The document celebrates the 100 year anniversary of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College by providing a timeline of important events and milestones from its founding in 1912 as the Harrison County Agricultural High School through 2011. It outlines the establishment of the first campus, expansion to additional locations, growth in enrollment and academic programs, and achievements in athletics over its history of serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast region.

1. Celebrating 100 years of Academic Excellence!

2. September 5, 1911~The Harrison County School Board named Perkinston as the site of the new AHS.

3. June 4, 1912~ Professor James Andrew Huff named first principal of Harrison County Agricultural High School.

4. September, 1912~ First school “Announcement” Posted.

5. September 17, 1912~Thirty-nine boys and 24 girls began classes for the first time at Perkinston. Only one building (later called Huff Hall) stood on Perk Hill.

6. April 1, 1915~ The institution’s first girls’ dorm (later called Stone Hall) opened.

7. June 6, 1917~ Professor Claude J. Bennett named principal of Harrison County Agricultural High School.

8. September, 1919 ~ William Albert “Ship Island” Frantzen (of Norway) becomes the institution’s first foreign student.

9. September, 1920~ John Jefferson Dawsey named principal of Harrison County Agricultural High School.

10. Fall, 1921~ Thomas Ira Cook named principal of Harrison County Agricultural High School.

11. June 1922~ J. H. Forbis named principal of Harrison County Agricultural High School.

12. July 1, 1922 ~Ernest Bert Colmer began his long career as the agriculture teacher.

13. June, 1924 ~ Newly appointed Harrison-Stone AHS Superintendent Jefferson Lee Denson took the helm determined to add a junior college to the AHS.

14. May 20, 1927~ Hersel McDaniel became the first graduate of HSJJC.

15. Fall, 1927~ The football Bulldogs won their first state championship.

16. August, 1934~ Robert Harmon Longmire was hired as the school’s first band director. That fall, Perk fielded its first uniformed band.

17. January 15, 1937~ Phi Theta Kappa Gamma Nu Chapter was chartered at Perkinston.

18. November 19, 1938~ For the first time, the appellation “Homecoming Queen and Court” was used to designate the royal ladies of the gridiron.

19. Fall, 1941~ Albert Louis May replaced Cooper Darby and became the first CEO of the institution to be termed “president.”

20. March 6, 1949~ The War Memorial Chapel was dedicated.

21. Fall, 1952~ Prof. Sam Jones fielded his first women’s drill team, which he dubbed “Perkettes.”

22. July 8, 1953~ J.J. Hayden Jr. became president.

23. November, 1954~ The drama students of Perkinston took the name “Perk Players.”

24. October 13, 1956~ The first Sam Owen Trophy was awarded to C. E. “Gene” Dees.

25. 1964~ Groundbreaking ceremonies held for the Jackson County and Jefferson Davis Campuses.

26. 1965~ Classes began at the Jackson County and Jefferson Davis Campuses.

27. 1966~ Triple-Crown Year: State championships in baseball (Curly Farris, coach), basketball (Bob Weathers, coach) and football (George Sekul, coach).

28. November 1, 1970~ The Alumni Hall of Fame began with induction of Fred Haise at Homecoming.

29. Fall, 1971~ George Sekul’s Bulldog football team won the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship.

30. April 30, 1971~ First Instructor of the Year award presented to Guy D. Moffett, Perkinston Campus science instructor.

31. Spring, 1972~ Sue Ross’ basketball team won the National AIAW championship.

32. March 4, 1973~ Mississippi Governor Bill Waller dedicated the George County Occupational Training Center in Lucedale.

33. June 4, 1973~ Classes began at Keesler Center.

34. August, 1974~ Andrews Hall became Mississippi’s first structure at a previously all-white institution to be named for an African American. Thelma Andrews was the head cook at the Perkinston Campus.

35. Fall, 1983~ The MGCJC band became known as the Band of Gold to signify the “marriage” of the three campuses’ band students into a unified organization.

36. Fall, 1984 - George Sekul’s Bulldog football team won the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship.

37. July, 1985 - Classes began at West Harrison County Occupational Training Center.

38. January 1, 1986~ Dr. Barry Lee Mellinger became MGCJC president.

39. May 22, 1991~ Classes began at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Applied Technology and Development Center (later the Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center).

40. October 21, 1995~ Special Archives exhibit commemorated Gold Star students and faculty on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

41. July 1, 1996~ TheCommunity Campus, the “campus without walls,” began operations.

42. August, 1998~ Dr. Willis H. Lott became MGCCC President.

43. October 28, 1999~ Athletic Hall of Fame began with 15 inductees.

44. April, 2000~ MGCCC President Willis H. Lott launched Strategic Plan 2000.

45. 2001~ Pat and Gregg Descher donated Mac, the English Bulldog, as the college mascot.

46. 2003~ 10,000-plus students enrolled

47. August 29, 2005~ Hurricane Katrina

48. 2006~ President George W. Bush spoke at graduation ceremony.

49. 2007~ Bulldog football team won Co-National NJCAA honors

50. 2008~ Dr. Ottis Ball donated $1 million to college (largest monetary gift in college’s history)

51. 2009~ SACS completion of compliance (no recommendations)

52. 2011~ Largest graduation in college’s history.

53. 2011~ Dr. Mary S. Graham named the twelfth president of MGCCC effective July 1, 2011.

54. For more information please call the MGCCC Alumni/Foundation.

55. Produced by MGCCC Institutional Development