65 years ago, May 5, 1955
"Dr. George S. Daly, widely known local physician and surgeon, this week appeared before the county Board of Supervisors and accepted the post of Marion County Health Officer, but will not assume active duties until July 1. He will fill the vacancy created by the death of Dr. C.C. Thompson Sr. ... Dr. Daly has engaged in private practice and operation of Daly Clinic here for the past 15 years and prior to that time was associated with Dr. J.G. Gardner at the Gardner Hospital and Clinic. He came to Columbia Aug. 1, 1930. A graduate of Tulane University Medical School, he interned at Charity Hospital in New Orleans."
"Three local boys will attend Boys' State, L.O. Petty, commander of the local American Legion post, stated this week. ... Harold A. Dunaway, 11th grade at CHS, is being sponsored by the Rotary Club. He is the son of Mrs. Hezzie F. Dunaway and the late Mr. Dunaway, both of whom were members of the Legislature from Marion County. James Glynn Fortenberry, son of Mr. and Mrs. James I. Fortenberry and junior at Columbia High, is sponsored by the Lions Club. John Carroll McElroy, CHS junior and son of Mr. and Mrs. John O. McElroy Jr., is being sponsored by J.O. McElroy Jr."
60 years ago, May 5, 1960
"One of the two Columbia High School seniors entering the State Science Fair won a first place. Frank Thornhill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thornhill, entered his Tesla Coil exhibit, which had won a first place in the local science fair and a second place in the district science fair. His entry was given first place in the Class 5 Physics division of the state fair."
"The date for a special election to select a Sheriff and Tax Collector to fill the unexpired term of the late J.V. Polk has been set for June 28 by the Election Commissioners of Marion County ... J.C. Burrow, Winfred Callender and Mrs. Althea Perdue. The special election became necessary on the death of Sheriff Polk, who was gunned from ambush with a 12-gauge shotgun as he entered the front door of his home at Bunker Hill about 10:30 on the night of April 22 after having made liquor raids that afternoon and night."
50 years ago, April 30, 1970
"Richard Yarborough, President of the Board of the Columbia Municipal Separate School District, has announced the appointment of Thomas L. (Tommy) Davis as athletic director and head football coach for the Columbia High School. Coach Davis, athletic director and head football coach at Heidelberg High School for the past six years, will assume his duties at Columbia on July 1."
"Columbia Academy and Columbia High Academy members voted Friday night to merge the two private schools into one school to continue as 'Columbia Academy,' according to Dr. W.R. Campbell who serves as president of both schools. ... Goss Academy, Carley Academy and Improve Academy recently voted to close their facilities, which have been meeting in churches, and to join the merged Columbia Academy unit. A modern school complex for grades one through 12 will be constructed on a 54-acre tract of land on Highway 98 East at Lakeview Subdivision. Frank Miano, Jimmy Shaw, O.K. Magee, Burley Moree and Liston Morris comprise the building committee. The finance committee for the building program are J.L. Watts Jr., Randolph Barnes, Alfred Whitaker, Austin Wilks and Jack Forbes."
40 years ago, May 1, 1980
"Melinda Broome, a student at Pearl River Junior College, has been appointed a student summer missionary to Alaska by the Mississippi Baptist Student Union. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Broome of Columbia."
"Thomas B. Forbes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. (Tom Boy) Forbes of Columbia, has been appointed Dean of Students/Registrar at Schiller College, London, England. Schiller College is a co-educational liberal arts institution, which offers undergraduate and graduate programs to students from 42 counties at its campuses in London, Paris, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Madrid and Paros (Greece). ... Thomas attended Columbia High School, from which he graduated in 1966. He went on to Pearl River Junior College. ... Upon graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1971, Thomas was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served for four years as a Russian translator/interpreter with the Army Security Agency. ... In September of 1975 he entered the Institute of Archeology of the University of London, England, where he studied for a Master of Philosophy in Mesopotamian Archaeology."
30 years ago, May 3, 1990
"One of Columbia's three nursing homes has announced expansion plans and may relocate into a new building as early as next year, pending the approval of a certificate of need by the Mississippi State Board of Health. Jack Bradshaw, administrator of The Cedars Nursing Home, said this week that he is currently in the process of completing the necessary documents to construct a new facility that would accommodate up to 60 residents, instead of the current 32-bed capacity."
20 years ago, May 4, 2000
"Duane C. Powell was elected chairman of the Marion County Republican Executive Committee during the party's County Convention held Saturday, April 29. ... Others elected to the committee include Lynne W. Powell, vice chairman; Mick Bullock, secretary; and Nelda Gray, treasurer. Delegates to the state Republican Convention, which will be held in Jackson on May 19-20, also were elected Saturday. Bullock, Janice Conerly and Howard Willoughby were elected as delegates, with Jan Cook, Bennie Conerly and Helen Willoughby named as alternates."
10 years ago, May 1, 2010
"Two Marion Countian inductees into the county's Sports Hall of Fame, Richard 'Possum' Price and Les Peters, were presented to the community during the 2010 Relay of Life festivities, Friday, April 30 at Walter Payton Field at Gardner Stadium. Price, a Vicksburg native, moved to Columbia after marrying Leah Forbes of Sandy Hook, following an illustrious football career at the University of Mississippi. ... Peters graduated from John J. Jefferson High School in 1964 and from Jackson State University, where he played defensive lineman. He returned to Columbia after graduation in 1968 and worked as assistant coach for one year at Columbia High School before moving to East Marion, where he coached for 37 years and served as athletic director. ... The Marion County Sports Hall of Fame is housed in the Historical Museum, 200 Second St. Other members of the Hall of Fame include Walter Payton, Eagle Day, Eddie Payton, Bobbie Joe Oswalt and Eagle Matulich. The Marion County Sports Hall of Fame Committee Members are Arlen Regan, past chairman; Mike Griffith, current chairman; Paul Pounds, Sam 'Winky' Jenkins, Catherine Woodward, Jason Stringer, Hilton Holmes, Kyle Wilks, Scott Phillips and Tommy McDaniel." n
