Look Back In Yalobusha History

The Water Valley Blue Devils won the Chickasaw Crown with a 19-6 win over Coldwater on Nov. 8, 1963.
Herald sports writer E. J. Mays wrote: “A football ambition – fostered through 13 unfruitful years – gained full fruition Friday night as the Blue Devil grid proteges of Coach Bobby Clark and Don Johnson downed the hosting Coldwater Panthers, 19-6, to give the Devils their first perfect season and their first Chickasaw Conference football championship.”
Mays noted that Clark had been junior high coach for the past five years and was serving his first year as head coach.
College scouts acclaimed Water Valley as the “quickest” they had seen all year, according to Mays. He wrote that quarterbacks Jack Harvey and Raymond Steele finessed the abilities of halfbacks Andy Myrick and Bill Camp and fullback Mack Brown. The Devils had little trouble all season, save for a 13-12 close shave by favored Senatobia and a 7-0 margin win over upset-minded underdog Olive Branch.
Water Valley had been placed fourth in pre-season coaches’ polls.

• 20 years ago, Nov. 4, 1993 – Bobby Steele of Calhoun Apparel announced that his company would build a 35,000 square foot facility in the W. C. Gardner Industrial Park that would initially employ 150 persons.
Guy Dale Shaw was named executive director of the Mississippi Assessors-Collectors Association.
The Blue Devils lost to Independence, 15-14, in double overtime.
Rodney White of Water Valley was pictured making a tackle during a game between his team, the Northwest Community College Rangers and East Central Alabama in Decatur.
Callie Cox and Allyson Howe were local members of the Northeast Community College Tiger Dance Team.
Halloween kids included John Michael Grimmett, 1-year-old little devil; Megan Smith, 22-month old Barney the Dinosaur; Melissa Whiteside, 3-year-old Baby Bop; Grant Thompson, 7-month-old bull (pictured with his Mom, Theresa, dressed as a milk maid); Kelsey Kimzey, one-year-old clown; Lauren Kimzey, 22-month-old Donald Duck; and Caitlin Lowe, two-and-one-half-year-old bumble bee.
• 30 years ago, Nov. 10, 1983 – In contested races in Yalobusha County, Lloyd Defer was elected Sheriff, Richard Carlisle was elected County Attorney, Fred Earl Moorman was elected Beat One Supervisor and Danny Barton was elected Beat Four Supervisor.
The Blue Devils ended their season with a loss to Independence, 42-3. Senior players were pictured including Sandy Stone, Carl McClain, Andy Grass, Marc Jefferson, Richard Magee, Kenny Schmitz, Isadore Randle, Tony Carmichael, David Mills, Greg Phillips, Lamar Brown and Joe Cox.
Water Valley native and former WVHS coach Dean Wright coached Leland High School in the Lions’ Bowl.
Alan Berry was public relations officer for the Delta State University Chorale.
DECA Club officers at WVHS were Michelle Newman, president; Paul McNamee, vice-president; Denise Phillips, secretary; Bonnie Sullivan, treasurer; and Eric Riley, Parliamentarian.
• 40 years ago, Nov. 8, 1973 – The Blue Devils defeated Coffeeville, 51-12, in the season finale. Basketball was set to kick-off (or should we say tip-off) with a game against Duck Hill.
Bondafoam was constructing two new buildings at their facility on Highway 32. One would house production and the other would be used for storage.
Dorothy Caulfield was awarded a Hazard Scholarship at Belhaven College.
Privates First Class Kenny Hughes and James Stacy were pictured working with an M-16 rifle during annual field firing at Camp McCain.
In the Want Ads, staff member Betty Shearer was looking for a Cub Scout uniform.
• 50 years ago, Nov. 7, 1963 – The greatest number of people ever to vote in a General Election in Yalobusha County gave Democrat Paul Johnson a two-to-one majority over Republican Rubel Phillips. The unprecedented vote was caused by the opposition of a Republican candidate, unprecedented since Reconstruction Days.
Coaches Don Johnson and Bobby Clark were pictured planning tactics with Joe Thomas, Andy Myrick, Raymond Steele and Bill Camp in preparation for the “shoot the works” finale with Coldwater. A win would mean an undefeated season and the Chickasaw Conference title. The team had just defeated Olive Branch, 7-0.
Mayor Stanley Perkins proclaimed Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, as Battery A Day in Water Valley.
• 60 years ago, Nov. 12, 1953 – The 1953 Blue Devils were third in the Chickasaw Conference after defeating Olive Branch, 18-0, in their final game of the season.
The junior Blue Devil cheerleaders were Linda Fite, Mary Lou Mise, Nancy Bennett, Gay Peacock, Nancy Parker, Gloria Brown, Georgia Tutor and Janelle Mayo.
New homes pictured included Dr. and Mrs. Rayford Edgar, Prospect Drive; Mr. and Mrs. Tillett Swindoll, Market Street; Mr. and Mrs. John Hunsicker, Dupuy Street; and Mr. and Mrs. Howard  Holloway, Prospect Drive.
• 70 years ago, Nov. 4, 1943 – Servicemen pictured on the front page included brothers PFC Talmadge Dickey and PVT Orvil D. Dickey; brothers Brandon (Jack) Jones and PFC Lemuel O. Jones; and George E. Spurgeon.
Janie Newman celebrated her 9th birthday with a party at her home on Main Street. Guests included Beth Bell, Boots Carpenter, Charline Ringold, Charles Appleton, Don Lancaster, Carloyn Joe Taylor, Mary E. Brown, Dale White, Elsie White, Prudence Burns, John Kees, Beverly Kees, Frances Johnston, Dorris Bumgardner, Ann Gafford, Dorothy Tuvis, Elizabeth Mitchell, Bill Quinn and Caroline Pruitt.