SEPTEMBER 2016
September 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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SEPTEMBER 2016
ON THE COVER Tupelo Disc Golf Association members hit the links at a disc golf course at Tupelo High School, one of 10 courses in the area. photographed by Joe Worthem
IN EVERY ISSUE 6
Letter From the Publisher
8
What’s Happening
10
Community Corner: Civitan
12
In Season: Sweet Potatoes
64
Out and About
72
Tupelo Spirit: Will Kollmeyer
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FEATURES 30 Chasing Dreams These runners have traveled the world to accomplish their personal racing goals.
36 A Stitch in Time A Corinth business creates historical reproductions not only for local customers but also for Hollywood movies and Broadway shows.
41 On Par Disc golf is a popular pastime thanks to a growing association and several area courses.
47 Football, Food and Family Reggie and Sheila Kelly’s favorite family recipes are now sold in stores around the country.
50 Where the Wildflowers Are Some of nature’s most colorful blooms dot the landscape in early fall.
EVENTS 14
Boy Scout Clay Classic
16
Down on Main Concert
18
The Eisenhauer Band
19
Blue Steel Challenge
20
Dance Like the Stars
22
Bluegrass, Blues & BBQ
24
Party at the Lake
26
Free Clinic Roast
28
Lego Fair
54
Big Oaks vs. Natchez Trace
56
Corinth Powder-Puff Football
58
Corinth Warriors on Wick Street
60
Belk’s Back-to-School Kidfest
62
Dance the Night Away September 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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THE PUBLISHER
S
omething about fall makes it seem like the perfect time to explore something new. A few years ago, I attended the Hummingbird Festival held every September at Strawberry Plains Audubon Center in Holly Springs. It was a rare opportunity to see some of nature’s most fascinating creatures. For three days, hundreds of hummingbirds were banded while they stopped at the center on their annual migration south. I was reminded of my experience at the festival by the beautiful wildflower photos taken by our staff photographer Lisa Roberts that appear on page 50. It’s interesting to learn a little about how these pretty flowers depend on pollinators like hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. This month’s issue also introduced me to disc golf. Before reading the story on page 41, I knew nothing of the sport. But thanks
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to Jason Cross, Krystin White and several more players who are part of the Tupelo Disc Golf Association, I learned a lot about it. Its growth in the area in the last 10 years has been impressive, and there are a surprising number of courses in and around Tupelo – some more challenging than others. I’m impressed by a few other athletes and sports personalities featured in this month’s magazine who all dared to try something new. Kenneth Williams, age 74, picked up running when he was in his mid-30s and has now completed a staggering 63 marathons. Reggie Kelly, formerly a football player at Mississippi State University and in the NFL, retired from the game and started a business in the food industry. And longtime local sports broadcaster Will Kollmeyer started a new gig – albeit one that was certainly in his wheelhouse – calling plays for Ole Miss football at age 52.
I hope you learn something new and interesting in this issue of Invitation Tupelo, and I challenge you to try something you’ve never done before: Explore nature, play a new game or read about something you might not otherwise have known much about. You might be surprised by the rewards you will receive and the fun you will have.
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER
CORRECTION: In the August story Caching In, Michael Bowers was misidentified.
publishers
Phil and Rachel West
editorial
EDITOR IN CHIEF Emily Welly CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Lena Anderson EVENTS EDITOR Mary Moreton STAFF WRITER Melanie Crownover EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katherine Henson COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson
advertising
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Jennifer Bolton Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Becca Bailey Zach Fields Holly Vollor
art
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hallie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Roberts Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Michaela Cooper Whitney Worsham
production
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily Suber
office
BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COMPTROLLER Julie Clark DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008 ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationtupelo.com
To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Tupelo or to buy an announcement, visit invitationtupelo.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Tupelo respects the many diverse individuals and organizations who make up north Mississippi and strives to be an inclusive representation of all members of our community.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
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SEP. 15 - OCT. 15
9/15
Down on Main Tupelo’s free summer concert series takes place in Fairpark. The last concert of the season features the bands Heritage and Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors. 6 p.m. tupelodownonmain.com
9/16-17
Bodock Festival The annual weekend festival takes place on Main Street in Pontotoc with food vendors, arts and crafts, a car show, a bike ride, children’s activities and live entertainment. facebook.com/bodockfestival
10/1 Pumpkin Patch Pick a pumpkin and stay to visit with the animals at Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo’s 14th annual pumpkin patch, open through the end of October. tupelobuffalopark.com
9/30-10/1
Family Camp Out at Veterans Park Bring your tents and sleeping bags to the Department of Parks and Recreation’s family camp out behind the J.T. Neely Center in Veterans Park. Check-in begins at 4 p.m. $5 per person; children under 2 are free. Call 662-841-6440 to register.
10/1
Corinth Green Market The eighth annual season of Corinth’s monthly Green Market continues. Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the historic Corinth Depot. corinthgreenmarket.net
9/28-29
Tupelo Reads This year’s citywide reading initiative featuring The Last Season, a memoir about a father, a son and Ole Miss football, will culminate with two events. Author Stuart Stevens will speak at Lunching with Books, taking place at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 28 at Lee County Library, and sports historian Rick Cleveland will headline a tailgating-style dinner at Romie’s at 6 p.m. Sept. 29. For tickets, $30, call 662-842-6453. tupeloreads.com
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9/29
10/7
Clark Distributing hosts a progressive craft beer tasting in downtown retail shops and studios from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Start by picking up a map and beer glass at FNB Tupelo (165 S. Commerce St.). An after-party follows at Tupelo Farmers’ Depot (415 Spring St.) from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets, $25, include both. tupelomainstreet.com
The Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association hosts the 17th annual Chili Fest. The daylong event takes place in downtown Tupelo and features food vendors during lunch and dinner, live music, a chili cook-off and more. Lunch, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., tickets $5; dinner, 5-10 p.m., tickets $10. tupelomainstreet.com
Tupelo Ale Trail
Chili Fest
Homecoming 2016 The Tupelo High School Alumni Association invites all former students to its second annual homecoming celebration before the football game against Hernando High School on Friday, Sept. 23. The event includes a tailgate party, a Walk of Champions for former THS football players and an inaugural alumni player flag football game. “We had about 20 players show up for the Walk of Champions last year from all the way back to the 1960s, but the rain affected everything,” co-president Stewart McMillan said. “It was actually their idea to let them get out there and play this year.” Although the association has more than 3,500 members on Facebook, its actual paid membership is currently 60. Money from registration fees goes to special events such as this one and toward the group’s three $1,000 awards: one grant for a teacher of distinction at THS and two new scholarships for exceptional senior students. Organizers hope this expanded event will draw more alumni, as did their monthly summer happy hour events around town and the school’s communitywide tailgate at the beginning of football season. The homecoming tailgate begins at 5:30 p.m. between the THS gym and Renasant Field. Former players wishing to participate in the Walk of Champions or flag football game do not have to pre-register. For more on the festivities, contact McMillan at stewart.brevard@gmail.com. To register for membership in the alumni association, visit thsalumns.org.
Lee County Homecoming Games 10/7 Saltillo vs. Clarksdale 10/7 Shannon vs. Itawamba 10/14 Mooreville vs. Nettleton September 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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CIVITAN CLUB
For the past four years, the Tupelo Luncheon Civitan Club has made the lives of Lee County residents with disabilities a little easier by building wheelchair ramps at their homes. The builds are a community effort headed up by Living Independently for Everyone (L.I.F.E.), an organization that coordinates the projects in 19 counties. L.I.F.E.’s local chapter gets referrals from doctors, home health and insurance companies, family and friends to select recipients for ramps. Around 125 people are on the wait list. Civitan Club has built more than 20 ramps since they became the construction crew for Tupelo and Lee County, working weekends during spring and fall months. Small ramps typically take two weekends to complete, while larger ones can take up to four. Materials for the improvements come from the United Way, and Tupelo Lumber Company donates construction tools. The Civitan Club provides the volunteers for the labor. “Our community has been our partner in keeping these builds going,” said Stephen Thompson, Civitan volunteer and co-chair of the ramp-building committee. “Probably a third of the people helping us on any given weekend are just good-hearted citizens not associated with the club who answered the call for help over social media. That’s wonderful because the more volunteers we have, the more ramps we can build.” To volunteer with the Civitan Club on building their next ramp, text Thompson at 662-231-5519 or email him at stephen2816@ mac.com. To refer a recipient, apply as one or volunteer to help in other counties, call L.I.F.E. at 662-844-6633.
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SWEET POTATOES written by Melanie Crownover
H
aving grown up in Vardaman, farmer Jan Cook sees the common sweet potato more as a piece of family history than as a side dish. Her great-grandfather was among several Tennessee families who moved to Vardaman (about an hour southwest of Tupelo) with a new crop and transformed the town into the selfproclaimed sweet potato capital of the world. Her father started his own successful farm at
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age 18, and her mother was one of the founders of the legendary Sweet Potato Sweets bakery. “I guess I never considered farming as a living or a career option when I was a kid because women just didn’t do that back then,” Cook said. “I spent 30-plus years behind a desk, dreading going to work every morning. My dad got me to drive the tractor for him while he went to the doctor one day after I’d moved back here, and the next year
I planted a small crop of my own.” In addition to helping with both family businesses and farming her own 20 acres, Cook also runs Paul’s Daughter’s Produce, selling peas, corn, greens and watermelon from a truck. She sells her sweet potatoes at Sweet Potato Sweets. She and her dad plant their potato clippings 10 to 12 inches apart in rows around mid-May. After a 90-day growing period,
each plant becomes a hill filled with two to six potatoes of varying sizes by September. “We rotate the crops so the soil doesn’t get depleted, but they’re the most resilient vegetable you can grow. They don’t need too much water, love the heat and can live through just about anything,” she said. “Of course, Vardaman soil grows them the best.” The Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival, an annual weeklong event beginning the first Saturday of November, celebrates the end of the harvest season. Cook, who won the festival’s Mayor’s Cup in the cooking contest in 2012, calls the addition of sweet potatoes to most recipes a safe bet even if she’s not competing. “Around here, you never know what you’ll find them in because we’ll throw them in just about everything,” she said. “I’ve seen them in pizza, ice cream, fudge, you name it. My favorites are still the simple things like an oldfashioned baked sweet potato or some sweet potato biscuits.”
Sweet Potato Biscuits 2 cups self-rising flour ¼ cup sugar 3 Tablespoons shortening 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine 1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potatoes 1/3 cup milk or half-and-half Combine flour and sugar in a medium bowl; cut in shortening and butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Add mashed sweet potatoes and milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead 4 or 5 times. Roll dough to ½-inch thickness; cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter to make 18 biscuits. Place on lightly greased baking sheets, and bake at 400°F for 14 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm. Recipe contributed by Gayle Stafford, Jan Cook’s sister who helps run Sweet Potato Sweets in Vardaman. Learn more about the bakery at sweetpotatosweets.com. September 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
BOY SCOUT CLAY CLASSIC The 22nd annual Boy Scout Clay Classic and Elite Eagle Shoot was held Aug. 26 and 27 at Camp Yocona. The event, presented by Winchester, benefited the Yocona Area Council of Boy Scouts. photographed by Lisa Roberts
Danny Cash, Neil Alford, Michael Addison and Phil Morris
Dan McCrimon, Jimmy Pollard, Chase Farmer and Jason Beasley
Fred and Fred B. Fortier with Greg Burks
Pam and Jason Turner
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Julie Chambers, Ronnie Pittman and Ruby Richey
Will Moore, Donnie Kisner, Gregg Garner and Richard Tucker
Jonathan Hagood and Jeremy Bishop
Jonathan Dean and Shawn Woy
Ronny Howell and Buddy Fairley
Robert Magers and Russ Twitty
Jeremy Carroll and William Holcomb
Jud Jernigan and Nic Nichols
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View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
DOWN ON MAIN SUMMER CONCERT A Down on Main summer concert was held Aug. 18 at the Fairpark Amphitheater. Grady Champion and J.J. Thames were show headliners, and the opening act was John & Jacob. photographed by Lisa Roberts
Andi White and Heather Sepulveda
Cheryl Ford and Ty Collins
Andrew and Julie Battaile with Julianna Goodwin
Ali Bryan and Jessie Savery
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John, Marsha and Mike Tapscott
Sharon Ellis and Jackie Nichols
Karen Geddie, Gwendolyn Hudson and Noelle McGraw
Judy Hill and Jill Moore
Ana and Sophia Gallardo
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View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
THE EISENHAUER BAND American Idol contestant and renowned fiddle player Amelia Eisenhauer and The Eisenhauer Band performed July 16 at The Link Centre. photographed by Michaela Cooper
Robbie and Bob Boyd
Mike McBunch and LaDonna Griggs
Bobbie Larkin with Jimmie and Loraine Sullivan
Mike Stratton and Brad Vandehei
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Clara, Alex and Bobbie Jaggers
Melanie Deas, Leslie Geoghegan and Lisa Nichols
Paul and Sandra Poland with Dianne and George Williams
Billie and Judy Daniel
Patti and Stephen Thompson
View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
BLUE STEEL CHALLENGE Members of Crime Stoppers, Tupelo Police Department and other area law enforcement participated in the 13th annual Blue Steel Challenge shooting competition Aug. 27 at the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center.
photographed by Lisa Roberts
Austin Riggs, Jason Young, Calvin Fulton and Jay Holman
Bill Harrington and Charlie Greer
Chris Wray, David Misenhelter, Kevin Parker, Sheldon Lowe and Ben Hamilton
David, Donna, Marley and Rudy Rumbarger
Colton Fulton, Bolie Stokes and Carroll Speights
Daniel Tucker, Casey Bruce and Joel Hill
Phil Goldsmith and Richard Allred
Michael Hardin and Greg Jones
Bart Aguirre and Jay Marshall
Scott Spencer and Larry Bramer
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View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
DANCE LIKE THE STARS The annual Dance Like the Stars competition was held Aug. 20 at BancorpSouth Arena to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi. photographed by Lisa Roberts
Anna Scott and Cole Randall with Belinda McKinion
Mike Wren, Chris Bray, Parrish Potts and Josh Sullivan
Susan and Bill Hayden with Trey and Amy Trapp
Kayla and Bronson Tabler
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Randy and Sharon Aycock
Leslie Nabors, Lynne Johnson and Amy Cottrell
Rod Neiman names and Debbie names names Soward names with Sutomi names and names Kimihiro namesYomezawa
Cole Holland and Allie Randle
Emily and Robert Bass
names Susan names Parker names with Valerie names names and Marla names Voyles names
Shannon and Paul Saylors
Katrina Berry, Julie Yoste and Danielle Frerer
Cora Polson, Margaret Parker and Tracie Conwill
Karen and Scott Medlock
Chelsea and Jason Shelton with Rosa-Lee Hardin
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View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
FULTON’S BLUEGRASS, BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL The Bluegrass, Blues & BBQ Festival took place Aug. 19-20 in Fulton. In addition to a barbecue contest, the event included arts, crafts and food vendors on the square and live music in the park. photographed by Lisa Roberts
Romona Edge and Teresa McNeece
Angie Moore and Mallory Mabus
Suni Crane, Cade Dallas and Ashton Bryan
Leah Richardson, Meredith Digby and Kacie Cowart
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Ginger and Brian Bryant
Kim Long and Jade Chatham
Kory Payne, Trent Loague, Ryan Reese, Dakota Pruitt and Logan Tanner
Chassidy Smith and Rilee Maxwell
Josh Senter, Landon Thomas and Zack Jones
Chance and Kayla Prestage
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View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
LAKE LAMAR BRUCE PARTY AT THE LAKE Saltillo Main Street hosted its annual Party at the Lake Aug. 13. The family-friendly event included live music, food, children’s activities and paddle races. Woodmen Life sponsored a fireworks show. photographed by Lisa Roberts
Neil and Kathy Monaghan
Tony, Sharon and Will Rodriquez
Bill Monaghan and Rex Smith
Karen, Brian and Alli Porter with Logan Irwin
Matt and Ian Rhinewalt
Lola and Tom Smith
Shelley and Joseph Crampton
Samual and Katie Simpson
Beverly Turner and Finnley McKissick
Karson Weber and Jude Monaghan
Hayes and Mandi Tutor with Bean
names names Abby Patterson names names and names Emma Brock names names
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Catherine Brock and Betty Westmoreland
Patrick Renfroe and Landen Knowlton
Scottie, Jada, Lindsay and Scottie Thompson Jr. with Julie Lyles
Reed Williams, Melaya Myers and Caitlin Smith
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View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
GOOD SAMARITAN FREE CLINIC ROAST The Good Samaritan Free Clinic held its annual roast and toast fundraiser Aug. 9 at The Summit. The guest of honor was Jimmy Long, and the event included a social hour, dinner and program. photographed by Lisa Roberts
Jimmy Long and Gabrielle Cooper
Joe and Joan Yarbrough
Mike Meyer and Scott Dickey
Belva and Pete Poland
Valerie Long with Patsy and Bob Gregory
George and Mary Putnam
Aurora and Tim Wong
Chad and Nicky McMahan
Judy and Tom Billups
Greg and Leslie Burks
Dick White, Jamie Ewing, Guy Mitchell and James Threadgill
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Patricia Long, Juanita G. Floyd and Tanya Brown Baxter
Jesse Taylor and Mark Hawkins
Billy and Vivian Rogers
Ryan Roper, Mark Burleson and Steve Lake
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View more photos at invitationtupelo.com.
LEGO FAIR Tupelo’s Lee County Library hosted a Lego Fair July 23. Participants in preschool through 12th grade built and presented Lego creations for public viewing and competition. photographed by Michaela Cooper
Kabir Gupta
D.J. Swanson
Ethan Yielding
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Bob and Meredith Swanson
Shruti and Amit Gupta
Andrea and Caiden Phelps
Peyton, Leslie and Edison Holliday
Graham and Perrin Holliday
Argun Gupta
We have your GameDay Look covered from head to toe!
Boutique owners Erica Griffin and Jamie Harrison
840.5555 • 3265 McCullough Blvd., Tupelo, MS
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These runners have traveled the world to accomplish their personal racing goals. written by Melanie Crownover
photographed by Joe Worthem
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E
ven though there are hundreds of excuses not to get off the couch to exercise, once these individuals gave running a chance, they were hooked on the sport. Now they’ve competed in marathons, triathlons and ultraruns around the world.
The Scenic Route
Forget air travel and road trips. When it comes to seeing the world, 74-year-old Corinth native Kenneth Williams prefers seeing it at the pace of a run. Loch Ness. The jungles of Costa Rica. Mount Kilimanjaro. Dublin, London, Athens. The Team Corinth running club member has spent the last four decades running through some of the world’s most picturesque places. His globe-trotting began with one run just down the road from his home. “I went on a trip back in 1977 with a guy who had just run a marathon,” he said. “I came home, laced up my Keds and went to the dirt track at the high school and ran half a mile. I ran my first marathon in Chicago nine months later. That’s too quickly for anyone starting out, but I was bulletproof then.” Fourteen years after that first race, in 1991, he finished the Boston Marathon, the only race in the country requiring a specific qualifying time from a recent marathon based on age and course type. His next Boston Marathon wasn’t until 2003, but he recently qualified for his 16th, at the Sparkasse Marathon in Germany. He will run Boston again in April. Williams still averages 20 to 25 miles a week, even when not training for an event, and up to 50 miles per week when training. He now runs two marathons a year, about half the number he used to push himself to complete when he was younger. In all, he has racked up 63 marathon finishes. “I’ve gone back [to Boston] every year. That’s a pretty good record here in Mississippi, but there are runners there that have done it 30 or so times in a row,” he said. “I was threequarters of a mile from the finish line when the bombing happened there [in 2013]. I never
questioned whether I would return the next year, and out of those ashes came something I’m very proud of: bostonlog.com.” Since 2005, Williams has helped hundreds of novice runners take on their first marathon as a certified running coach with Road Runner’s Club of America. He also has more than 11,000 Twitter followers who check in for daily running tips under his handle @marathonkoach. But Williams is most proud of co-creating bostonlog.com in 2013 – an ongoing online compilation of nearly 200 stories from Boston Marathon runners as far back as 1967. The website quickly morphed into a place for anyone who has participated in the famous
race to record their stories and share them on the site, at facebook.com/bostonlog and @bostonlog on Twitter. “I feel like we’re doing something there for the running community that it and that city needs,” he said. “I’ve always been a middle-ofthe-pack guy, but as the decades have passed, running has enabled me to do some things I shouldn’t be able to do at my age. It’s nice to be able to give something back.”
Opposite, runner Kenneth Williams of Corinth has completed 63 marathons and counting. Above, the medals from Williams’ Boston Marathon finishes are displayed. He plans to run his 16th Boston Marathon in April.
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The long haul
Tupelo resident Bryan Cooper has always taken athletics to the extreme. The avid racing cyclist didn’t start running in 2004 to prepare for a 26.2-mile marathon; he began running to take on that, plus a 112-mile bike ride and 2.4-mile swim for an Ironman triathlon. “I did that first short triathlon and hated it,” he said. “I told my buddy after that it was about as fun as getting a root canal, but a week later I was finding out how soon I could do it again. I did my first full Ironman in Oklahoma City that next year. This became my stress reliever.” Since then, Cooper has participated in at least 10 triathlon/marathon events each year as a member of the Tupelo Running Club and Tupelo Multisport triathlon club, even co-founding the King of the Hill Triathlon in 2006. More recently, he joined the Mid 10 Triathlon Club of Tennessee after he bought a second home in Nashville last year. His training got an unexpected boost when he discovered ultrarunning last November. “Ultrarun is a different crowd,” he said. “It’s a tight-knit group where you see a lot of the same people at the runs, but it’s more laid-back. There isn’t that competitive feeling among us because your only real competition is yourself and the course.” The long-distance endurance runs pit participants against extreme challenges, including 100-mile courses. Most runners don’t complete their first try at an ultrarun event, but Cooper finished the Tunnel Hill 100 in Vienna, Illinois, in 28 consecutive hours as a rookie. “You think an Ironman is the ultimate challenge when you’re in it, but it’s not,” he said. “I was limping by the time I got to mile 80 on that ultra and would have crawled to the finish if I’d had to. This is the kind of race that pushes your body so far past its limits that you don’t care when everyone laughs at how funny you’re walking for the next two weeks.” Determination to cross the finish line keeps him searching ultrasignup.com for unique runs. He doesn’t have many repeats, unless it’s for a good reason, like to beat his previous time. In June, Cooper competed in but didn’t complete the Race Against the Sun in Birmingham, Alabama – an ultrarun so tough it has a
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5 percent finish rate. The nighttime run features hilly, rugged terrain and requires runners to collect evidence along the trails as they race to prove they make it to certain spots along the
route. It now joins South America’s Inca Trail Marathon that ends at Machu Picchu and the crown jewel of ultras, the Western States 100, on the list of ultraruns he hopes to finish.
Bryan Cooper of Tupelo runs on a local trail. Cooper regularly participates in marathons and triathlons, and he recently discovered ultrarunning, a sport that challenges runners on extreme longdistance endurance courses.
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A small family business in Corinth creates historical reproductions not only for local customers but also for major motion pictures and hit Broadway shows. written by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
There are no flashing signs or catchy phrases pointing customers to the inconspicuous building housing C&D Jarnagin Company in downtown Corinth. No awards hang from the walls inside. Here the makers humbly let their work speak for itself, often in the national spotlight. They made some of the uniforms and accessories worn in Hamilton, the Broadway hit that
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was nominated for a record-breaking 16 Tony Awards and won 11, including those for best musical and best costume design of a musical. Now the Jarnagin staff is working on British military hats for the upcoming touring show. Their work with big productions like Hamilton began when the company did 90 percent of the costuming for the 1990 movie Glory, a war film starring Morgan Freeman that
Revolutionary and Civil War-era memorabilia, including uniforms, tinware and leatherware, are handmade by the staff at Corinth’s C&D Jarnagin Company. Carolyn Jarnagin, pictured at right, started the business with her late husband, Dale, in 1974.
spurred a nationwide boom in battle reenactments. More orders were to come for their historical reproductions. Cold Mountain with Nicole Kidman was next. Then, The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. They’ve worked on costumes for HBO’s The Knack; the new Sleepy Hollow series on Fox; the History Channel’s Roots remake; and The Free State of Jones, starring Matthew McConaughey.
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Robin and David Jarnagin, pictured above, carry on the family business started by David’s parents. David specializes in shoemaking and leatherwork, and Robin handles customers ranging from local battle reenactors to Hollywood costume companies.
“We pay attention to those details and authentic tidbits the other guys might miss,” Robin Jarnagin said. “That’s what we’re here for.” The Jarnagins’ historical reproductions make it to the screen and stage by way of businesses such as Hollywood’s United American Costume Company, which rents items out to television and movie studios for productions. UACC is one of the Jarnagins’ most faithful clients. “We’ve used them for years and still do all the time,” UACC costumer Gabe Gerber said.
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“Any time we have a Revolutionary War scene, especially, we contact them. They’re high quality, and that’s something we appreciate because our costumes have to hold up.” Almost every historically accurate military item on the Jarnagins’ inventory floor is handmade on site with American-made materials. The collection features uniforms and accessories, including shoes, leather cartridge boxes and cap pouches, and pieces of tinware from camp-sized coffeepots and lanterns – all replications of the real things as they appeared from
approximately 1750 to 1860. “We work to use quality raw materials that are as well researched as our patterns and details,” Robin said. “There are plenty of sutlers out there who’ll go to reenactments to sell goods, and most of it is made with cheap wool and metals that aren’t made to hold up. We had a guy come in the other day to replace pants he bought from us 20 years ago.” The Jarnagins’ handiwork has been popular among knowledgeable historic reenactors for years, and they fill as many special orders for
individuals as for studio and stage customers. They’ve also done costuming for the Old Guard for U.S. presidential inaugurations, used by leaders such as George W. Bush. And they have worked on huge contracts with branches of the U.S. military to create headto-toe ceremonial uniforms of one soldier from each war, Revolutionary to Spanish-American, a number of which are currently in museums. Most of their business comes by word of mouth. The work is so labor-intensive that one handmade coffeepot alone takes tinsmith James Embry more than three hours to fabricate. The historical accuracy and craftsmanship of the Jarnagin line stems from the shop’s beginnings with Robin’s in-laws, Dale and Carolyn Jarnagin. Crafting such pieces started when the couple was living in Boulder, Colorado, and friends requested their own Civil War soldier costumes to match the ones Carolyn sewed for her young son and husband one Halloween. After Dale’s health restricted him from working as a museum curator, she taught him to stitch so he could work on historical reproductions while she was at her own job. The hobby became a business before the pair moved to the Corinth area to be close to the Shiloh battle site, opening C&D Jarnagin Company in 1974. “This is about as authentic as you get. Most of the equipment I work on to make our leatherware are even antiques,” son David Jarnagin said. “In the ’60s and ’70s, our family spent a lot of time at shows and out with metal detectors to find original pieces to base our items on. We’ve visited a lot of museums to get permission to handle items to make patterns and have put together a pretty good collection of original items that give us an up-close look at how things were put together.” Dale died in 1999, but his passion for history still lives on through his family. Carolyn is in charge of the patterns and cutting in the sewing room, David handles all of the shoemaking and other leatherwork, and Robin makes sure the customers are satisfied, whether the products are going next door or as far as Russia or England. “We took this over together when my husband was still sick, and it’s been a natural thing for us to carry on together as a family,” Carolyn said. “That’s the way it’s always been.” September 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Disc golf has become a popular pastime thanks to the growing Tupelo Disc Golf Association and 10 area courses that cater to players from novices to pros. written by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
Tupelo firefighter Jason Cross steps across the tee box at hole No. 3 on the Music Bend course and takes his first shot at the fairway. The disc slices evenly through the air, making the 259-foot drive to the hole look easy. But this isn’t Tiger Woods’ kind of golf. Cross picks up his Frisbee-like disc for another throw to the metal basket a few yards away and gives a thumbs-up when it lands at his target. “If you know anything about ball golf, it takes no time to figure this out,” the Tupelo Disc Golf Association (TDGA) president said. “We like to say that disc golf is an affordable, family-friendly alternative to ball golf – no cart required.”
Disc golf has gained popularity in Tupelo, where courses are strategically placed throughout local parks. The game is similar to ball golf, except that discs take the place of clubs and balls and the targets are elevated metal baskets rather than holes.
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“If you know anything about ball golf, it takes no time to figure this out. We like to say that disc golf is an affordable, family-friendly alternative to ball golf – no cart required.” – Jason Cross, TDGA president
Right and opposite, Tupelo Disc Golf Association members James Bracken, John Franklin and Jason Cross (president) play a round of disc golf at the Tupelo High School course.
After its official start in the mid-1970s, disc golf was a fringe sport often referred to as hippie golf. Rising popularity soon dulled the counterculture associations as people of all backgrounds, ages, races and genders joined the game. The basic rules are comparable to traditional golf, with a few differences. The hole is an upraised metal basket, the tee is a concrete slab from which to throw, and a disc replaces the ball and club. The goal remains the same:
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Reach the hole in the fewest tries. Players are numerically ranked by their wins, and bragging rights are as good as trophies. Cross began playing in the 1990s, a decade before TDGA became an official organization under the Tupelo Sports Council. Now the group has more than 100 members, including several players who have competed in the elite Professional Disc Golf Association world and national championships. “When I went to my first PDGA nation-
als, there were only three women’s teams there, and it was mostly college kids playing,” Krystin White, part of Mississippi State University’s 2012 and 2013 national championship teams, said. “The sport has opened up so much since then to everyone, and this area is such a great place to learn and get better because there are so many different courses and players.” Tupelo is a hub for disc golfers because of the quantity and quality of its game sites. There are six courses within city limits, plus
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four more within a 10-minute drive at Tombigbee State Park and Trace State Park. The top area courses are the challenging Tombigbee II and Trace Gold, which is one of the only championship-level courses in this part of the state. More-advanced players test themselves at Veterans Park and Thunder Chief, while beginners get their bearings on the courses at Ballard Park and Tombigbee I. TDGA’s events draw disc golfers to the area as well. The association’s annual April Fool’s Fling, Fling with the King in June and Fall Classic in October bring players from around the country to the local courses, and TDGA weekly mini-tournaments give members and nonmembers the chance to compete year-round. “I was purely recreational when I joined, but I wanted to meet people who were better than I was to improve my game. That’s definitely what happened,” tournament veteran Brady Davis said. “A lot of stronger players feel it’s their responsibility to help grow the sport by helping newer players. Then we pass it on as we get better.” TDGA also recently won its bid to host its first ever PDGA Southern Regional Tournament for both the amateur and professional divisions. The events could bring more than 500 players to the area during Memorial Day weekend 2017. “The most exciting thing about that opportunity is the chance to bring some great players in here and show them exactly what this area has to offer,” Cross said. “We believe we have a really good thing going here.” For more information on the TDGA, look them up on Facebook or visit tupelodiscgolf.net.
Tupelo Disc Golf Association member Kyle Lukens throws for a basket at the Tupelo High School course. There are more than 100 TDGA members.
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on location
FOOTBALL, FOOD AND FAMILY
Sheila and Reggie Kelly’s favorite family recipes are now sold in stores around the country. written by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
Tackling a new challenge together came naturally to power couple Sheila and Reggie Kelly. But as the Cincinnati Bengals tight end neared his 2012 retirement from the NFL, neither he nor his wife expected the next step would be a career selling homemade salsa, seasonings and apple butter. They’ve been a team since they were teenagers. Sheila cheered for Reggie during his time on their hometown field at Aberdeen High School. When Reggie played under coach Jackie Sherrill at Mississippi State University in the late 1990s, she was his No. 1 fan. Sheila was by his side when the Arthur Ashe Courage Award nominee and All-SEC Honor Roll recipient was picked in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft, as well as during his five years with the Atlanta Falcons and eight years with the Cincinnati Bengals. “We’ve been a couple, best friends and parents,” she said. “Becoming business partners after all this time was just another way for us to work well together.” The idea of a food business started at one of the free youth football clinics Reggie hosted in Aberdeen before he retired. Even with all of the good-spirited competition on the field, it was the food Sheila and their family cooked for September 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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“We knew nothing about this business when we started, but I know a lot about working with the right team. I see it like I saw the game: There is no loss. Either we win or we learn. When things haven’t gone our way, we learn from it, grow from it and become wiser because of it.” -Reggie Kelly
the crowd that had everyone raving. After someone suggested those recipes could bring in a profit, the Kellys began searching for food industry mentors and a facility for mass production back home in Mississippi. The couple soon set up a manufacturing home in Mississippi and based the business side in their post-football state of residence, Georgia. Kyvan Foods, LLC, named after their children, Kyla and Kavan, first hit the retail market in 2011 when an MSU graduate with a grocery store in Columbus stocked the company’s honey apple salsa on its shelves. “We knew nothing about this business when we started, but I know a lot about working with the right team,” Reggie said. “I see it like I saw the game: There is no loss. Either we win or we learn. When things haven’t gone our way, we learn from it, grow from it and become wiser because of it. That information helps us with the next play.” The line has matured from several salsas into an array of products, including honey apple butter, gourmet meat seasonings and breading, cornbread mix, jambalaya sauce, dry barbecue rub, sweet and sesame-garlic-flavored barbecue sauces, hot wing sauce, and hot sauce. Many hotels and restaurants order Kyvan to bring flavor to their menus, but most of the sales are to retailers nationwide. The company’s products have been on Wal-Mart’s shelves since 2012, and they landed a deal with Kroger this year. “Our ultimate goal is to be a household name all over coming from right here where our roots are,” Reggie said. “We want to get a little bit of the South on everyone’s table and make the world a better-tasting place. We’re thankful to God for the opportunity to service so many great customers.” To order Kyvan products online or find recipes for their use, go to kyvan82.com.
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Some of nature's most colorful blooms dot the landscape in early fall. photographed by Lisa Roberts
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Admired for their beauty, wildflowers are also a vital source of nectar for pollinators, including bees, butterflies, wasps and hummingbirds. Without pollinators such as these, gardens and crops would not be productive. “Wildflowers are the great balancers of nature,” said Margaret Gratz, local Master Gardener and wildflower expert. Opposite, ironweed blooms in late summer and early fall. Other seasonal bloomers are (clockwise from above left): showy evening primrose, black-eyed Susan, wild potato vine and purple coneflower.
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More late summer and early fall flowers include (opposite) Queen Anne’s lace and (clockwise from top left) wild bergamot, trumpet honeysuckle, prairie onion and goldenrod. “Wildflowers of north Mississippi are exquisite and abundant,” Gratz said. “Look for wildflowers in open fields and meadows, natural wetlands and beneath the trees on the forest floor. There are wildflowers for every season, and these native plants never fail to delight.” Learn more about wildflowers that grow in this area in Gratz’s informative book, Wildflower Watch.
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BIG OAKS VS. NATCHEZ TRACE GOLF CLUBS Members from Natchez Trace and Big Oaks golf clubs played Aug. 20 at Big Oaks and Aug. 21 at Natchez Trace in a two-day interclub tournament featuring 12 member players from each club. photographed by Lisa Roberts
William Taylor and Peyton Dunlap
Michael Benjamin and Trey Trapp
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Buddy Long and F.G. Wiygul
Michael McCrory and Ken Hayes
Jeff and Adam Hall
Levi Bishop and James Hopkins
Steven Thomas, Bradley Smith and Kyle Young
Rusty Lanphere and Bill Donald
Tyler Counts and Matt Baker
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CORINTH POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL A powder puff football tournament was held Aug. 4 at Corinth’s Warrior Stadium. The event benefits the Magnolia Regional Health Center Foundation, and funds will go toward the Cancer Care Center. photographed by Whitney Worsham
Hannah Sitton and Tess Campbell
Holly Ross, Emily Henson, Lauren Kate Drewry and Dae Shanks
Ansley Wiggington, Kate Madden Worsham and Laikyn King
Xakayla and Zakira Duff
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Bradlee Rose Hajek and Avery Greene
Azeria Batie, Meyon Green, Rebekah Adams and Allison Blackwell
Bailee Essary, Caroline Sleeper and Madison Mayhall
Joy and Ashton Murrah
Cole Crozier and Kerrigan Maness
Tavion Selmon and John Robert Mansel
names names Paigenames Little and names Wendy names Wood names names
Madelynn Lynch and Brady Pratt
Katera Bridges and McKenzie Patterson
Kaliyah Jones, Lajamiee Brewer and Kya Williams
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CORINTH WARRIORS ON WICK STREET A pep rally was held to kick off Corinth High School’s football season Aug. 18. The event featured the CHS football team, band, cheerleaders and dance team. photographed by Whitney Worsham
Ethan Bain and Quin Wharton
Emma Resielt, Callie Burns, Alli Shinault, Mimi Williams and Molly Lambert
Steve Carter and Cody Brownlee
Anakin Jones, Treven Knight and Labarron Shelton
Sallie Kate, Kate Walker and Trey Williams
Brooks, Baker and Baylee Anna Bain
Nick Cowart with Frank Archer and John Robert Davis
Adaley and Avery Jordan
Tedra and Dedria Beene
Hayden Scarborough and Nolan Grady
Lilly, names Marynames Russellnames and Lucy names Smith names withnames Cooper names Frazier
Olivia Fowler and Justin Huggins
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Emily Henson, Holly Ross and Lauren Kate Drewry
William and John Edward Orman
Katera Bridges, Dae Shanks and Azia Alexander
Michael White and Tez Washington
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BELK’S BACK-TOSCHOOL KIDFEST Belk held a back-to-school Kidfest July 30 at The Mall at Barnes Crossing. The event included children’s games, refreshments and a fashion show. photographed by Michaela Cooper
Jenna and Joyce Booker
Harmoniye and Dondreia Blanchard
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Ashlyn Clark
Chloe and Gracey Long
Jayden, Jordan and Shanika Thompson
Chrissy and Kelis Johnson
Aiden Copeland with Kamaij, Harlem and McKavious Johnson
Taylen and Tylen Morris
Ella and Lori Hughes
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TUPELO ELVIS FAN CLUB DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY The Tupelo Elvis Fan Club presented Dance the Night Away Aug. 6 with saxophonist Ace Cannon. The event was held in Shelton Hall at St. James Catholic Church. photographed by Michaela Cooper
George and Kathy Duff
Carolyn Fondren and Leo Hamm
Roger Williams and Barbara Stafford
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Hilda and Mike Gorsuch
Nancy and John Weems
Doug Robinson and Betty Franks
Wende Mask and Amye James
Marilyn Hicks, Blackie Boatner and Cynthia Stepp
Lori Greffey and Jerry Brazile
Larry and Bettye Coggin
Terryle Long and Paris Clay
Ann Rogers and Dan Davis
Carolyn and Chip Ashford
Brenda and Rick Martin
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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 66
HEALTHWORKS! SAFETY DAY
Michelle Wells, Caleeb Freeman and Charles Pegues
Madison Garvin, Caitlin Bailey and Jessie Leddy
Jennifer Williams and Aiden Cook
SHANNON LITTLE FREE LIBRARY DEDICATION
Ashley Christian and Jyanna Ivy
Teiryne Miller and Jeri Sullivan
Addie Mask, Sabrina Vazquez, Cooper Lindley, Camryn Judd and Micah Robinson
TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL PEP RALLY
Members of Tupelo High School Drumline
BELK ENGAGEMENT EVENT
Tim Berkes and Kelsey Otts
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Landon Craig, Zac Hargett, Shelandis Bell, Will Webb, Cameron Jones, Tony Boyd and Preston Hopper
MITCHELL DISTRIBUTING BLOOD DRIVE
Nickeda Shelton and Lekreshia Crump
Wes Robbins and Brian Franks
Ashley Hays and Molly Lovorn
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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 64
MAKE-A-WISH DINNER
Carrie Cole, Nicole Becker, Ihle Gann and Emma Woolhouse
Shanda, Zoie and Darren Hughes
Rachel Talton and Ashley Buse
REACH WEEK AT CROSS POINTE MINISTRIES
Jay Hervey and Aislyn Pounds
Renee Lewis and Arelya Graves
KROGER SCHOOL SUPPLIES DONATION FOR THOMAS STREET ELEMENTARY
Michael Storey, Cindy Pyke, John Knighton and Kelly Linton
CORINTH SPARKLES AND SUITS ALZHEIMER’S FOUNDATION EVENT
Kayo McPeters and Suzy Marlar
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Haley Little and Molly Warren
Will and Amber Graves with Greg Driskill
Stephanie Noble and Brandy Driskill
SALSARITA’S VIP GRAND OPENING
Casey Fisackerly, J.C. Clark, Gery McGuire and Tim Carter
SOUTHERN LIGHTS EXHIBIT AT OREN DUNN MUSEUM
Pat Caldwell, Joseph Wicker and Joe Bailey
Peggy Grissom with Rose Mary and Don Wilson
DECEMBER 2015 / JANUARY 2016
FEBRUARY 2016
For more information about advertising in Invitation Tupelo, call (662) 234-4008. September 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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When you think of jewelry, think of Stones.
TUPELO | MS
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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 66
MIMOSAS AND MASTERPIECES ON ROBINS STREET
Heather Palmer and Micayla Sanderson
Gena Yarbrough and Sue Freeman
WHITE HILL CHURCH SINGLES CONFERENCE
Lisa Jones and Carol Grayson
Jerri Hamilton and Jenny Murphy
TUPELO FURNITURE MARKET HOME ACCESSORIES SHOW
Lenish White and Lycedia R. Gasaway
Jade Jones and Paige Burton
J. Ryan Allen and Bob Riggle
MRS. MISSISSIPPI ASHLEY BUSE SEND-OFF PARTY
Brian Hicks, Dennis Buse, Mark Guin and Jeffery Rea
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSMEN 4 WOUNDED VETERANS MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Dan Johnson with Chester and Cathy Stasko
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Jena Pennington and Brittany Davis
Emily Hicks, Anna Terrell Rea, Blair Guin, Ashley Buse and Keri McMillin
MISSISSIPPI LEADERSHIP TRAINING SCHOOL
Kewon and Chrystency Jefferies
Joshayla Jefferies and Jasmine Hudson
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WILL KOLLMEYER interviewed by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem
Will Kollmeyer, a local sports broadcaster for more than 20 years, is now heard nationwide doing Ole Miss play-by-play commentary for the SEC Network on the WatchESPN app.
Q: When did you call your first play? A: I’ve been doing it my whole life. I got a tape recorder for Christmas in fourth grade, and I would get the sports page before my dad got to breakfast and do a play-by-play into my recorder so he wouldn’t have to read it.
Q: What brought you to Tupelo? A: Divine intervention. I sent out résumés and tapes all over when I graduated college in Wisconsin. I got a call from the station here [in Tupelo] saying the one in West Palm Beach didn’t have an opening, so they’d passed my tape on to WTVA because Mr. Spain owned them both. When I agreed to come to Mississippi I never told them that I hadn’t sent a tape to West Palm Beach.
Q: Were you ready for the State/Ole Miss rivalry here? A: It didn’t take long to find out how serious it is. In my first month, I came home after my 10 o’clock spot to find a rusty hunting knife between the seven and eight on my apartment door. It had a tag attached that said, “Let’s keep it fair.” Q: Why did you leave broadcast news? A: I became a dad at almost 42. Working every weekend and getting home every night at midnight just isn’t conducive to a good family life.
Q: What brought you back to it? A: I did public relations for ICC and then started doing play-by-play for the games. When Ole Miss called about the SEC job two summers ago, it seemed crazy to leave a great state job with benefits to freelance. But even at 52, I had to say yes. I tell my son every day that you’re never too old to chase your dreams.
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