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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cEach of these men has had different, unique and challenging circumstances they had to overcome to get to Jones but from those experiences, they left Jones and made the world a better place wherever they went. It\u2019s very inspiring to see all of their successes,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
After graduating from Roosevelt High School in1969, Clyde Dease Jr. said he credits Coach Walter Clark who inspired him not be afraid to \u201csail out in the harbor where the big ships are.\u201d Excited about being able to go to college close to home, Dease said Jones was the first desegregated school he had ever attended.\u00a0 After completing the first test in a class, Dease said he was challenged by a teacher who didn\u2019t accept his high test score because of the color of his skin. That experience taught both men a new lesson about life, along with the teacher mentoring Dease and becoming friends. That test also carried Dease through future challenges, he shared with guests.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned from experience what people respect, regardless of color or where you come from is they respect quality work, performance, accomplishments. That\u2019s what it taught me. I took that lesson in life because I needed it everywhere I went after that,\u201d said Dease.<\/p>\n
After graduating from USM with a bachelor\u2019s of science degree in biology with certifications in chemistry, physics, instrumentation and biochemistry, some of the places Dease ventured to include the Science department at Picayune High School where he served as chair of the department. Later, he would serve as a NASA satellite and rocket scientist as a member of the NASA leadership team at Stennis Space Center where he also served as Lead within the Center Operations Directorate.\u00a0 He provided a variety of scientific, engineering, laboratory, programmatic and institutional support to the flight certification testing of rocket engines, in addition to overseeing an annual budget of $75 million. After 35 years working at NASA in various leadership roles, Dease retired with the privilege of being selected from the 25,000 employees on the Gulf Coast, as the Federal Employee of the Year and received the Mississippi Gulf Coast Association of Federal Administrators Award.\u00a0 Currently, Dease is the President of the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation which helps to build stronger communities by improving health, education, social and economic vitality.<\/p>\n
Ironically, his nephew from Taylorsville and 2002 Jones forestry graduate was also selected as a Jones Honor Alumnus in 2014.\u00a0 The Area Environmental Manager at LafargeHolcim in Pueblo, Colorado traveled back to Ellisville to see his uncle honored.<\/p>\n \u201cMy uncle has been a role model to me since I was a young child, but I don’t believe I ever truly appreciated what an amazing figure he is until I became an adult. I’m elated that I was able to share this experience with him, and I’m immensely proud that he is getting the recognition he deserves,\u201d said Derrick Dease.<\/p>\n Another former Smith County resident and Jones 2018 Honor Alumnus, Paul Culliver left his hometown of Raleigh shortly after earning his associate\u2019s degree in construction engineering from Jones. The All-Conference and MVP football and track star moved to Texas and started the first of several oilfield service companies at the age of 23. Two years later, Culliver became operations manager of Triad Drilling & Supply, Geosouthern Energy Corporation and USX Exploration. The independent real estate, timber, and healthcare industry businessman always kept in touch with Mississippi. Over the years, he served as an officer and director of a retirement center in Raleigh and as vice president of the JCJC Foundation Board of Directors and on the Foundation Finance & Investment Committee. Culliver shared with the audience gathered at the Honor Alumni of the Year luncheon his thoughts on how to be successful in life.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about your DNA, work ethic, upbringing and even your birth order.\u00a0 All of these things help in how we succeed in life.\u00a0 An old man told me, \u2018If you\u2019re not willing to get up in the morning and get your boots on to get to work, you\u2019ll never amount to anything but go hungry,\u2019\u201d said Culliver.<\/p>\n Dr. Smith praised Culliver for his ability to have an intense focus on the task before him, and yet look across the world to see how to do things best. He\u2019s also not afraid to take on the world, Smith said. Culliver is very encouraging, very loyal. In fact, Culliver\u2019s special project, Adam\u2019s Angels Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families cope with the diagnosis of childhood cancer led him to Washington D.C. for several years.\u00a0 Culliver acted as a representative with the Children\u2019s Oncology Group seeking legislation and funding for pediatric cancer research.<\/p>\n \u201cI tell young people all the time. It\u2019s about relationships and it\u2019s about working hard. I hope I\u2019ve inspired others to succeed,\u201d said Culliver.<\/p>\n Laurel\u2019s Dennis Bohannon, or \u201ccoach\u201d as many know him, was also selected as a 2018 JC Honor Alumnus.\u00a0 He retired from West Jones after teaching for more than 26 years.\u00a0 He spent a couple of more years teaching ACT Math at Wayne County High School before fully enjoying retirement. One of his coaching honors includes being the coach for the South team of the Mississippi Association of Coaches\u2019 Girls Soccer All-Start Team in 2004. Dr. Smith said, as a Jones student, Dennis knew everyone and was always encouraging to everyone.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n