Hinds Community College - Eagle Yearbook (Raymond, MS)

Page 21 text:

Groups Resident Life People Events Sports Features Locations Comedy Directory 20 72 84 144 162 210 240 276 294

Page 20 text:

Hinds is so much to so many. It is a place to learn, to have fun, to grow in mind and body. To teach, to work, and to achieve the things we all know are possible. Life at college: studying, partying, making friends, learning about yourself, learning about others, growing into a whole new person. We work and play hard. Gettng adjusted to college is difficult and exciting, getting away from the nest and out on our own, living in the dorm, working, . . . growing up. 16 Introduction

Page 22 text:

IN MEMORIAM JOE A. RENFROE Hinds lost a legend December 9 with the death of Mr. Football, Coach Joe Renfroe who had served Hinds for 40 years. Coach Joe, as he was known to all, served as head football coach, athletic director, golf coach and physical education instructor. Joe Renfroe was born in Fort Myers, Florida in 1921. During his school years in Fort Myers he played football for six years. Renfroe attended Tulane University in Mew Or- leans, Louisiana where he played football from 1941- 44. He played the positions of tailback and fullback during these years. In 1943 he was All-American and in 1943 and 1944 he was All SEC. He received his Bachelor ' s of Education from Tulane in 1945. He later received his Master ' s Degree in 1952 from the University of Southern Mississippi. Coach Joe coached at Gulf Coast Military Acad- emy in Gulfport for two years and then worked for the government with the Corrective Rehabilitation Physical Education Program for one year and came to Hinds Junior College in 1947. During his years as a coach his record stands at 132 wins, 76 losses, and 5 ties. His Hinds team won State Championships in 1952, 1954, 1957, and tied the championship in 1953. His most outstanding year with the Hinds Eagles was in 1954 during his first year as head coach. The Eagle team won the State Championship and were ranked number 1 in the nation. The Hinds team was invited to play in the Junior College Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and won the national title over El Camino Junior College. In 1954 Coach Joe was also named Coach of the Year. In 1957 Joe Renfroe coached the All-American Team and seven members of the Hinds team were members of this team. Over the years Coach Joe had many players who were named All American. Some of these include: Bennie Hawkins, C. J. Alexander, Olin Renfroe, Johnny Daher, Richard Stacy, Earl Leggett, Homer Boyd, Glynn Russell, Jimmy Stubbs, and Wimpy Martin. Many of his former players went on to join professional football teams and those included: Bucky McElroy — Chicago Bears; Earl Leggett — Chicago Bears; Jimmy Taylor — Greenbay; C. J. Alexander — Jacksonville Sea Hawks; Ray Abruzese — Buffalo Bills and New York Jets; John Daher — Atlanta; and Olin Renfroe with the Canadian League. In 1955 five of his players from Hinds were starters on the LSU football team. Many of his former players went into the coaching profession. Some of these are: Earl Leggett, Durwood Graham, Robbie Smith, Lester Bumgardner, Tim House, Bobby Robinson, Mike Vincent, Danny Neely, Ed Kelson, Willie Wilds, Gordon King, Joe Fooshee, Kenny Curtis, Burl Shipley, L. F. Skin Boteler, Jimmy Russell, Glynn Russell, Danny Haley, Jimmy Clarke, Jerry Clarke, Jerry Huskey, and Ivan Rosamond. In 1969 Coach Joe gave up coaching football and became Hinds Junior College ' s fulltime athletic director and served in that position until July of 1987 when he relinquished those duties and returned to teaching physical education and coaching men ' s golf. He served for 40 years as a member of the athletic department at Hinds and he had been men ' s golf coach since 1976. His golf teams were State Champs in 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1987. Coach Joe was also named Golf Coach of the Year in 1987. In previous years he had also coached baseball from 1948 to 1955 and won four State Championships. In 1983 Coach Joe was named to the Mississippi Coaches Sports Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife Irene Ruble Renfroe of Jackson; one sister; Mrs. Elwood Pool of Pinels Park, FL; three brothers, J.R. Renfroe, Jr., Orin Renfroe and Olin Renfroe, all of Fort Myers.FL. 18 In Memoriam