Quitman author publishes new book

Published 2:44 pm Friday, February 20, 2026

Bubby Johnston displays his book, “The Bearcat Way,” at a book signing in Forest in October 2025. Submitted photo

Quitman’s Erle E. “Bubby” Johnston invites readers to explore the history of Forest High School in his recently published book “The Bearcat Way.” from where he graduated in 1971.

The book, which includes sports championships and other significant events, begins with the story of the first Black student who enrolled and later graduated from the school in 1967. She provided a lot of information about her experience at FHS. Several classmates also contributed their thoughts about the historical and challenging year.

Subsequent chapters tell the story of the Bearcats’ first Little Dixie Conference championship in football, which was earned in the 1969 season.

The following school year marked the first year of full integration. Despite the many challenges that year, the Bearcat football team won a second-straight conference championship with a new coaching staff, the first integrated squad and the team playing the championship game without the head coach, as his son was battling a serious illness the same day.

The 50th anniversary of that special team’s accomplishment was documented later in the book.

Another chapter focuses on four senior male students who faced disciplinary action because of their long hair, which violated the school’s dress code. One student, Bill Lewis, was dismissed from school and later returned to Forest and practiced medicine for more than 30 years.

In addition to various honors received by sports teams, chapters are included about the band program’s all-superior year and students who received top honors in several areas of competition.

The top honor that year was earned by senior Kathy Smith, who won the title of Mississippi’s Junior Miss and finished runner-up for the national title.

The final chapter highlights “The Bearcat Way,” recalling when numerous former Bearcats provided much-needed assistance to their former coach as he battled cancer.

In all, The Bearcat Way includes 18 Chapters and 200 pages.

Johnston can be reached by email, bubbyj@bellsouth.net, or cell phone, 601-481-5493.

This is Bubby Johnston’s second book, as he recently completed his late father’s (Erle Johnston) book, “Thunder of Elephants, from Bayonets to Ballots,” about the history of the Mississippi Republican Party.