Hall of Fame
Hannon Strickland joined the faculty of Jones County Agricultural High School and Junior College as basketball coach and social science instructor in the fall of 1939. He coached basketball from 1939-55.
He coached college girls in 1939-40, 1940-41 and 1941-42 and he coached college boys in 1942-43. The team had the best overall record for wins in the state and since no tournament was held, they were unofficial state champions. From 1942-44, he coached high school boys.
Strickland coached the 1947-48 women’s team, which went through a 20-game schedule undefeated. The Lady Bobcats then won five more games in the tournament to claim the state championship.
The 1948-49 team lost five players from the previous year’s title team due to graduation, but they went 15-5 in the regular season. They were second-seeded in the state tournament, won three games and lost in the finals. The 1949-50 team went 12-6 in the regular season and 3-1 in the state tournament, making the finals for the third straight year.
Strickland continued to coach the college girls’ team through 1955 until the Mississippi Junior College presidents decided to close the athletic programs for women. During his years of coaching, Strickland coached several players who were named All-State or honorable mention All-State.
After the closing of the women’s athletic programs, Strickland continued to teach history and sociology until his retirement in 1970. During this time, he supported all Bobcat teams with his presence.
He was very active in civic and church activities. He was a charter member of the Ellisville Lions Club in 1948 and served as deacon and chairman of several committees in Baptist churches.
The 1966 edition of the Lair (college yearbook) was dedicated to Strickland for being “an excellent teacher, a good friend to all students, a devoted fan and one who upholds the ideals of JCJC.”
