Morgan-Myles

Interim Alcorn State University President Donnell Lee and ASU Head Football Coach Fred McNair will be the honorees at this year’s “Evening of Music” hosted by the Meridian-Lauderdale Alumni Chapter of Alcorn State University.

If You Go

What: Annual Purple and Gold Gala hosted by Meridian-Lauderdale County Alumni Chapter of Alcorn State University.

When: April 26, 7 p.m.

Where: MSU Riley Center, 2200 Fifth St., downtown Meridian

Tickets: $50, individual; reserved table of eight, $450.

For more information: Wilbert L. Jones, 601-917-4330

The special recognition will take place during the alumni chapter’s annual Purple and Gold Scholarship Gala on April 26 at the MSU Riley Center in downtown Meridian. The gala is the primary fundraiser for The Meridian-Lauderdale Alcorn State University Alumni Scholarship Fund, according to Wilbert Jones, alumni president.

The scholarship gala will also feature as special guests the Alcorn State University Symphonic Band, the Alcorn Concert Choir and Alcorn State University’s Men Chorale. Former Miss Alcorn and Miss Mississippi 2007 Kimberly Morgan-Myles and entertainer Charles “CC” Carter also will perform.

About Dr. Donzell Lee

Dr. Donzell Lee is the interim president of Alcorn State University, where he serves as the chief executive officer of the nation’s oldest public land-grant HBCU. Lee has administrative oversight for Alcorn’s 1,700-acre Lorman campus and branch locations in Natchez and Vicksburg.

Lee previously served as the provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs to strengthen academic programs, policies and procedures. However, he began his career as an instructor of music in the Department of Fine Arts at Alcorn State University. He progressed through the professorial ranks, distinguishing himself as a professor and scholar, and was awarded the rank of professor with tenure early in his career.

In 1983, Lee oversaw the development of the first computer-assisted instruction music laboratory in the state of Mississippi, a facility which garnered much acclaim in the state and region. In 1984 he became director of the Honors Curriculum Program at Alcorn State University, bringing regional and national recognition to the program through his and his students’ participation in regional and national honors councils, and through the hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants garnered for the Honors Program.

He became chairman of the Fine Arts Department in 2001, and remained in that leadership position until 2006 when he became Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and in 2008 he became Interim Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. He also worked with higher education institutions in Russia, India and Ghana to develop partnerships for faculty and student exchange.

Lee holds degrees from Xavier University, Stanford University and Louisiana State University. Among his memberships are National Association for Music Education, Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters (board of governors), the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa International (chapter/member liaison), Southern Regional Honors Council (past president), National Collegiate Honors Council (past president), and the National Association of African-American Honors Programs (past president and executive director). Lee is also a member of the Eminent Board of Directors of the Natchez Music Festival.

Fred “Air” McNair

In three seasons, Fred “Air” McNair has coached the Braves to three SWAC East Division titles and the 2018 SWAC Championship. McNair brought his team to the 2018 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl after earning SWAC Coach of the Year honors. 

He is the original “Air McNair” and the older brother of the late Tennessee Titans quarterback and 2003 Co-Most Valuable Player, Steve “Air II” McNair.

McNair hoists a 16-7 SWAC record after three seasons. He became the first SWAC Coach of the Year winner at Alcorn since Cardell Jones in 1992.

According to his bio, in 2018, McNair’s squad earned 12 All-Conference selections including 10 on the First-Team, six HBCU All-Americans, a STATS FCS Third-Team All-American and a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American. Additionally, he coached Noah Johnson to the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year honor and De’Shawn Waller to SWAC Newcomer of the Year.

McNair’s defense ranked first in the FCS in both sacks per game (4.0) and tackles for a loss per game (9.5). The defense was also third in the country in rushing (91.2 ypg), eighth in total defense (291.4 ypg), 10th in red zone defense (.714), 18th in scoring defense (21.5 ppg), 22nd in third-down percentage defense (.324) and 24th in interceptions (14).

Alcorn led the SWAC in total offense (473.3 ypg), total defense (291.4 ypg), scoring defense (21.5 ppg), rushing (285.8 ypg), rushing defense (91.2 ypg), interceptions (14), sacks (4.0 s/pg), tackles for a loss (9.5 tfl/g) , first downs (23.2 pg), fewest first downs allowed (16.2 pg) and time of possession (32:42).

McNair was named Alcorn State University 21st head football coach on Feb. 2, 2016. He previously worked at Alcorn as the quarterbacks coach for three seasons.

McNair began his college football career as a wide receiver at Alcorn State University in 1986 before moving to quarterback his junior season. After the switch, McNair went on to finish fifth in Division 1-AA in passing efficiency his senior year and was named to the All-SWAC second team in 1989. He received his bachelor’s in 1992 and furthered his education with a master’s in 1996 from Alcorn State University. 

McNair is also recognized for turning Alcorn quarterback John Gibbs Jr. into a force on the field. Under the tutelage of McNair, Gibbs passed for 2,482 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 1,006 yards in 2014. In 2013, Gibbs passed for 2,567 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed for 455 yards. This past season, after Gibbs went down with an injury in the middle of the season, Lenorris Footman stepped in and found success because of McNair’s coaching methods. Footman rushed for 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns and passed for 1,106 yards and 14 scores. 

He was hired as head football coach, athletic director, and teacher at Collins High school in April 2011. The CHS Tigers made it to the second round of the 2011 3A football playoffs. During the summer months, he works as a football camp director for Mercedes Lewis in Long Beach, California; Jerrius Norwood in Brandon; Brett Favre and Adailus Thomas, both in Hattiesburg. He is also a Dixie Youth baseball coach and commissioner in Covington County as well as a youth football coach. McNair is also a motivational speaker at churches, schools, and social events throughout Mississippi.

In addition, McNair coached at Millsaps College in Jackson for four years. During his tenure at Millsaps, they won two Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championships. In June 2009, McNair was hired as a teacher and coach at Mt. Olive High School. He was the offensive coordinator for the Mt. Olive Pirates. The Pirates won the 1A State Football Championships in 2009 and 2010. 

Upon McNair’s retirement from the Arena Football League (AFL), he held various records. He is a seasoned AFL veteran (Albany 1993-95); Florida (1996-00); and Carolina (2000-01). He holds almost all passing records, including passing yards in a season (3,269 in 1999), passing touchdowns in a season (60, 1998), passing touchdowns in a game (8, four times) and passing yards in a game (362, 2000). McNair also holds all of Carolina’s passing records and became the 13th quarterback in AFL history to surpass the 10,000-yard career passing mark (vs. Carolina in 2000).

McNair was ranked in the top eight in the AFL in all-time passes attempted, passes completed and passing yards. Over his eight-year career, McNair completed over 57 percent of his passes, while throwing for 16,591 yards and 291 touchdowns. McNair had a career season in 2001, setting career highs with 3,271 yards, 63 touchdowns, 434 attempts, 282 completions, a 65.0 competition percentage and a 118.16 quarterback rating.

McNair and his wife, Barbara, reside in Collins with their son, Ahkeem. 

Scholarship fund

Each year, the Meridian-Lauderdale Alcorn State University Alumni awards scholarships to first-generation college students.

“Each year we award first-generation college students scholarships, Jones said. “We try to present at least 10 $1,000 college scholarships yearly to students who plan to enroll at Alcorn in the fall,” Jones said.

To be considered for an award, applicants have to meet the following criteria: be a graduate of a Meridian-Lauderdale area high school (first priority given to Meridian-Lauderdale County students, but other Mississippi county students may apply); must have a minimum of 2.75 GPA; must have an ACT score of 18; must have been accepted as a student at Alcorn; must submit a completed application.

About local

alumni chapter

The Meridian-Lauderdale County Alcorn State University Alumni Chapter was chartered in January 1975 and founded by Rudolph Fairley, Allie Faye Turner, Leonard Turner, Emmanuel Barnes and Dr. Hargie Crenshaw. Currently, there are 54 active alumni members.

According to Jones, Alcorn is the sole emphasis of the local alumni chapter.

“Each of US can make a positive difference for Alcorn, but there are even greater differences that only we as a group can make,” he said. “Truly, Alcornites must pull together because together we got more pull. ‘We the people’ gives a message that is much more powerful than ‘I the person.’”

Jones notes the alumni chapter’s purpose is to promote unified efforts toward the welfare of Alcorn State University and its alumni to recruit and enlist students with high qualifications for Alcorn State University,” Jones continued.

“Our mission is to foster and enhance the relationship between Alcorn State University alumni, current and prospective students, and friends in the Meridian-Lauderdale County and surrounding areas,” he said.

Alcorn State University was named 2014 SWAC 2015 Back2Back Champions and HBCU (Historic Black Colleges and Universities) of the Year in 2012 and a finalist in 2013. According to Jones, the university’s enrollment has grown to more than 4,000 talented students.

“We want to be known as more than a great Historically Black College and University,” he said. “We want to be known as a great university. We are growing our reputation for excellence in academics. We’re scoring gains in athletics. We’re building on our land-grant tradition with advances in agricultural research and education. And we are advancing access to Alcorn through community outreach and an emphasis on diversity.”