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Patrick Willis wins Butkus Award |
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Patrick Willis (right) proudly
displays the Butkus Award with Ole Miss Head Football
Coach Ed Orgeron.
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By Ernie Smothers and Joel Washburn |
(December 7) Carroll County native and former Hollow
Rock-Bruceton Central High School football great Patrick
Willis capped his stellar collegiate playing career by
winning the coveted Butkus Award, symbolic of the best
linebacker in college football, during the live national
telecast of the 2006 Home Depot / ESPN College Football
Awards Show held at the Downtown Athletic Club in
Orlando, Fla.
Dick Butkus, former Chicago Bears great and NFL
Hall-of-Fame legend and namesake of the award, presented
Willis the award.
In winning the Butkus, Willis becomes the only player
from West Tennessee to ever win a major college honor.
Speaking to the media moments after winning the award, a
still-shaken Willis stated, "I've had some great moments
in my life, and this is certainly one of them."
He continued, "I would like to thank my head coach Ed
Orgeron, my foster parents Chris and Julie Finley, my
teammates and the entire Ole Miss family for supporting
me throughout my career. I feel so honored to have my
name listed next to Dick Butkus, as he is one of the
all-time greatest linebackers to play the game. Words
cannot describe how thrilled I am to accept this award."
He informed that he was not aware that he had won the
award until he saw his legal guardian, Central Middle
School educator Julie Finley, jumping up and down in the
audience. He added that he had not heard Dick Butkus
announce his name due to his being so excited and
anxious.
Ole Miss Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron stated that he
was thrilled that Willis had won the award.
He said, "We are very ecstatic for Patrick. This was one
of the reasons he came back, to help put Ole Miss in the
national spotlight. Winning this award brings prominence
to Ole Miss on the national level and lets linebackers
around the country know the importance we place on the
position. Patrick is the total package. He plays with
the tremendous passion of a Warren Sapp. He is very
deserving of this award."
He continued, "I feel that Patrick was destined to win.
He will be one of the best representatives to ever win
this award."
In addition for vying for the Butkus Award, he was
semi-finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott
Trophy, Vince Lombardi Award, and selected as the best
college football player in the state of Mississippi.
While at Ole Miss, Willis was named first team
All-American and Southeastern Conference Defensive
Player of the Year in both 2005 and 2006 and led the SEC
in total tackles in both his junior and senior year. In
addition, he was unanimously selected by Southeastern
Conference coaches as the league's best player prior to
the start of the '06 season.
Willis was also honored as recipient of the Chucky
Mullins Courage Award, an award given in honor of Ole
Miss defensive back Mullins, who was paralyzed while
tackling a Vanderbilt receiver in the 1990s and died two
years later.
Willis won the award and national recognition due to
continually devastating opposing offenses throughout the
2005 season despite playing with a broken finger,
dislocated shoulder, knee ligament damage and mid-foot
separation.
Regarding Willis' playing ability, Kentucky Head
Football Coach Rich Brooks said, "I don't think there's
any question he's one of the best in our league (SEC)
and in the country, and he's been that way for a while
now. He's a guy that goes from sideline to sideline and
plays as fast and as violent as any linebacker we've
seen this year."
Auburn Head Football Coach Tommy Tuberville added, "When
I saw Willis run down (Heisman Trophy Finalist) Darren
McFadden from Arkansas basically from behind with no
angle, I knew he had pretty good speed.
Tennessee Volunteer Head Coach Phillip Fulmer, in a 2005
post-game interview following his team's nationally
televised last-second defeat of Ole Miss in which a hurt
but aggressive Willis snared 14 tackles, shook his head
and lamented, "We should have never let that guy
(Willis) get out of the state."
Willis, a 2003 graduate of Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central
High School, was named first team All-State, All-West
Tennessee and All-Region in both 2001 and 2002, and won
the coveted Mr. Football Award his senior year. He bears
the distinction of being the only player in Tennessee
football history to be nominated for the offensive and
defensive Mr. Football Awards in the same year, winning
the defensive award. His high school athletic career
included playing for the Central High School basketball
team, which earned the district championship in 2003
under the direction of Coach Finley, who, along with his
wife, became Willis' legal guardian in the spring of
2002.
As the 14-inch Butkus Award sat on the counter in the
Central High School office Monday, Mr. Finley said,
"It's neat to think there's only about 20 of these in
the world."
Central High School Superintendent of Schools and former
Tiger Head Football Coach Rod Sturdivant, in stating his
pleasure in Patrick's Butkus Award win, said, "This
truly does confirm that good guys do finish first
sometimes. This is a great honor for him and his family
and for the community. Patrick's life and achievements
provide a great lesson for young people. He never used
adversity as a crutch-he kept going forward and believed
in himself."
Sturdivant stated that he was surprised that Willis won
the award due to his competing against players from Penn
State (Posluszny) and Ohio State (Laurinaitis).
He said, "The northern region of the United States
comprises so many votes, and I frankly was concerned
that they would not vote for Patrick. He deserved to
win, and I am very proud of him."
Retired Central High School principal and former Tiger
defensive coordinator Jackie McGee said, "I am so proud
for him. When he played for Central, he worked hard and
was dedicated to being the best he could be. Patrick is
a man led by strong Christian faith who puts everything
in God's hands. He loves his family and community, and
deserves all the accolades and praise given him."
He continued, "I consider Patrick to be a super human
being and a great young man. He has come through a lot
of diversity in his life to rise to this level. He has a
good head on his shoulders. He is driven, focused, and a
good planner. He will be successful in the future in all
facets of his life. I just can't tell you how proud he
has made all of us."
Central educator Buddy Smothers said, "The one thing I
would mention about Patrick is his ability to focus. A
lot of people get distracted by what is going on around
them, but he is able to block that out. He is also
confident in his abilities. I don't think he ever doubts
himself. He has a lot of character. He doesn't make
excuses and constantly works to improve himself."
He concluded, "He is an even better person than he is an
athlete. He will never forget where he came from and how
he got to where he is."
Chris Finley said he's proud of the good decisions
Patrick has made in the past few years. Immediately
after receiving the awards, he answered questions with a
"Yes sir," said Finley. "That's just who he is," said
Finley of Patrick. "He represents Central, Carroll
County, West Tennessee, and Ole Miss well."
Carroll County Chamber of Commerce President Brad Hurley
said, "I'm proud of him and his accomplishments and
recognition on the playing field. I am also equally
proud of his accomplishments academically and for the
way he conducted himself at Ole Miss. He is truly an
excellent ambassador for Carroll County."
Finley said Willis earned three A's and one B for the
fall semester at Ole Miss. Willis is one class short of
graduating, said Finley. The final class will be taken
by correspondence to earn a degree in Criminal Justice.
Willis, projected by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper as 14th pick
in the April 2007 NFL draft, has recently signed on with
sports agent Ben Dogra of Creative Artists Agency, an
St. Louis-based talent agency. Dogra was responsible for
negotiating the NFL contract for fellow former Ole Miss
and current New York Giant Eli Manning.
Willis will miss Christmas in Carroll County instead
opting to begin training in Tempe Arizona. Finley said
he and Willis decided that his training is very
important for upcoming events. April 2007 is the NFL
draft. Patrick has no idea where he is going, said
Finley, who added, he just wants to play ball somewhere.
Carroll County has yielded at least two players who have
either been drafted or played in the NFL. During the
1950s, Gene Hickerson, a native of Trezevant, played six
years with the Cleveland Browns. Joining Hickerson was
Denver Bronco draftee Bobby Hayes of Huntingdon. |
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Settlement Reached in Inmate Death Lawsuit |
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A settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit filed
by the family of a 21-year-old inmate, who died at
Carroll County Jail more than two years ago.
Robert Tart of Bruceton died at the jail May 24, 2004,
after complaining to jailors of leg pain a few hours
prior to his death, according to officials.
Since the settlement included a confidentiality clause,
none of the parties involved nor their attorneys could
provide any information regarding the monetary amount or
other details without breaking the legal conditions of
the settlement.
The lawsuit, which was filed in March 2005 in U.S.
District Federal Court in Jackson, named Carroll County,
the sheriff's department, Sheriff Bendell Bartholomew,
unnamed corrections officers, Jailor Steve Underwood,
Chief Deputy Terry Dickey and Deputy Tommy Decanter,
claiming that Tart was denied medical attention when he
was showing signs of severe illness at least 24 hours
before his death in a holding cell. Plaintiffs named in
the lawsuit were Bobby Tart and wife, Loretta Tart and
the estate of Robert Tart.
Several weeks after Tart's death, the state Medical
Examiner's Office officially determined the cause of
death as astherofclerotic coronary artery disease, a
condition causing the narrowing or blockage of the left
interior descending branch of the coronary artery.
Nashville attorney Ray Throckmorton represented the Tart
family in the case.
According to County Mayor Kenny McBride, the Jackson Law
Firm of Pentecost, Glenn and Rudd PLLC was hired by the
Tennessee Local Government Insurance Pool, which
provides liability insurance coverage for the county, to
serve as legal counsel for the defendants in the
lawsuit.
Attorneys for the county's insurance company negotiated
with the Tart family attorney to reach a monetary
settlement, said McBride, who added the insurance
company, not the county, made the final decision to
settle the lawsuit.
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159 Graduate From Bethel Sunday |
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MCKENZIE (December 10) - "Pomp and Circumstance" rang
throughout the Bethel College campus Sunday as 159
graduates received their diplomas. The ceremony was held
in the Dishman Gymnasium at Roy N. Baker Fieldhouse,
with approximately 1,400 in attendance.
President Robert Prosser welcomed students and guests.
"We welcome those from far away and are very hopeful you
can experience some of what it feels like in our
learning community," he said. "Graduates, this is your
day, when you begin a new day in your life experience."
Board of Trustees Chairman Ben Cantrell gave words of
welcome as well. "Thank you for making Bethel College
what it is, and institution we're proud of. And we're
proud of you," he told graduates. "We're behind you and
we wish you the very best."
Tennessee Senator-elect Lowe Finney delivered the
commencement address. Finney, who was elected to the
state senate in last month's election, is a native of
Dresden. He received a bachelor's degree from the
University of Tennessee at Martin and a law degree from
St. Louis University in Missouri.
"You now have greater opportunities to make greater
contributions to your community in all sorts of fields,"
Finney told graduates. "You can become part of this
ever-changing thing we call the American dream, and I
encourage you to stick around and see what we can do
here in West Tennessee."
Speaking on the old adage, "To whom much is given, much
is expected," Finney said, "Bethel College has put you
in the position, but it's up to you what you do with it.
As people of accomplishment, it's up to you to assume
roles of leadership." Finney encouraged graduates to use
their education to improve their communities and "become
ambassadors of the importance of a good education."
Those receiving degrees Sunday include: BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE: Darren Kendrick Adderly II (Cum Laude), Angela
Mann Antwine (Cum Laude), William Linder Ashton, Carrie
A. Baker, Robert Baker, Michael L. Barmore, Matt Bean,
Elizabeth G. Beauchamp* (Magna Cum Laude), Kerry Leigh
Bennett, Cher Denise Bond, Kristin Leigh Butler, Tamika
Butler-Burris, Willis James Chapman (Magna Cum Laude),
Terrance L. Cheatham, Michael H. Childress * (Summa Cum
Laude), Katherine Cook (Cum Laude), Erica Q. Cooper,
Milton Walter Craft, Jr., Dennis James Creecy (Cum
Laude), Dimetric Artez Crutcher, Corey Montez Currie,
Sr., Franklin R. Dalton, Jr., Tiffany Darrough (Cum
Laude), Ashley Michelle Davis, Robert Brett Davis,
Shirley Jean Davis-Russell, Norma G. Dawson (Cum Laude),
Holly Susan DeBerry (Cum Laude), Sheritta Delbridge,
John Michael Denton, Tamara Marie Dodd (Summa Cum
Laude), Mark Alexander Dodson (Cum Laude), Brenda Sue
Dotson (Summa Cum Laude), Michael K. Dowdy (Magna Cum
Laude), Carole D. Edingburg, James Curtis Fisher, Shana
Marie Fitzgerald, Susan C. Fortin (Cum Laude), John
Timothy Fortner, Jr., Bertha A. Foster, James D. Foster,
LaTonda Y. Foster, Michael L. Freeman, Jimmie McCornel
Garland, Sr., Daniel Eric Gibbs, Cindra R. Gillespie
(Summa Cum Laude), Roger Dale Gillespie, Phillip
Gonzales, Amber Celeste Greene, Tiffany Chandrel Greer,
Delois Avery Hall, Rebecca Starks Hames * (Summa Cum
Laude), Tamika Y. Hampton, Dinah Harris * (Summa Cum
Laude), Gail Harris, Janet L. Hart (Summa Cum Laude),
Casey William Hassell, Wesley K. Hatcher, Addie H. Hill,
April Dawn Hill, Leslie M. Hobbs, Brandi Holladay,
Douglas E. Horn, Kimberly Ann Hudgins, Markita C. Jack,
Vanessa Kay Jackson (Cum Laude), Jowan Garrett James,
Shinika Danielle Jefferson, Abigail Johnson, Joyce
Renee' Johnson-Cornelius, Christina Northern Jones,
Michael Lee Thorpe Jones, Reid Jones, Troy Neal Klyce,
Eric Michael Koon (Magna Cum Laude), Kenisha Lo Krull,
Cynthia D. Lamar (Cum Laude), Stephanie M. Larry, Kim
Lee, Patricia Ann Lewis, Naomi Lee Mack (Cum Laude),
Allan R. Maness (Cum Laude), Martha M. Manor (Magna Cum
Laude), Brenda Sue Mayo, Eric Lynn McAdams, Anne E.
McDonald, Sheila Dawn McPherson, Kelvin Lynn Mercer,
Janet Lee Miller, James Howard Moton, Jr., Melissa Anne
Murphy, Carlos W. Newsom, Deborah Ann Noble (Cum Laude),
Harriet Jean Nolen, Roger Kevin Ogden, Sharon Denise
Murray Ogilvie, Daryl Keith Payton, Latasha Renise
Peeples, Sherri Penny, Shirley Ann Bell Perry, April L.
Petreman, Lori Phillips, Angela Maria Pickens, Chondra
La'Trice Pope, Jeanifer Alaine Putman, Colleen Quinn,
Joyce Jeanette Rawlings, Paula J. Reeves-Eakins, Jesse
W. Reynolds, Megan Lynn Reynolds (Cum Laude), Janice
Richard, Jason Glenn Roberts, Lisa G. Roberts, Phillip
Allan Roberts, Andy A. Ross (Summa Cum Laude), Michael
James Ross, Vanessa Yokley Scott, Noah Chad Shannon,
John R. Smith, Micheal H. Smith, Ramonda S. Smith,
Ashley Ryan Spurgeon, Audrey Marseils Staggs *, Monica
J. Stamer (Magna Cum Laude), Thomas R. Stanifer, Joshua
Clay Stenberg, Susan L. Thiele (Summa Cum Laude), Buffie
Michelle Turner, Nicole Valentine, Daniel E. Wade, Linda
J. Wade, Tammie Jean Wade (Magna Cum Laude), Christian
Dewey Wall (Cum Laude), Redell Fay Ware, Micki Roxanne
Waugh, Matthew Lee Wear, Chad R. Webb, Joanne Leslie,
Davis Webb, Alison M. Webster, Erica L. White,
Maniececia Renee White, Michael Douglas Winstead, Brandy
Tichole Winton, Melissa Ann Wolfer, Jeanette Polk Woods,
Rochelle La Toya Wooten, Tameria Rachelle Wooten,
Michael D. Yeargin. BACHELOR OF ARTS: Mary Renee Harris.
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION: Stephanie E. Aubry, Kai-Yu
Cheng, Chien-Hung Chien, Anthony Fortune Cleary,
Pei-Jung Lin, Melissa Bucy McElroy, An-Chu Ni, Sainvil
Sainvilus, Alexandria Seaton, Shawna Raye Wallace.
*Member of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society. Baccalaureate
students with a record of exceptional achievement are
recognized by an honors designation upon graduation.
These honors are noted on the student's academic record
and diploma. To qualify a student must have a minimum
cumulative grade point average as follows: Cum Laude
3.500, Magna Cum Laude 3.700, Summa Cum Laude 3.850. |
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Trial Date Set for Former Sheriff David Bumpus |
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By Shannon McFarlin
smcfarlin@henrycountian.com |
Now that all three of the defendants have been arraigned
in federal court, a tentative trial date of Feb. 5 has
been set for former Henry County Sheriff David Bumpus,
former sheriff's department budget director Faye Scott,
both of Paris; and former Elite Firearms owner Samuel
Ferren of Boaz, Kentucky.
The nine-count federal indictment issued Nov. 20 charged
Bumpus and Scott with committing various criminal acts
while employed with the Henry County Sheriff's
Department and Ferren while employed with Elite.
Specifically, all three were charged with mail fraud,
conspiracy and theft involving an alleged scheme in
which firearms, ammunition, bulletproof vests and other
supplies were purchased in the name of the Henry County
Sheriff's Department. According to indictment, the
supplies then were converted to their personal use.
Ferren was the last of the three to appear for his
arraignment, and like the other two pleaded not guilty.
Bumpus was arraigned Nov. 21; Scott appeared Nov. 22 and
Ferren made his appearance Dec. 5.
The trial date has tentatively been set for Feb. 5
before Judge James Todd in Jackson. A motion hearing
will be held Jan. 19. All three were released on their
own recognizance.
The charge of conspiracy carries a penalty of up to five
years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of mail
fraud carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and
a $250,000 fine and the charge of theft carries a
penalty of up to ten years in prison and a $250,000
fine. |
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You'll find these stories and more in the print and full
online e-edition, such as: |
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-
Secret Santa Larry Stewart has ties to Gleason native
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Tri-county residents arrested in Meth-Free Christmas
roundup
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McLemoresville native Danny Wilson promoted to
lieutenant colonel in the THP.
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