EMCC president reflects before retiring

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
May 6, 2004
In 1952, Tommy Davis went to East Mississippi Community College in Scooba on a football scholarship. In 1990, he became EMCC's president. And today, he is planning to retire.
Davis' last day will be June 30.
Davis, 70, said when he took over EMCC in 1990, the school's board had been abolished by the state Legislature. He said the school was told it had two years "to get its act together."
And it did.
During his tenure, EMCC has become one of the state's fastest-growing community college and one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the nation. Davis said he attributes the success of EMCC to, among other things, the special attention the school gives to first generation college students.
Tommy McDonald, vice president of operations at Meridian Community College, said Davis is well-respected in the field of higher education.
Davis, who spent 21 years as a football coach and history and government teacher at high schools in Meridian, Pachuta, Heidelberg and Columbia, said he plans to move to Meridian with his wife, Rita, after his retirement. He said he likes Meridian and wants to be closer to his wife's timberland in Rose Hill and his farm in Calhoun.
He also said he hopes to try his hand at writing fiction and non-fiction.
Davis also served on the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS. SACS is charged with carrying out the accreditation process in the Southeast. He said he visited community colleges all over the South while serving on the commission, but EMCC is one of the best schools he has seen.
A search committee will soon begin accepting applications for Davis' replacement. The position will be advertised, and qualified candidates are invited to apply.