As the Starkville Oktibbeha School District and Starkville High School celebrate 50 years of full integration, we highlight that Homecoming 50 years ago.
Homecoming Week was just as big a part of student life for the SHS Class of 1971 as it is for our students 50 years later.
In the fall of 1970, the Jackets hosted the Houston Hilltoppers at Jaycee Field, with Tommy Parker in as quarterback, and All-Ten standouts like Henry Vaughan and Ronnie Braswell lead the team to victory. An undefeated football season in our first year of full integration was certainly cause for celebration on Friday night, especially for Homecoming.
The Starkville High student body selected twelve girls to serve on the Homecoming Court. Although there was not a Homecoming dance that year, the community shared in the Yellow Jacket spirit with a parade tradition we still celebrate today. Students built and decorated floats together with slogans like "Top the Hilltoppers" and shared their best class themes. Homecoming Maids rode on the floats to wave at the community gathered along the street.
During halftime of the 1970 Homecoming game, Miss Angie Reed was crowned Homecoming Queen and the team celebrated a 49 - 0 victory over Houston High School.
As part of our 50 Years & Counting celebration of full integration at Starkville High School, SOSD is gathering memorabilia and recording oral histories from community members who attended SHS during the 1970-71 school year. If you or a family member would like to contribute items or record your story, email Nicole Thomas at nthomas@starkvillesd.com or contact Emily Ward at 662-615-0013 or eward@starkvillesd.com.
To learn more, visit www.starkvillesd.com/50years.