By By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
Aug. 26, 2001
Mac Haik, one of the most outstanding football players and students to ever come out of Meridian High School, will be inducted into the Ole Miss M-Club Hall of Fame Saturday in Oxford.
A 1964 graduate of Meridian High School, Haik signed to play football at Ole Miss. During his college career, he earned All-SEC and All-American honors for his play at split end.
After college, Haik was the No. 1 draft pick of the Houston Oilers. One achievement: He caught the first touchdown pass in the Houston Astrodome. After four years with the Oilers, he went into private business.
Haik, the son of Frances Haik Jordan of Decatur and the late Joe Haik, will be one of five former Ole Miss standouts inducted during ceremonies set for 2 p.m. at the Grove Stage. Others include Jeff Calhoun, Carlos Clark, Jeff Herrod and Carol Ross.
June 20, 1968, was celebrated as "Michel Haik Day" in Meridian, with a special banquet in his honor. His college coach, Johnny Vaught, was the guest speaker.
Haik, a top student at Ole Miss, was named to the Academic All-American team. Other honors included being voted president of the M-Club and receiving the title of "Colonel Rebel."
While playing at Meridian High under Coach Claude "Bits" Jenning, he was named All-Big Eight and All-State while leading Meridian to the Big Eight Championship.
Today, Haik is president and CEO of Mac Haik Enterprises, an investment company in Houston, Texas. The company grew from a start-up group of four people into an organization that employs 725 people and generates revenues in excess of $400 million.
The 11 affiliated companies of Mac Haik Enterprises engage in a variety of businesses, including commercial real estate and development, healthcare consulting, asset disposition and acquisition, facilities management, property management, leasing, project management, space planning, construction, construction planning and construction management, and security and janitorial services.
The overall organization also provides foreign and domestic auto sales and service, insurance and financial services, and advertising services.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor of The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3217, or e-mail him at sswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.