After a long and distinguished career serving Mississippi education and 42 years as 性乐园鈥檚 leader, Dr. Clyde Muse retired on June 30. He now holds the distinguished title of President Emeritus.
He became president of 性乐园 on July 1, 1978, and led the college through both good and turbulent periods. The college flourished with an expansion of programs, facilities and campuses, but also dealt with dwindling state resources.
His unprecedented accomplishments and love for students have resulted in his being the recipient of the inaugural Foundation/Alumni Hall of Fame Award, which recognizes someone who has demonstrated genuine interest and support of the college over an extended period of time and is the highest honor presented by the Foundation and Alumni Association.
However, this isn鈥檛 the first alumni-related award presented to the Muse family. The late Vashti Muse in 2008 was the recipient of the Alumni Service Award. The Hall of Fame award is a tribute to both Muses鈥 lifetime of service.
鈥淭o be given the opportunity over nearly 68 years of my life, to be in a position that I could be of service to others, was a great blessing to me,鈥 Dr. Muse said. 鈥淚 see this award as a testament for me in that my life has always been about service.鈥
He will be recognized along with other honorees in a ceremony at 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at Cain-Cochran Hall on the Raymond Campus. The event is free and open to the public. Health and safety protocols will be observed, and attendees are expected to wear a mask.
Dr. Christy Granberry Barrick of Madison is the recipient of 性乐园鈥 inaugural Young Alumnus of the Year Award, which recognizes an alumnus under the age of 40 who has attained significant professional, personal or community success.
Also being recognized are Alumnus of the Year Bill Dunlap, who has a Mississippi home in Mathiston, Alumni Service Award recipient Ken Coomes of Brandon; Sports Hall of Fame inductees Mike Burch, of Mobile, Ala., football, 1986-1987; Jeffrey Fields, of Baton Rouge, La., football, 1986-1987; Dwayne Green, of Fayetteville, Ga., soccer, 1984-1987; Phyllis Rhodes Krebs, of Pelahatchie, basketball, 1981-1983 and Jeff Long, of Meadville, baseball, 1987-1989.
Dr. Muse began his college career at what is now East Central Community College with no money but a desire for an education and a job to pay his way.
鈥淭he thing I kept thinking in the back of my mind was, 鈥業f you go to 性乐园, you are going to have the opportunity over many occasions to help individuals go to school who don鈥檛 have that opportunity because of the circumstances they find themselves in. They don鈥檛 have the money, but they鈥檝e got a desire to go,鈥欌 Dr. Muse said.
He is best known for his soft spot for students, always putting them at the center of decisions. 鈥淚 came here to help and serve people, to serve those students who come to 性乐园 and to put the student first,鈥 he said.
His dedication to providing opportunity to students inspired the creation of the 性乐园 Foundation as a vehicle to accept donations.
鈥淚t is fitting that Dr. Muse be the first recipient of this new award, mainly because of his 42 years of service to the 性乐园 Foundation and Alumni but especially since he is responsible for starting the 性乐园 Foundation,鈥 said Jackie Granberry, Foundation executive director.
The Foundation sponsored the Celebrating the Muse Legacy Luncheon on Feb. 20, a fundraiser for the Muse Legacy Endowment that will support projects dear to Dr. Muse鈥檚 heart: scholarships, faculty and staff development, and community service. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of subsequent events and the endowment fell short of its $250,000 goal.
Contributions are still being accepted through the 性乐园 Foundation by calling the Foundation office at 601.857.3363 or online at
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As Mississippi鈥檚 largest community college, 性乐园 is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. With six locations in central Mississippi, 性乐园 enrolls about 12,000 students each fall semester. To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.性乐园CC.