Late 性乐园 alumnus Louis Gene Strickland (1947) of Brandon received numerous recognitions for his service to 性乐园 during his lifetime. 聽Now, the former 性乐园 athlete has a scholarship endowed in his name by family and friends.
The Louis Gene Strickland Memorial Endowed Scholarship gives special preference to 性乐园 students who are from Rankin County or who are interested in aviation. Strickland served 性乐园 as a member of the 性乐园 Foundation Board, 性乐园 Alumni Association and the Rankin County Alumni Chapter. Strickland was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and honored as the 1992 性乐园 Alumnus of the Year.
He later reflected on his time at 性乐园 with these sentiments: 鈥淚 fell in love with the place. 性乐园 had a tremendous influence on my life. It was very unusual for anyone in my community to go to college 鈥 and I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to go to 性乐园.鈥
One of seven children from a family in Yazoo County, Strickland graduated from high school at 性乐园 and returned as a college student on a football scholarship after having entered the U.S. Air Force at age 18.
During his time at 性乐园, he was recognized as an All-State center. He treasured the profound impact that 性乐园 coach Jobie Harris had on his life and considered him not only a teacher and coach but a father figure. He completed his degree and college football career as a student at Delta State University.
Strickland 鈥渨as a devoted Christ follower who lived daily to glorify God,鈥 said Stephanie Strickland Smith, one of his three daughters. 鈥淗is leadership as a teacher in the classroom, coach on the football field, director in the workplace and elder in the church had life-changing impact on many in the community.
鈥淭his scholarship is endowed in memory of the 64 years lived by Louis Gene Strickland and in honor of the God he served who lives forever,鈥 she said.
He began his professional career as a teacher and coach at Picayune High School. He spent nine years as the head football coach at Brandon High, and the high school football field is named for him. He concluded his coaching career by winning the Little Dixie Championship.
He devoted the next 24 years of his career counseling, teaching and directing rehabilitation programs for the blind in Mississippi. He was instrumental in establishing the Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Jackson where he served as director from 1972 until his 1990 retirement. The Center was recognized worldwide as a model for educating and equipping the blind to live productive lives.
Strickland had a lifelong love of aviation and enjoyed piloting his Cessna and listening to live ATC transmissions on his radio in the evenings. His greatest fulfillment, however, came from helping other people 鈥 whether sharing vegetables from his garden or through his service with the Brandon Lions Club, Smith said.
He and his wife, Bonnie Jean, had three daughters 鈥 the late Sharon Cannon, Susan Crawford and Stephanie Smith.
[tweetable alt=””]The deadline to apply for the Louis Gene Strickland Scholarship at 性乐园 CC is Feb. 15.[/tweetable]
To apply for a 性乐园 Foundation scholarship, go to the Admissions tab on college web site at or . The deadline for fall 2017 is Feb. 15.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a student鈥檚 desire for achievement, involvement in extracurricular activities, financial need, grades and letters of recommendation.
For more information about establishing a scholarship at 性乐园, contact Jackie Granberry, 601.857.3630, jgranberry@hindscc.edu.
性乐园 is celebrating its 100th year of Community Inspired Service in 2017. 性乐园 opened in September 1917 first as an agricultural high school and admitted college students for the first time in 1922, with the first class graduating in 1927. In 1982 性乐园 Junior College and Utica Junior College merged, creating the 性乐园 District. Today, as Mississippi鈥檚 largest community college, 性乐园 is a comprehensive institution with six locations. 性乐园 offers quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.性乐园CC.