Friends and family of the late Wiley Magee, who graduated from 性乐园 in 1964, established a scholarship in his name that is available to be awarded to a 性乐园 student majoring in the agriculture or healthcare fields of study. The deadline for applying for a 性乐园 Foundation scholarship is Feb. 15.
Magee, who lived in Mendenhall, was circuit clerk in Simpson County from 1984 until he retired in 2004. Magee died on Nov. 9, 2010, at age 67.
鈥淚 met Wiley at 性乐园 and developed a lifelong friendship,鈥 said longtime friend Woody May. 鈥淲iley remains one of the most positive people I ever met. He was a living example that life is not about your problems or your obstacles, but how you react to them.鈥
William Wiley Magee was born in a one-room shack across the road from where he raised his family in Mendenhall. His family, including four siblings and parents Bill and Lucia Magee, raised horses, cattle and various other livestock in Simpson County. He graduated from Mendenhall High School in 1961.
At 性乐园, he was involved in many campus activities before graduating in 1964. He also attended the University of Southern Mississippi and the Mississippi College School of Law.
He served as Director of Mississippi Department of Public Welfare in Simpson County and was later elected to five consecutive terms as circuit clerk of Simpson County. During his years in office, Magee modernized the Circuit Clerk鈥檚 office by digitizing the voter rolls and court documents. He also was an active member of the Mississippi Circuit Clerks鈥 Association and helped train newly elected clerks.
He and his wife Elizabeth raised two children, Lucy Magee Roark, an alumna of 性乐园 and Robert Magee, an alumnus of USM and William Carey University.
One of the highlights of his life was coaching Dixie Youth baseball. He thought of his players as his own children and would spend many hours not only teaching them the game of baseball but also instilling in them the values and morals that would make them successful members of society.
He was an active member of First Baptist Church Mendenhall, serving as deacon, Sunday school teacher, singing in the choir, and serving on numerous committees until his death.
To apply for a 性乐园 Foundation scholarship, go to the Admissions tab on college web site at or .
[tweetable alt=””]The deadline to apply for the Wiley Magee Scholarship for fall 2017 is Feb. 15.[/tweetable]
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.