Submitted by braswell on September 12, 2011 – 3:11pm
POPLARVILLE – Record attendance is expected at Pearl River Community College for Homecoming 2011 on Saturday, Oct. 15, and advance tickets for the Alumni Luncheon are now on sale..Three 50-year reunions are expected to swell the crowds and reflect the theme of A Time to Remember.This should be one of our biggest crowds with so many of our alumni returning for reunions, said Ernie Lovell, executive director of the Development Foundation. We anticipate a very large group this year.Reuniting after 50 years will be PRCC first national championship football team of 1961, the Pearl River Junior College Class of 1961 and the Poplarville High School Class of 1961.Homecoming day activities begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, with the induction of six athletes into the PRCC Sports Hall of Fame – football players Sammy Broyles (1956-58), Chris Ryan (1992-93), the late J. Hugh Mitchell (1951-52) and Steve Nagy (1975-77), basketball player Yandell Brown (2002-02) and softball player and assistant PRCC coach Maghan James (2004-05). The induction ceremony will be in the Technology Center multipurpose room.Reunions include the 1961 National Championship Football Team, 50th Reunion Class of 1961, Poplarville High School Class of 1961, all former PRCC cheerleaders, Classes of 1934-42 and associate degree nursing graduates.The Alumni Luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. in Olivia Bender Cafeteria. Mary Jean Saulters of Hattiesburg will be honored as Alumnus of the Year, and Distinguished Service Awards will be presented to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Hattiesburg and St. Michael Foundation.They have been generous contributors to Pearl River Community College, Lovell said.PRCC RiverRoad showchoir will perform at the luncheon, and The Voices ensemble will lead alumni in singing the alma mater.The homecoming court will be presented and the queen crowned during ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. in Dobie Holden Stadium.Kickoff against East Mississippi will be at 3 p.m.Advance tickets for the luncheon are $20 and can be paid by check to the PRCC Development Foundation, P.O. Box 5389, Poplarville, MS 39470 or by credit card by calling 601-403-1183.Reserved seats in the stadium chair-back section are $15. General admission tickets are $10. The athletic office can be reached at 601-403-1179.