By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
Jan. 23, 2001
ELLISVILLE The unofficial Mac Barnes farewell tour continued Monday night at the annual Mississippi High School Activities Association District 5 meeting.
Dozens of coaches, including many from The Meridian Star's coverage area, were on hand at Jones County Junior College to elect officials to certain positions, handle MHSAA business and honor Barnes and other coaches for their years of service and accomplishments within the organization.
Among those on hand were MHSAA executive director Dr. Ennis Proctor and Mississippi Association of Coaches president Doug Fowler.
District 5 secretary and former Quitman coach William C. Boone entertained the full house to an array of jokes and stories throughout the course of the program. Boone, an MAC Hall of Famer, was recently inducted into the Gulf Coast Community College Hall of Fame in baseball, basketball, track and football.
But the tone was serious when Barnes, the District 5 president, was presented a plaque for his service to the district and to public schools throughout the state.
Also recognized were district coaches who have guided their teams to state championships.
West Lauderdale head coach Jerry Boatner, no stranger to winning state titles in Class 3A in baseball and softball was also honored. Barnes, announced that Boatner won National Coach of the Year in Section 3. Section 3 encompasses North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi.
The decision came about as a recognition for Boatner's body of success during the past five season.
But when questioned on how he felt on the recognition, Boatner was gracious, instead choosing to extoll the virtues of the outgoing Barnes.
Boatner said he was also thankful for having the opportunity to work with the people of West Lauderdale High School for 28 years.
In other local news, Southeast Lauderdale football coach Dwane Taylor was re-elected to the legislative council for Division 5-3A. Taylor was filling the unexpired term of now MCC tennis coach Wanda McPhail and will continue to serve in that capacity.
Dr. Proctor and Fowler closed the evening with small points of business and urged officials and coaches to behave with dignity and uphold the students well-being.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.