Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2020 loaded with stars, coaching legends
With a group of football stars and multi-sport standouts, the Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame has announced its 12-person Class of 2020.
This is the fourth class to be inducted into the hall, which was established in 2015.
“Our Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame continues to grow in excellence and stature,” selection committee co-char Richard Lucas said in a statement “We already have numerous state champions, Super Bowl winners, Heisman Trophy finalists and other superb players and coaches. This class is very exciting and will only add to our well-earned tradition.”
Gary Stevens serves as the other co-chair for the selection committee, which is made up of local experts and sports enthusiasts.
“We appreciate the work of Gary, Richard and the entire selection committee,” said Jerry Jackson, President of the Pascagoula Athletic Foundation. “We have an outstanding class coming in, and we look forward to honoring them and their families.”
The Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will be celebrated at 6 p.m. on July 31 at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Pascagoula High School.
A reception will be held in the lobby starting at 6 p.m., with the ceremony to follow in the auditorium at 7 p.m. Tickets, which are $25, can be purchased online at 2021pascagoulahof.eventbrite.com or by sending checks made out to Pascagoula Athletic Foundation to Joe Davis at P.O Box 272, Pascagoula, MS, 39568.
Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020
M.R. “Montie” Richards (Pascagoula High School Class of 1949): Richards was the starting fullback on the Pascagoula High Big 8 State Championship team of 1947. He received a scholarship offer from Ole Miss, but transferred to Pearl River Junior College. Richards eventually returned to Pascagoula, where he operated Montie’s Sporting Goods for many years. In 2001, he was selected as the recipient of the Distinguished American Award by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to his community and his service to enhance local athletes.
Bobby Joe Lopez (PHS, 1956): Lopez was the first four-sport letterman at PHS (1953-56), excelling in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was selected first team All-Big Eight in football as a lineman in 1955 after leading the Panthers to a 7-3 record and a top 10 state ranking. He was the catcher in baseball, second leading scorer in basketball, threw the shot put in track and was also a member of the PHS marching band.
Bobby Pierce (Carver High School, 1954): A four-year starter at Carver in football as a fullback, Pierce was a small college All-American at Alcorn State. Pierce turned down an opportunity to play with the Pittsburgh Steelers to enter the high school coaching ranks in Connecticut, where he had an outstanding career as a football and track coach at Plainville High School. Pierce passed away in 2019.
Ernie Schroeder (PHS, 1956): Schroeder played basketball and baseball from 1953-56. He led the basketball team in scoring his senior year and made All-Big Eight. He started at shortstop and pitched in baseball. Schroeder then went on to Perkinston Junior College, where he starred in basketball and tennis. He was named Outstanding Basketball Player in 1958. He was undefeated in tennis, winning state titles in both singles and doubles. He later graduated from Mississippi State and the University of Mississippi School of Law, returning to Pascagoula for a career as an attorney until his death in 2018.
Alan “Cowboy” Bush (PHS, 1964): Bush was a football and track force for PHS from 1961-64. As a two-way lineman in football, he was named first team All Big-Eight as a senior. In track, he was a multiple meet winner in both the shot and discus. Bush went on to a decorated football career at Ole Miss, making All-SEC his senior year and was drafted in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears. He returned to Pascagoula to run the family business, Bush Office Supply, and passed away in 2017.
Jimmy Farmer (PHS, 1964): He started all three years as center on the basketball team, started two years in football, making All-Big Eight his senior year. As an all-purpose performer in track, he won the Big Eight and state high jump championships plus several shot and discus championships. Farmer went on to letter as a lineman at Ole Miss and obtained a degree in microbiology there, eventually obtaining a PhD. He currently serves on the faculty at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campus in Gulfport.
Robert “Cool” Martin (CHS, 1964): Martin was an outstanding football player at Carver from 1961-63. He started at quarterback for two years and was All Gulf Coast Conference both years. He then headed to Alcorn State, where he started at quarterback for three years and still remains in the top ten for school passing records. After graduating, Martin embarked on a distinguished career coaching high school football in Mississippi, and also officiated basketball for much of that time. He passed away in 1994.
Chuck Commiskey (PHS,1976): A football star at PHS from 1973-75, Commiskey helped lead the Panthers to an 8-2 season in 1974. He also earned All-District and All-Big Eight honors as a senior. He went onto Ole Miss (1977-80), starting the last three years. The offensive lineman played in the 1981 Senior Bowl and then had an eight-year career in the NFL, including with the New Orleans Saints (1986-88). Commiskey now lives in New Orleans.
Terry “Tee” McCovey (PHS, 1979): A standout basketball player from 1976-79, McCovey averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds a game as a senior. He led the Panthers to a 20-win season as a senior, making All-District and All-Big Eight. McCovey played at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, averaging a double/double and leading the Bulldogs to the state championship in 1981. He then started two years at Arkansas College. McCovey is presently Chief Executive Officer for The United Way for Jackson and George Counties.
Beverly Brown Dees (PHS, 1988): Dees was a varsity tennis star at PHS from seventh grade through graduation. Along the way, she attained many honors, including being ranked No. 1 in the state in her age group, runner-up in the state championship, and top 50 in the South. She has continued an exceptional tennis run in later life, once ranking No. 1 in the state in doubles. After graduating from Ole Miss, Dees returned to the Gulf Coast and now has a successful graphic arts and advertising career.
Mike Moreland (PHS, 1985): Moreland was a three year starter in baseball (center field), helping lead the Panthers to the 1983 state championship, the 1984 South Mississippi championship and the 1985 Big Eight championship. He made All-State and All-American, and set several batting marks at PHS. Moreland then went on to a successful career at both Tulane and Southern Miss, where he made All-Metro Conference. He is back in Pascagoula now, and has been a teacher/coach in local school systems for 27 years.
Bill Matthews (PHS): Matthews was head football coach at Pascagoula from 1986-1996 (and athletic director through 2000). He is the winningest coach in Pascagoula history with a 75-51 record. His 1987 Panthers went 14-0, won the state championship, finished ranked No. 12 in the USA TODAY national poll, and are generally considered to be one of the best high school teams in the history of Mississippi. Previously, Matthews was a wide receiver at his alma mater, Ole Miss. His son, Shane, was inducted in the inaugural Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame Class in 2015. Matthews continued to live in Pascagoula after retirement, and passed away in May of this year.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 3:52 PM.
