Class of 2015

Of the 25 inductees of the Hall of Fame’s first class, William Edward (Ed) Amis has the unique distinction of having coached at all five of the high schools in Scott County.
Amis is a 1964 graduate of Sebastopol High School where he played quarterback for the Bobcats and was a star basketball player, winning honors in both sports.
He went on to play quarterback and won numerous awards at East Central Junior College. At Mississippi College he played halfback and wingback in football. Amis returned to Scott County where he began his coaching career first at Seabstopol (1968-69). He departed for Edinburg and returned to Scott County.
Amis was the head football coach at Scott Central (1970-71) and moved to an assistant coach position at Forest High School (1971-75). He moved to Morton (1975-83; head coach 1980-83 , middle school 1985-95), then Lake (1995-98), back to Morton (2000-2002) and finished his career back at Lake (2002-2005). He retired in 2006. All total, he spent 20 years at Morton and five at Lake.
During his coaching career, some of his accomplishments include being part of Forest finishing as runners-up in the Little Dixie Conference (1973-74), undefeated eighth grade team at Morton Middle School (1987). During his tenure at Lake, Amis was a member of All District 5 coaching staff (1995); District 5-1A runner-up (2002), District 5-2A second round playoffs (2003), District 5-2A first round playoffs (2004); and assistant coach in MHSAA all star game (2005). He also received the Bobby Joe Crosby Spirit Award in 2006.
In his retirement, Amis has enjoyed spending time with his wife, Patsy, and daughters Bethany Crosby and Stacy Parker and he has one grandchild, McKenzie Crosby. He is also a member of Lake Baptist Church and Gideons International.

He was a 1995 graduate of Forest High School and advanced to the collegiate ranks before topping out in the National Football League. Anderson’s skills as a linebacker helped him earn a place on the roster of the Jackson State University Tigers where he was moved to a cornerback position.
“He plays his position so solid that very few people challenged him,” said defensive coordinator Robert Kelly in 1999. “He’s got great running ability, he’s very aggressive and he loves to play man-to-man pass coverage. He’s not cocky but he’s got confidence.
Anderson, who was selected to play in the annual Blue-Gray Classic bowl game his senior year, finished that season tied for the team lead with four interceptions and was the Tigers’ second leading tackler. He also had a team-best 10 pass breakups.
Anderson’s skills then took him to the NFL when in 2000, the Carolina Panthers took Anderson in the first round as the 23rd overall pick. In his first NFL season, he appeared in 12 games, recording 21 tackles. Anderson ended the 2001 season with 47 tackles and his only career interception in 15 games. Anderson was released by the Panthers following the 2003 season.
In May 2005 Anderson signed a contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and was released in June 2005 when the Stampeders slashed their roster to the 40-player regular-season limit.
Anderson was most recently serving as a substitute teacher in the Jackson Public School district before passing away. 

Carter enjoyed success in athletics both on the high school and collegiate levels and has used that experience to teach young athletes in their paths to success.
Although he was born in McComb in 1969, Carter grew up in Forest and is a 1987 graduate of Forest High School. His chosen sport being basketball, he finished his sophomore year (1985) with a 30-3 record with the Bearcats, averaging 12 points per game with 10 rebounds. With Carter on the roster, the Bearcats won their district tournament and Class 3A South State Championship and finished as a 3A State Tournament semi-finalist.
In his Junior year (1986) the Bearcats finished with a 22-10 record. Carter averaged 22 points per game with 16 rebounds and were district tournament runner-up. In 1987, Carter finished his senior year with the Bearcats earning a 31-3 record. He averaged 29 points per game with 14 rebounds. The Bearcats won their district tournament and also won the 3A South State Championship. They finished the season as the 3A State Tournament semi-finalist.
Advancing to college, Carter attended Mississippi State University 1987-1991 on a basketball scholarship and graduated with a Bachelors of Art degree in Communication/Public Relations. At MSU, he was selected All-SEC forward; honorable mention All-American; and helped MSU to an SEC championship in 1991. He also played international basketball in Cyprus and Mexico City.
Carter served as an assistant coach at MSU 1994-2001 during which State won  the SEC West twice and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 and then the NCAA Final Four.
Carter is the head basketball coach at Starkville High School with an overall 327-93 record with two Class 6A state championships. 

Carter is a graduate of Forest High School where she excelled in multiple sports and was named to the school’s hall of fame. Her activities at FHS included cheerleader, varsity basketball and track teams.
At Mississippi State, she was a member of the first scholarship women’s basketball and volleyball teams at Mississippi State University. Later in life, she was inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, also the first woman inducted. In 2004, she was chosen to represent MSU at the Southeastern Conference tournament as an “SEC Great” among representatives from each member school.
Carter was also a trailblazer for future female student-athletes as she challenged the MSU administration, persuading them to follow federal Title IX laws requiring equal treatment for women sports as men.
After college, she moved to Gainesville, Fla., and began coaching basketball, volleyball and tennis at Santa Fe High School for 21 years, then moving to Gainesville High School for six years.
While in Gainesville, she helped develop Girls Club sports summer camps in basketball, volleyball and tennis. 
Carter is currently teaching and coaching at Boca Raton Community High School where she has served the past nine years. Her tennis team finished second in the state last season and the program holds two state championships. 
She has been on the coaching staffs of three state volleyball championships and her tennis teams have won numerous district titles.
She is married to John Carter and they have a daughter, Jerica, 28, and a son, John Patrick, 30. She also has three granddaughters. She also works for a church with her daughter, operating summer volleyball camps. 

Clark was a native of Forest and graduated in 1950 from Scott County Training School. He lettered for the “Black Bearcats” in football, baseball, basketball and track. Among his accomplishments in high school, he was elected “SCTS King Football.”
He entered the U.S. Air Force where he served four years as a military police officer. Also during his military service, he was a member of the Air Force’s football team in West Germany. 
After military service, Clark enrolled at Alcorn State University where he played football and baseball, participating as a tackle and a pitcher. He lettered in football and baseball for the Braves during his collegiate career. 
Following his graduation from Alcorn State, Clark returned to Forest as a coach in football, basketball, track and taught physical education at E.T. Hawkins High School. As head football coach at Hawkins, over six seasons he posted a 44-15-1 record including an undefeated season in 1967.
As girls basketball coach at Hawkins, he he posted a 187-77 record over eight seasons and led his teams to numerous championships. In 1967, Clark’s boys track team won a state championship while his boys and girls track teams were Scott County champions for eight seasons.
After integration, he moved to Forest High School as a line coach in football. During his tenure, Bearcat teams posted an overall 142-87-2 record including one undefeated season, a South State Championship, two South State quarterfinal wins, six division titles, three North Little Dixie Conference titles and one overall Little Dixie title. In track, Clark’s 1970 girls team won a state title.
He served his eight terms as Ward 1 Alderman for the City of Forest before passing away.  

A family physician, political activist and participant in education, Dr. Howard Clark made efforts to provide whatever leadership he could to help make his community a better place to live for more than 57 years.
In addition to his medical practice, Clark served on the Scott County Board of Education among his activities of providing medical service to the athletic programs at Morton High School. In February 2014, Clark resigned from the county’s school board after 17 years of service.
His service included providing some form of medical assistance to the schools. “I try to support them not only education-wise, but help them in getting along with other people. That’s where athletics comes in.”
Offers free physicals for high school athletes no matter which schools they attend. He served as the attending physician for the Morton Panthers football program and has been a regular member of the personnel along the sidelines during games for most of his tenure in the community.
He supported a youth softball team and sponsored student athletes who could not afford football camps during the summers. 
Clark, a Richton High School graduate, served in the U.S. Army and attended Mississippi State University and then Ole Miss, which at the time had a two-year medical school. He completed medical school training at Tulane University. Clark completed his internship at the University of Mississippi as part of the hospital’s inaugural class.
Upon completion of his medical training, he made his home in Scott County, specifically Morton, where he remained as a full-time family doctor until passing away.
Information provided by The Scott County Times 

Davis was a standout running back at Morton High School where he caught the attention of the media and others through his hard-nosed athletic abilities. In his playing days, he was known as Michael Davis, adding his current last name of Denson later in life.
After being named to the Dandy Dozen list of top players in the state by The Clarion-Ledger, Davis advanced to the college level where he played for Mississippi State University also as a running back from 1991-1994. 
Davis sits among the top career rushing players at Mississippi State since 1970, ranked number four on the list. In 42 games, Davis recorded 2,721 yards and scored 27 touchdowns and averaged 64.8 yards per game. In 1991, he recorded 435 yards with five touchdowns; In 1992, he recorded 474 yards with five touchdowns; In 1993, he recorded 883 yards with seven touchdowns; In 1994, he recorded 929 yards with 10 touchdowns. While running was his primary job, Davis also excelled as a receiver with 20 yards in 1991 and 72 yards in 1992.
After college football, Davis was picked up by the New Orleans Saints in the NFL for one season but no statistics were recorded for him.
After his athletic career, he opted for a different uniform in service and protection of Mississippi’s motorists as a State Trooper with the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol.
He most recently resides in Tylertown. 

Easterling has seen success on multiple levels of basketball action which also earned her induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
At Morton High School (1970-1973), honors and accomplishments included first team All-State, selected as Mississippi’s Miss Basketball, Class A State girls basketball championship, Mississippi High School All-Star, Little Dixie Conference MVP and all District 6 and All South Mississippi selection.
At Mississippi College (1973-1977), honors and accomplishments included  All America, first team, Kodak; selected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities; set all-time career assists record at MC with 520; still holds season records for field goals attempted (535) and assists (273); Led Lady Choctaws to #9 national ranking and repeat appearance in national tournament; Hanes East-West U.S. All Star team; led Lady Choctaws (26-4) to AIAW Championship Basketball game. She also participated in international competition (1975-1977) with numerous honors. 
In her professional career with the Women’s Professional Basketball League, she played with the Chicago Hustle (1978-1981) and was selected as that team’s first free agent pick in 1978. She played in WBL’s inaugural game in Milwaukee, Wisc.; set WBL single game assist record (21) and was league MVP in 1979. She was named All-Pro and was among the top five players in All-time WBL assists; she was MVP in the first WPL All-Star game.
She has served as head coach at Mississippi College in women’s basketball and softball; and head coach of Neville High girls basketball team in Monroe, La. She was also named to the Mississippi College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and named one of ESPN’s Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Players of Pre-NCAA era. 

He has been an educator of young minds both in the classroom and on the football field in the first part of his life. He is known by many people as “The Bear” which is a moniker awarded him during his time as Lake High School’s football coach.
“My success on the gridiron was not so much me, but the people who played for me,” Freeman said. It was those players that helped elevate Freeman to football fame when in 1974 the Lake Hornets under his leadership finished their season undefeated, untied and unscored upon. 
Freeman is a native of Morton where he grew up on a sharecropper’s farm south of town. He graduated from Morton High School in 1965 and continued his education at then East Central Junior College majoring in liberal arts on a football scholarship, playing at the halfback position.
His first coaching and teaching job was at Booker T. Washington School in Memphis before military service came calling. After that, he coached in Louisiana until arriving at Lake High School in 1973 and remained until 1979, posting a 56-3-1 record and at one time had the longest winning streak in the state.
“The success that I had as a football coach in Lake was not something that I did. It’s something that the kids did. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” Freeman said. “My tenure as football coach at Lake High School was the most terrific ride of any place a man could ever be.”
Freeman has worked as an agent for State Farm Insurance in Forest since 1981. He and his wife of 48 years, the former Diane Turner of Morton, have two sons, David and Bill. He and Diane have two grandchildren.
Information was contributed by The Scott County Times 

Forest High School enjoyed a reputation of dominance in the 1990s under the guidance of head coach Jack French who led the Bearcats to the top of high school football in Mississippi, earning him a spot among the best coaches in the school’s storied football history.
French came to Forest from Itawamba AHS in 1987 when he began a 14-year coaching tenure that included three state championships with the Bearcats in 1992, 1993 and 1999.
“It was a pleasure to work in Forest. There was a special commitment to the game in that town. They play for the love of the game and they are dedicated in such a way that surpasses other places I had been,” French said of his experience in Forest. “I always had players that did their very best. They never quit and were always looking for more opportunities. They wanted to play the game. Because of that, we had a lot of fun and we were able to be successful and accomplish a lot.”
French is a native of Noxapater where he graduated from Noxapater High School in 1971. He attended East Central Junior College and later earned his Bachelor of Science degree in social studies at Mississippi State University and later a Master’s degree in political science.
French started his coaching career at DeSoto County Academy in 1975 and followed that stint with 11 subsequent stops at other schools. After leaving Forest, French continued his career at Starkville Academy and moved to the Mobile, Ala., area where he coached for four years and has remained in Alabama a total of nine years. 
After having coached in Baldwin County, Ala., French is currently the head coach at Baker High School in West Mobile. He has been in the Mobile area for four years, nine in Alabama. In 2012, he was named Regional Coach of the Year by the Mobile Press-Register. 

James Britton Harvey, Jr.  was born August 20, 1943 in Jackson,  and graduated from Forest High School. He is a former professional football player who played guard for six seasons for the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League and for the Houston Oilers in the National Football League. 
 After Forest High School, Harvey attended the University of Mississippi in its heyday of success. He was a member of the 1962 Rebels team that won a national championship and a Southeastern Conference championship in 1963. He lettered in football in 1963, 1964 and 1965.
In the NFL draft in 1965, he was selected as the 59th pick in round five by the Green Bay Packers but eventually landed on the roster of the Oakland Raiders where he played from 1966-1971. He recorded 79 games and started in 38 of them.

Harvey passed away after his induction. 

Hollis used his athletic abilities at Morton High School and carried himself to a college career and has since returned to his home where he continues to serve his home state and community.
Hollis is a 1992 graduate of Morton High School where he played baseball, football and basketball. In baseball, he was named best offensive player with the team’s best batting average during his tenure from 1988-1989. In basketball, he was named best rebounder (1989-90), best defensive player (1989-90), Panther Award (1990-91), and best field goal percentage (1991-1992). In football, be was named best defensive back (1990), best offensive player (1991) and was named the MVP of the annual rivalry between Forest and Morton in 1991.
He advanced to the University of Mississippi where he played from 1992-1995. He was a member of the 1992 Liberty Bowl Champions when Ole Miss defeated Air Force. In 1995, he was a starting wide receiver and was inducted as a member of the M-Club.
Hollis is a certified law enforcement officer for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks. He serves as the manager of Roosevelt State Park which has won numerous state and national awards. He also serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Panthers football team.
Community service activities include: member of Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church and serves as chairman of the church’s finance committee; director of the Upward Sports Ministry League; board member, Legacy Education and Community Empowerment Foundation; board member; Save Our Youth Organization; member, Healthy Scott County Wellness Committee; baseball and basketball coach for Morton Recreation Association; Sixth Man Mentoring Commissioner; volunteer and torch carrier, Special Olympics held at Morton High School; past board member, Excel Community Learning Center. 

 Freeman Horton was among the best football players in Hornets history who parlayed his success on the high school level into greater achievements in college and a career in coaching.
Horton is a 1975 graduate of Lake High School. He was a four-year starter and All-Conference during his junior and senior years; named best all-around lineman in the conference; named Prep All-American; nominee for Prep All-American Top 100; named to Super II Cum Laude; participated in the 1975 Mississippi High School All-Star Game.
However, the biggest accomplishment he points to was being a starter on the 1974 Hornets “UN-team” that finished the season un-defeated, un-tied and un-scored upon.
Horton signed a scholarship offer to play at the University of Southern Mississippi where he became a three-year starter and played as a true freshman. At USM, he was awarded top defensive player of the week several times; received USM’s Distinguished Athlete Award; and was an original member of USM’s “Nasty Bunch” nickname given to its defense.
His coaching locations have included Newton High School, East Central Community College, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Mississippi; New York Giants; and Rosa Fort High School.He is currently on the coaching staff at Coahoma Community College.
Some of his professional achievements include coaching in two USM bowl games (Independence and All-American); coaching players who went to the NFL; coached for Ole Miss in Liberty Bowl; interim coach for New York Giants in NFL. At Coahoma, led them to first winning season, Coach of the Year, defeated five top 10 teams, team ranked nationally pre-season, winningest coach since 1975. 

Kincaid’s success at Morton High School helped him gain a position on the roster at Mississippi College.
He earned letters in three years at MC, was named All-Conference honors in Gulf South Conference competition and led the conference in punt returns and kickoff returns. 
Kincaid caught 23 passes for 376 yards and five touchdowns. His credits also include an 83-yard punt return against Livingston and an 86-yard return against UTM. 
He held 4.4 speed in the 40 and earned “Big Chief” status in the off season training programs. He also lifts 600 pounds in the squat in weight room. 
Kincaid was also voted MVP in 1981 and pre-season All-Conference.
Kincaid was born in Jackson and claims Ludlow as his home community but lives in Forest. 

Krebs’ success on the high school level and in college helped earn her place in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 in basketball.
At Forest where she played from 1952-1955, she scored 4,205 career points and was named All-State four consecutive years. She averaged more than 30 points in a single game against Morton High (1955). A multi-sport athlete, Kreps earned a state championship in tennis in the doubles division (1955). She graduated in 1955 as her class salutatorian.
On the college level, Krebs advanced to Belhaven College where she played from 1956-1959 on the women’s basketball team. She earned All-Star recognition and graduated with her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in history. She later earned a doctorate degree in history from the University of Alabama.
 In her professional career, she has more than 30 years in teaching history and has authored academic publications for more than 25 years. She is a member of numerous academic and professional organizations and has taught at 11 different colleges and universities, including three in China.
Krebs has been a visiting professor at numerous colleges and universities in China for over 25 years. She published several articles about her experiences there, and continues to spend much of her time in China. 

Latham was a top Panther at Morton High School and advanced his skills to the collegiate and professional ranks of baseball.
He is a 1996 graduate of Morton High School where he was a starter all four years on the high school team. He was named All-County for three years - 1993, 1994, 1995; recorded at least four no-hitters; named All-District for three years, 1993, 1994, 1995. 
He was also a successful member of the Panthers basketball team where he assisted the team to a 25-3 record. In his last basketball game played in high school, he made six 3-pointers in an 80-77 loss to the eventual state champions. He was also named All-District in basketball in 1995.
At East Central Community College, Latham attended on basketball and baseball scholarships. He was named All-State JUCO and JUCO All-Region 23 in 1997; he recorded most consecutive wins with nine on the mound; in 1997, he finished 10-2 with 99 strikeouts in 100 innings with a 2.40 earned run average and one no-hitter.
He transferred to Troy State University on a baseball scholarship and recorded the most appearances in a season with 26 games (1998), a record at that time. He played two years with a highlight of beating No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide at home in front of the largest campus crowd to watch baseball at Troy.
Latham taken by the Houston Astros, the first player in 30 years to sign a free-agent contract after a try-out at Smith Wills Stadium. He signed a contract for $2,500 plus a glove and cleats of his choice. 
He earned a win on his first day in an Astros uniform, pitching five innings of no-hit ball with seven strikeouts. He won an Appalachian League title within the Astros organization. He started the first game played by the Jackson Diamondkats in 2000. He retired due to injury.  

The late Dr. Charles David Lee still holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Forest and Mississippi College where he provided skills as both an outstanding athlete and physician.
He was a 1948 graduate of Forest High School where he excelled, in both academics and athletics, playing basketball and football for the Bearcats.
It was at Mississippi College where he set the college football world on fire. Affectionately called “Dixie Dave” he was officially a fullback but was considered the team’s “big gun” as he either personally scored touchdowns, passed for them and punted for points. He was responsible for as many as 642 points in a season. He was a national leader among small colleges, earning All-Conference, All-American honors. He participated in football, basketball and baseball. He served as Co-Captain of the football team his sophomore year,
He has been recognized as one of Mississippi College’s most outstanding athletes in school history. Because of his athletic achievements, he was named to the Mississippi College Sports Hall of Fame in 1972. He also garnered attention of the Chicago Bears in the professional ranks who sent a letter of interest. He was also a noted baseball player for Mississippi College.
He entered Tulane Medical School in 1951 and graduated fourth in his class in 1956. After graduating and completing his internship, Lee entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a Captain. After military service, he returned to Forest where he began a career that spanned 44 years as a general medical practitioner.
A highlight of his practice was serving as the Forest High School football team doctor from 1958 until 2001. 
At the age of 80 years, Lee passed away on April 23, 2011, at his residence.  

Tom Stewart Lee Jr. earned many accolades during his high school and college careers as a multi-sport athlete in tennis, baseball and basketball.
He is a 1994 Forest High School graduate who won six consecutive state championships in tennis in grades seven through 12. He set state records in titles won including two team titles for Forest in 1993 and 1994. As a seventh grader, he was the youngest tennis player to ever win a state championship for the Mississippi High School Activities Association.
He won numerous U.S. Tennis Association tournaments and represented Mississippi on two Junior Davis Cup teams. He also represented Mississippi Wightman Cup Championship Team and was named Outstanding Junior Boy Player of the Year by the Mississippi Tennis Association. He is also listed in Who’s Who in Sports in America and was recruited by numerous college and university tennis programs.
He also earned numerous honors as a member of the Bearcats basketball and baseball teams through participation.
He attended Mississippi College where he continued his athletic success with the baseball team. He was a three year starting shortstop and was named to the All-Conference Team. Other honors also include numerous all-star honors and he was named team captain; in 1997 established a school record with a 19-game hitting streak; 1996 season batting average .363 with 21 runs scored and five stolen bases; named to baseball scholar honors; named 1998 GTE Academic All-American out of thousands of eligible athletes nationwide; awarded NCAA post-graduate scholarship for spring sport.
He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2001 and is a partner with the Jackson law firm of McCraney, CoCo and Lee and has been recognized as a top attorney in the state.