Yes: it’s time once again to revel in the glory of just how good of a sports town Pascagoula really is. The Pascagoula Athletic Foundation recently announced the Class of 2025 for the Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame, at the same time noting that the induction ceremony will take place on June 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Pascagoula.
A little history here. Back in 2014, Dr. Donnis Harrison, who was president of the Pascagoula Athletic Foundation at the time, walked into my office at Singing River Health System ( yeah, I did have an actual job once upon a time), and said, “hey, I’ve got a project I wanted to see if you’d head up”. Those are not necessarily the words you want to hear when you’re already quite busy, but when the doc told me what he had in mind, I immediately perked up.
Donnis explained that he and Joe Davis, then and now Pascagoula High’s preeminent Head Athletic Trainer, had been talking about the fact that Pascagoula needed an athletic hall of fame. They had some baseline ideas, and thought that maybe I could be the guy to pull such a concept together.
Now, there was no question Pascagoula needed an athletic hall of fame. Our rich sports history and number of athletes produced speaks for itself. However, I knew that such a project would be very complicated and time consuming if done correctly. I was already involved in so many community activities that my spouse had started pretty much issuing an “if you sign up for anything else, just keep walking” edict.
Creating an athletic hall of fame for our community just had “labor of love” written all over it, though. After thinking it through, I got back to Donnis, and said, “I’ll do it on one condition—Gary Stevens will be my co-chairman”. Old friend Gary is one of our premier local sports historians, and he’s also a diligent worker, so I knew he’d be a good fit.
Long story short, Gary and I were given the resources and support from the Pascagoula Athletic Foundation, and we dived into the arduous task. I won’t go into all the research we did, how we identified the participants for a selection committee, and all the other organizing details. We rolled out a spectacular first class in 2015, and now , a decade later, we’re ready to present our sixth such class.
“Our Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame has received regional notoriety since its inception ten years ago,” said Stacy Inlow, Pascagoula Athletic Foundation Chairman. “The Athletic Foundation has always been proud to sponsor this most meaningful endeavor. The excellence and diversity of this, our sixth class, speaks to the depth and rich history of athletes who have come through Pascagoula High School and Carver High School over the years.”
Let’s meet this year’s inductees:
PASCAGOULA ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025
PRE 1950’S
Margaret Moore Wolfe (PHS 1940) – A three-letterman both girls basketball and
track at Pascagoula High School (PHS); she was the leading scorer and most
outstanding player on the basketball squad throughout her career; in the 1939-
1940 school year she was chosen as the Outstanding Athlete at PHS, the first
female to ever win the award; was also a cheerleader at PHS; had a long,
distinguished career in Civil Service as she resided in Pascagoula for most of her
life; she passed away in 2019 at the age of 96.
1950 – 1959
Gene Dubuisson (PHS 1952) – A three-year letterman in football at PHS from
1949-1951; also lettered two-years in basketball at center; in 1951 helped lead
PHS to a 7-3-1 record in football and was selected All-Big 8 at center; received a
football scholarship to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) where he was a
three-year letterman in football from 1953-1955; playing center on both offense
and linebacker on defense, he compiled two interceptions on defense; helped
lead the Rebels to a 26-5-1 record, two Southeastern Conference (SEC) titles in
1954 and 1955, one Sugar Bowl appearance against Navy and to a Cotton Bowl
win over nationally ranked Texas Christian University (TCU); was selected All-
Southeastern Conference in 1955; he was inducted into the Ole Miss Athletic Hall
of Fame; he passed away in 2010.
1960 – 1969
James Mike Nelson (PHS 1961) – A three-year letterman in football at PHS from
1958-1960; helped lead one of the greatest PHS teams in school history to an
outstanding 9-1 record in 1960; as team captain played guard on offense and
linebacker on defense; was selected All Big 8 at guard in 1960 as he spearheaded
a tenacious Panther defense that only allowed 66 points; was chosen to play in
the Mississippi High School All-Star game; received a football scholarship to Ole
Miss where he lettered for three years at offensive guard and linebacker from
1963-1965; helped lead Ole Miss to the 1963 SEC title and to appearances in the
Sugar Bowl, Bluebonnet Bowl and a Liberty Bowl win over Auburn; in 1965 against
nationally ranked Louisiana State University (LSU) intercepted a pass and returned
it for a touchdown as the Rebels defeated LSU 23-0; after graduating from Ole
Miss, entered the coaching field and later as head coach at Stone High in Wiggins
from 1971-1976 and compiled an excellent 46-15-1 record in leading the Tomcats
to two Gulf Coast Conference titles; later became an assistance coach at
Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College at Perkinston and helped lead the 1984
Bulldogs to the NCJAA National Championship; in 1985 became head coach at
Pearl River Junior College and led to Wildcats to a 34-25-1 record until an
unfortunate motorcycle accident forced him to retire from coaching; he passed
away in 2018.
Billy Knight, Sr. (Carver) – Graduation from Rowan High School in Hattiesburg,
Mississippi where he was a three-year letterman in football and starting
quarterback; received a scholarship to Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU)
where he played football and baseball from 1959-1963 and graduated with a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics; employed at Carver High from 1964-
1968 where he served as head basketball coach, assistant football coach and head
of the Mathematics Department; was name Carver High Teacher of the Year in
1967; was inducted into the MVSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and into the
Southwest Conference (SWAC) Sports Hall of Fame in 1997; has been honored
numerous times over the years for his outstanding contributions to the Pas-Point
community; currently serving as the 29 th Mayor of Moss Point, Mississippi;
married to Lois Knight and they are parents of one son, two granddaughters and
two great-grandchildren.
Larry Rodgers (Carver 1970) – A three-year football letterman at quarterback for
Carver from 1967-1969; was team captain in 1969 as he threw for 26 touchdown
passes, selected as All-Conference quarterback and awarded Most Valuable
Player in Carver’s bowl game victory; received a scholarship to Tennessee State
University but transferred to Alcorn State University where he played
quarterback for four seasons and participated in the 1970 National Black College
Championship game; was offered a tryout by the Pittsburgh Steelers but declined
due to health issues from an earlier football injury; later worked at Jones Truck
Line and later for Red Ball Motor Freight where he retired after 22 years; married
to Chris Rodgers and they are parents of one daughter and two grandchildren.
1970-1979
Gerald (Book) Thomas (Carver & PHS 1971) – The first athlete inducted into the
PAF Hall of Fame who played at both Carver and PHS; at Carver was a three-year
letterman in baseball, basketball, football and track from 1967-1969; in football
compiled over 2,000 yards rushing and also was the kick off and placement kicker;
at PHS in 1970 was an outstanding running back, having one game with over 200-
yards rushing and two games with over 100-yards rushing; received numerous
scholarship offers but chose to attend Perkinston Junior College where he helped
lead the Bulldogs to the 1971 National Junior College Championship; in 1972 was
selected Mississippi Junior College All-State and to play in the Mississippi Junior
College All-Star game; later worked 39 years as a lineman at Henkel & McCoy
Power Line Construction Company; married to Darlene King Thomas and they are
proud parents of three sons, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Don Law (PHS 1973) – A three-year letterman in baseball and football at PHS from
1970-1973 and also lettered in track as a sprinter; in baseball as an infielder
helped lead PHS to two district titles in 1972 and 1973; in football played both
receiver on offense and defensive back on defense; in 1971 against Moss Point
caught a game winning touchdown pass in the final minutes to give PHS a 6-0
victory; selected All Big-8 in football his senior year and received a scholarship to
the University of Southern Mississippi (USM); at USM was a four-year letterman
playing defensive back from 1973-1976.
Stacy Carmichael (PHS 1977) – A two-year letterman in football and three-year
letterman in baseball at PHS; in baseball helped lead PHS to two district titles in
1976 and 1977 plus the Big 8 baseball championship in 1977; was an outstanding
defensive lineman/punter on the 12-0 1976 PHS Big 8 State Championship squad
and was selected All Big 8, Burger King All Coast and National High School Football
Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete; holds PHS football record for most sacks (5) in one
game against Hattiesburg in 1976; named 1976 PHS Donald Gibson Award winner;
received a baseball scholarship to Mississippi College (MC) where he was a four-
year letterman; was selected team Most Valuable Player and All-Gulf South
Conference in 1978 and 1981 plus Academic All-American in 1978; later played
semi-pro baseball and was selected Mississippi Semi-Pro All-State from 1977-
1979; participated in the National Baseball Congress World Series in 1978 and
1979.
1980 – 1989
Dale Brown (PHS 1988) – A two-year letterman in basketball at PHS; in 1988
helped lead PHS to a 30-7 record, the district title and to the South State
Championship; was selected All-District and All-State as he averaged 19.5 ppg, 5
rebounds and 4 assists; received a scholarship to Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior
College (MGCJC) where he played from 1988-1990 and was selected Mississippi
Junior College All-State All-Region 23; received a scholarship to the University of
Kentucky (UK); helped lead UK to the 1992 and 1993 SEC championships and to
the 1993 Final Four; in 1992 played in what is considered the greatest college
basketball game ever, UK vs. Duke in the East Region Elite Eight Final; was
selected as 1992 SEC Newcomer of the Year and twice was selected as SEC
Defensive Player of the Year; played in 1993 for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA
and for four years in European Professional Basketball; has coached at both the
high school and college levels.
Antonio Harvey (PHS 1988) – A three-year letterman in basketball at PHS; helped
lead PHS to a 30-7 record, the district title and to the South State Championship
as he averaged over 13.0 ppg; received a scholarship to Southern Illinois
University where he played one season then transferred to Conners State College
and to the University of Georgia for one season each; transferred to Pfeiffer
University where he played from 1991-1993 and averaged 16.0 ppg, had 155
blocked shots in 1992-1993 and totaled 295 career blocked shots; was chosen to
the CIAC All-Tournament Team in both 1992 and 1993; in 1993 was selected CIAC
All-American, CIAC Player of the Year and District Player of the Year; signed as a
free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA in 1993 and became the first
undrafted rookie to start a game in Laker history; played a total of nine seasons in
the NBA with the Lakers, Vancouver Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle
Supersonics, Portland Trailblazers and Atlanta Hawks; competed in the NBA Slam
Dunk Contest and finished fourth; later played in Greece, Spain, Poland and Italy;
in 2004 was named general manager and head coach of the American Basketball
Association’s Portland Reign; later became a member of Portland Trailblazer’s
radio broadcast team; his brother Richard Harvey was inducted into the 2016 PAF
Hall of Fame Class.
Elbert Rogers (PHS 1988) – A three-year letterman in basketball at PHS; helped
lead PHS to a 30-7 record and the district title and to the South State
Championship as he averaged 16 ppg; was selected All-District, All-State,
McDonald’s All-American, Street & Smith Honorable Mention All-American and
NHS/ACA All-American; chosen to play in the Mississippi North-South All-Star
Game; received a scholarship to the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB)
where he was a four-year letterman; averaged 12.0 ppg and 4.7 rebounds his
sophomore year and was honored as the 6 th Man of the Year in the Sun Belt
Conference; in his junior season he averaged 17.0 ppg and 6.5 rebounds, earning
him 2 nd Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors; in his senior year was the leading
scorer and rebounder in the Great Midwest Conference with 20.9 ppg and 6.8
rebounds and was selected to the 1 st Team All-Conference squad; his career totals
at UAB were third on the all-time scoring list, third in all-time rebounds and
holding the record for consecutive double-figure scoring games; was recognized
as #9 on the UAB All-Time Legends list for his contributions to the UAB program;
later enjoyed a successful professional career that spanned 10 years, playing
overseas in Spain, China, Argentina and the Puerto Rican Summer League and
retiring in 2002 with an impressive professional average of 18.4 ppg and 9.2
rebounds per game.
1990-1999
Melinda Mitchell (PHS) – A graduate of Wood Junior College with an Associate
Degree in Science and from Mississippi State University with both a Bachelor of
Science Degree and Master Degree in Education; taught Physical Education and
coached girls basketball and track at Gautier Junior High and PHS for over 25
years; served as a cheerleader coach/sponsor at PHS for over 20 years; was
honored as District 4 Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1983; was named PHS
Teacher of the Year in 2010; the PHS field house at War Memorial Stadium bears
her name along with fellow HOF inductee Dr. Ken Seay; the Panther Pride Award
is named after her; was married to former PHS coach Randy Mitchell for over 29
years as they were parents of two children, Kaylie and Cal, both former PHS
athletes; she passed away December 13, 2014.
Quite a group, wouldn’t you say? The Class of 2025 brings the total membership of the Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame to 82, and each class continues to demonstrate the exceptional legacy of athletes who have performed for Pascagoula High or Carver High over the years.
So, what can we attribute Pascagoula’s success in scholastic sports and producing athletes to? There are numerous factors, I’m sure.
- Pascagoula as a city has always been hard- working, progressive, and success-oriented.
- The youth sports programs locally have been strong for many years, always ahead of the curve.
- Hey, this is the South, where sports are like a religion, so we had a head start in that regard.
- Pascagoula High has won 11 state championships and many, many region/district championships in sports across the board, and Carver High was very successful as well, so there has always been a feel and an expectation of excellence locally.
- Going all the way back to the sandlots, kids around here—young men and young women alike—have just always loved to get out and play ball.
- Finally—had to say it—maybe there’s just something in the water.
Yes, Pascagoula has a lot to be proud of as a city, and our exceptional history of winning sports teams and superb athletes is right on up there. Maybe take a look at attending the Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony in June. Watching these deserving athletes being honored would fill you heart with pride, and remind you that Pascagoula always has been, and always will be, a sports town.
Richard Lucas may be contacted at [email protected].
