Outstanding Alumni
Over the years, Holmes Community College has seen some fantastic students come through its doors. The Holmes Community College Alumni Association began honoring its alumni in 1975 with either the Alumnus of the Year or the Distinguished Service Award. These awards are chosen by the Executive Committee of the Holmes Community College Alumni Association.
Selection Criteria
Persons interested in nominating someone for the Alumnus of the Year Award or the Distinguished Service Award should mail their nomination and include a copy of the person’s current resume to the Holmes Community College Alumni Association, Attn: Katherine Ellard, P.O. Box 369 Goodman, MS 39079. For more information, you can call (662) 472.9134 or email Katherine Ellard, kellard@holmescc.edu
Current Recipients
Alumnus of the Year – Carolyn Burrell Thomas (’53)
Distinguished Service Award – Dr. Mack Woo
Young Alumnus of the Year – Dr. Autumn M. Barron (’15)
Veteran of the Year – Mr. Davis A. Richards, III (’63)
Past Recipients
Alumnus of the Year
- 2023 Maggie Garrett
- 2022 Derek Starling, Sr.
- 2021 Mrs. Doris Belk
- 2020 Mr. David Charles Hudson
- 2019 Dr. and Mrs. Frank Branch
- 2018 Frank H. Shaw, Jr.
- 2017 Albert B. Hankins, Jr.
- 2016 Johnny A. “Bit” Belk
- 2015 Robby Robertson
- 2014 Trina N. George
- 2013 Edward E. Bryant, M.D., Ph.D
- 2012 Dr. Robert N. Gilliland, Sr.
- 2011 Dr. Ronald E. Kennedy
- 2010 Dr. James Randall Ramsey
- 2009 Lynda Irby
- 2008 Dr. Lynn Wright
- 2007 Ralph Barnes
- 2006 Joe Adams
- 2005 JW Richardson
- 2004 Ed Nance
- 2003 David Dillon
- 2002 Jo Betty Rosier
- 2001 Robert Alexander
- 2000 Jesse Phillips
- 1999 Ken Jackson
- 1998 Jim Golden
- 1997 Dr. Anita Adams Larson
- 1996 Dr. Max Dale Cooper
- 1995 Dr. Hiram Palmertree
- 1994 Shirley Fowler Lobmiller
- 1993 Dr. R. J. Doyle
- 1992 Dr. Hermie Plunk
- 1991 Jesse Leverette
- 1990 Sidney M. Runnels
- 1989 Dr. Samuel O. Massey
- 1988 Dr. Alton Cobb
- 1987 D. W. Snyder
- 1986 David Herbert
- 1985 Dewitte Belk
- 1984 Dr. Sam Hall
- 1983 Dr. Tom Dulin
- 1982 Thomas Elliott
- 1981 Faye Graham
- 1980 Guy Ray Braswell
- 1979 Melvin E. Gibson
- 1978 Donald E. Phillips
- 1977 Maxie Bruce
- 1976 Clarence A. Pierce, Jr.
- 1975 Hilary O. Thomas
Young Alumnus of the Year
- 2023 Greg Holloway
- 2022 Kay Gowan
- 2021 Dr. Dustin Gentry
- 2020 Mr. Gerry “Austin” Taylor
- 2019 Mr. Sherman Miller
- 2018 Lily Fran McCrory
- 2017 Xan Barksdale
- 2016 Diana Rone Tate
Distinguished Service Award
- 2023 Jackie McKinney
- 2022 Taylor Bishop
- 2021 Dr. Brady Richardson
- 2020 Mrs. Clytice Robertson Gardner
- 2019 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Putnam
- 2018 Danny R. Chandler
- 2017 Edward Hayes Branscome
- 2016 Dr. John Lee (J.L.) Peeples, Jr.
- 2015 James Young, Bill Bailey
- 2014 Samuel Massey, Jr., M.D.
- 2013 J. S. “Dynamite” Kirk
- 2012 Paul S. Shelton
- 2011 Johnny “Bit” Belk
- 2010 Dr. Donald E. Phillips
- 2009 Dr. Dan Osborne
- 2008 Dewitte Belk
- 2007 Sam “Sport” Reves
- 2006 Jack Holmes, Wilton Neal
- 2005 Howard Guthrie
- 2004 Wilbur Harpole
- 2003 Gene and Janice Richardson
- 2002 Dr. Robin Pierce
- 2001 Charles Stacy
- 2000 Dub Herring
- 1999 Ben Rusche
- 1998 Judge Fred Wicker
- 1997 Dr. Harvey McCrory
- 1996 W.A. Miles
- 1995 Dr. Walter Roberts, James Alford
- 1994 Lobmiller Robert Irby, Robert Kennington
- 1993 Doris Hood Belk, Wade Henson
- 1992 Arthur T. Austin, Jr., Emily Pope Young
- 1991 Hugh Gibson, Woodson Earle
- 1990 Mrs. Marion Ann Ledbetter, Mrs. Norma B. Ferrill
- 1989 Mrs. Neil Y. Branch, Charles Unger Donald
- 1988 Egbert Hines, Robert R. Hodges
- 1987 W. C. “Dub” Shoemaker, D. P. McGowan, Jr.
- 1986 Donald Wilbur Harpole, N.C. Hawthorn
- 1985 Mr. & Mrs. W. Y. Sudduth
- 1984 Lennie B. Branch, Marion A. Ousley
- 1983 Dorothy Thomas, M. C. Mansel
- 1982 Christine Carithers, W. Godfrey Campbell
- 1981 Carl E. Cooper, W. E. “Bill” Gunn
- 1980 Walker G. “Dub” Brown. Grace Kirk Harpole
- 1979 Winfred V. Watts, Charles C. Perry
- 1978 Jack B. Carlisle
- 1977 John Clark Love, Sr., Robert W. Almond
- 1976 W. Ralph Applewhite, Malcolm M. Bennett, Sr.
- 1975 Frank A. Eakin, Dr. A. A. Derrick, Jr.
Veteran of the Year
- 2023 Dr. Sam Massey
- 2022 Major General William J. Lutz, United States Air Force, Retired
- 2021 Major General John Wallace, United States Air Force, Retired
- 2020 Captain Eric Payton-Gilkey, United States Army, Retired
- 2019 Donald Sims
- 2018 Jack Holmes
- 2017 James C. Foster
- 2016 Burnis T. Gardner
Special Recognition
- 2023 Azzie Winston