PEARL – Former East Mississippi football standout and Starkville native James “Cubby” Harris was inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame during Tuesday night’s 19th annual induction banquet held at the Clyde Muse Center on Hinds Community College’s Rankin Campus.

Harris starred as a defensive back at East Mississippi Junior College during the 1976 and 1977 football seasons. He earned NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America accolades as well as all-conference and team MVP honors for Hall of Fame head coach Randall Bradberry’s 1977 Lions squad after recording 11 pass interceptions on the year. Highlighting Harris’ sophomore season was a pair of outings with three interceptions against both Copiah-Lincoln and Coahoma, including a 108-yard touchdown return versus Co-Lin. He capped his East Mississippi playing career by participating in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game as an all-state selection.

Harris went on to continue his successful collegiate football career as a two-year starter in the defensive secondary at Arkansas State University, where he had five career pass interceptions and made 60 total tackles. He garnered second-team all-conference honors as a junior in helping lead A-State to the 1978 Southland Conference championship. Harris also met his future wife, Jackie (McElroy), while attending Arkansas State.

A well-respected small business owner of a painting company and proud community supporter in his hometown, Harris was a member of back-to-back (1974-75) Little 10 Conference championship football teams for head coaches Jim Craig and G.T. Thames at Starkville High School. He continues to also be a prominent role model and active sponsor for the local youth sports teams. Harris proudly utilizes his position as an entrepreneur in his hometown by offering job opportunities to area youth within the Starkville community.

A member of EMCC’s Development Foundation Board of Directors, Harris was a 2009 inductee into EMCC’s Sports Hall of Fame in addition to having received the College’s Alumnus of the Year Award in 2013.

Harris and his wife, Jackie, have three children – daughter, Lateshia Butler (Eric), and sons, Jacoby and Joshua (Aka), who was chosen All-MACCC Second Team as a sophomore wide receiver for the EMCC Lions’ 2022 conference championship team before completing his collegiate career at Ole Miss. They are also the proud grandparents of two boys, MJ and Alex (Butler).

This year marks the 19th class of the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame. Harris joins previously elected East Mississippi Community College inductees: Nick Clark (2024); Betty Carol Spears Boyette (2023); Max Johnson (2022); Antowain Smith (2021); Malcolm “Mack” Robinson (2020); Richard Mathis (2019); Jack Mason Carlisle (2018); Langston Rogers (2017); Dr. Tommy Davis (2016); Tom Goode (2015); Dr. Randall Bradberry (2014); Retha Hand Henderson (2013); Johnny Fisher (2012); Joe Rowell (2011); Tom Scarborough (2010); Elbert “Lum” Wright (2009); Ken Waddell Sr. (2008); Don Edwards (2008); Clyde “Baby Doll” Pierce (2007); Bill Buckner (2007); and Bob “Bull” Sullivan (2007).

Other newly elected members honored during Tuesday’s Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies included: Richard Flenorl (Coahoma CC); Glenn Davis (Copiah-Lincoln CC); Jason Willis (East Central CC); Dean Liles (Hinds CC); Derek Starling (Holmes CC); Tim Dillard (Itawamba CC); Bonnie Lee “Country” Graham (Jones College); Corey Dickerson (Meridian CC); Kevin Rogers (Mississippi Delta CC); Thomas Mitchell “Tommy” Boutwell (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC); Ray Scott (Northeast Mississippi CC); Elyse Caudle (Northwest Mississippi CC); Emmaleigh Davis (Pearl River CC); and Robert “Tee” Felder (Southwest Mississippi CC).