Ricky Hood receives key to the city

Published 4:11 pm Monday, January 19, 2026

A Meridian icon was recognized Monday for his years of service to the community as longtime Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi Director Ricky Hood was named Grand Marshall of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade and given a key to the city.

Hood has touched the lives of generations of Meridianites, with former Club members being among the committee members organizing Monday’s program.

Meridian High School senior MaKaylah Fikes leads residents in prayer to open the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day program Monday at City Hall. Photo by Thomas Howard

“Most of the people in here either had to go through the club or been impacted by this man sitting to my left. Just the impact he’s had on this community,” said Meridian Mayor Percy Bland. “And without saying another word, you give people your flowers while they’re still here with us.”

Neil Henry, president of Citizens National Bank, said Hood mentored both him and his son over the years and has helped thousands of Meridian youth by providing encouragement and discipline and teaching respect and self-worth.

“When we think of someone deserving of a key to the city, we think of someone that opens doors, builds bridges, strengthens families and makes the community better for generations,” he said. “That’s who Mr. Hood is to me, and I think that’s who Mr. Hood is to everyone.”

Loretta Bennett said Hood is always giving back in some way and constantly helping others in the community. His influence can be seen in thousands of Meridian children he helped raise, she said.

In years past, the east, west, north and south sides of Meridian were divided, and residents from the different areas did not get along, Bennett said. It was Hood who brought the neighborhoods together, she said, and settled the differences between them.

“Even though today we’re giving him a key to the city, he is the city. He is the key,” she said.

Hood said one of the keys to his success has been the people he works with. While he gets the limelight, he said it is their efforts that make the difference.

When it comes to helping others, Hood said it isn’t a difficult decision for him to make.

“It’s easy to do the right thing when you’re helping others,” he said.

The theme of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day program is “where do we go from here,” Hood said, and that is a good question for all Meridianites to ask themselves. To move forward, the city must set aside petty disagreements and work to make the community a better place.

“But please, if you don’t take nothing else from what I say, it’s this: If I act like them, then I am no better than them,” he said. “And then what we do next is what Dr. King and what so many in this community did, help somebody other than yourself.”