
“Senator Jim Eastland will discuss his 12-year record in the Senate and new legislation he is proposing when he speaks at Columbia Court House on Saturday, July 3, 4 p.m. The senator will be introduced by Hollis C. Rawls.”
“Thad B. Lampton Jr., president of the Columbia Bank, this week announces the appointment of Wiley Warren to the position of assistant cashier of the bank, following recent action of the board of directors of the institution. Having been with the organization since January of 1946, Mr. Warren is a native Marion Countian.”
60 years ago, July 2, 1959
“Mr. and Mrs. Lester Joseph Punch received quite a surprise shortly after midnight Wednesday at the local hospital when Mrs. Punch presented her family with twins, girls, six pounds, two ounces, and six pounds even. Twins are not new in the Punch family for in the family group to welcome the new little girls are Jaqueline Maurie and Lester Joseph Punch Jr., 3 ½, twin son and daughter of the couple. Rounding out the family circle are Diane, 5 ½, and Michael Anthony, 1 ½. The Punch family had not suspected that their ‘new baby’ would be two cherubs just alike, with the family now doubly pleased. The family resides on Route 2, Columbia. Mrs. Punch is the former Roma Faye Nobles.”
“Gubernatorial candidate Ross Barnet told a crowd at the Marion County Courthouse Tuesday night that he would ‘take the Columbia Training School’ out of politics’ and restore the institution ‘to a sound, sensible program.’ ‘This school has been a political football for too long,’ Barnett said, as the large crowd cheered approval. ‘It won’t be a political football when I am governor.’ The candidate was introduced by Henry Mounger, local attorney, and John Watts served as master of ceremonies.”
50 years ago, July 3, 1969
“Very few senior citizens will touch a lawn mower, but ‘Uncle Oscar’ Carter uses one regularly. Oscar Carter, who will be 101 years old on July 4th, uses a lawn mower regularly in his rounds of employment as a gardener and yard man. The yards he maintains are among the most beautiful in the city of Columbia. Social Security records indicate he was born on Independence Day, 1868, in Shubuta, Clarke County, Mississippi. … The earliest historical event he remembers is the Spanish-American War. He wanted to enlist in the Army, but community leaders urged him to stay in Marion County and help keep the home fires burning.”
40 years ago, July 5, 1979
“The championship tennis tournament at Columbia Country Club was held last week with winners in the men’s and women’s divisions. Dennis Sims won the men’s singles championship, and Martha Whitehead the women’s. Men’s doubles champions are R.M. Leatherman and Bobby Leatherman, and women’s doubles champions are Wilda Thompson and Martha Whitehead.”
“Marion County has three who will represent Mississippi in the National Rodeo Finals in Fargo, N.D. The three placed in the top four in categories in the Mississippi State Championship High School Rodeo last week in Carthage, which entitles them to advance to the national event. Louanne Whitaker received the Horsemanship Award, was first runner up for the Rodeo Queen and was in the top four in cutting horses competition. David Speights was in the top four in bareback bronc riding and bulldogging, and Mark Shows was in the top four in saddle bronc riding.”
30 years ago, June 29, 1989
“The Mississippi Railway and Transportation Museum is preparing its restored locomotive and cars for limited passenger excursions this summer and introduced the train to local officials and the media with a special run Monday from downtown Columbia to the Marion County Industrial Park.”
“Ethel Pittman has been selected as the Progressive Arts Federated Club’s ‘Woman of the Year.’ A native of Columbia and Marion County, where she has been a resident most of her life, Pittman attended elementary and high school at the Marion County Training School, which was later named John J. Jefferson High School. Pittman is a dedicated member of the Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher for the youth and adult classes. … Pittman is a member of the Progressive Arts Federated Club. n
secretary for three years, and is presently chairman of the sick committee. She is a past member of the Merry Homemakers Club; she also volunteers her service at nursing homes, private homes, and an aide for Pearl River Valley Opportunity agency. She has also provided home accommodations for teachers, factory workers, relatives and friends. Pittman has worked as a saleslady for the National Boston Tea Store of Chicago; Hollywood Dress Shop, New Orleans; Carley’s Ready to Wear, Berlon’s, Ben Franklin chain store, teacher assistant and a beautician, all in Columbia.”
20 years ago, June 26, 1999
“Bobby Hamilton, an East Marion football standout who now plays for the New York Jets, spoke about his career and speculated on the upcoming season while in Columbia preparing for a tournament he is sponsoring this weekend. Hamilton, who spoke Tuesday to the Columbia Rotary Club, said playing for East Marion Coach Les Peters was good preparation for playing professional football.”
10 years ago, June 27, 2009
“Beth Pierce, French teacher at Columbia High School, will fly to San Jose, Calif., next week to receive the 2009 Intercultural Student Experiences ‘Language Matters’ Teacher of the Year Award, presented by the American Association of Teachers of French.”
