Steve Regan named to MACJC Sports Hall of Fame

     POPLARVILLE – Former Pearl River Community College football great Steve Regan  will be inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies Tuesday (April 23) in Jackson.
            Regan, who lives in Dubach, La., is one of 15 inductees into the class.
            Regan was a standout football player at PRCC from 1960-62.
            “This is one of the greatest honors an athlete could have,” said Regan. “I’m so humbled by the selection.” 
            During his freshman year in 1961, under legendary Coach Dobie Holden, the Wildcats posted a 10-0 record and captured not only the state crown, but also the national championship. As a freshman, he played defensive end and was named honorable mention all-state on one of the best teams ever assembled in the junior college ranks.
            He scored three touchdowns that year as a defensive player, recovering three fumbles in the end zone. The Wildcats scored 446 points in 1961 and allowed only 47 points in 10 games.
            In 1962, Regan was a two-way starter at tight end-defensive end and was the team punter, averaging 41 yards per kick. He also caught 33 passes for four touchdowns. With only six returning players from the national championship team, Pearl River finished the season 6_4 overall and tied for the second place in the state.
            “If you did your job, coach Holden didn’t say much to you,” said Regan. “If you didn’t, he would call you a lot of things. But you wanted to show him you could do what he wanted done. He used his psychology background on the players who needed it most.
            “During the games, he would chart plays to see what was going to work. Then we would come out the second half and be very good. We ran the pro offense. We ran a lot of the same plays all the time, so we did not have that much to learn as far as offense.”    
            Regan was named first-team all-state, most outstanding lineman in Mississippi, and was second team All-American on two grid wires as a defensive end. He was also selected as Pearl River College's Best Athlete in 1962.
            “Pearl River is a special place,” said Regan. “My dreams started and were fulfilled there. Pearl River is always with me.”
            Before coming to Pearl River, Regan was an all-state player at Columbia High School under coach Charles Martin, where he played tight end-defensive end and also logged time as a fullback. He also lettered in basketball and track while receiving Columbia High School’s Athletic Award.
            After playing at Pearl River, Regan signed with Northeast Louisiana in Monroe, La.
In 1963, he played offensive and defensive end and was the team's punter. During his junior year, he scored three touchdowns and averaged 21 yards per catch. His 1964 season at Northeast was shortened by an injury that required surgery.
            Regan signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals but he didn’t make the team. After a few years of semipro ball, he returned to Northeast to finish his degree. Today, he is retired after working 35 years at the paper mill in Monroe, La.
            He is married to Martha Jane Regan. They have three children: daughters Rhonda of Highland Village, Tex., and Hannah of Harrisonburg, La., one son, Ryle of  West Monroe, La., one step son Gatlin Hedgepeth of Dubach, La.; three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren.