Hattiesburg’s Hall of Fame Class of 2023

HATTIESBURG HALL OF FAME CLASS of 2023

Eight distinguished alumni of Hattiesburg’s city schools will be inducted into the Hattiesburg Hall of Fame during their gala hosted on September 21 at the Historic Eureka School Museum. Inductees for the fifth annual Hattiesburg Hall of Fame come from the fields of business, entertainment, education, and healthcare.

“These individuals are unique in their accomplishments but reveal a common theme of the excellence that has evolved from Hattiesburg High and L.J Rowan High schools,” said Russ Hendley, chair of this year’s Hall of Fame Committee. “I encourage our community to embrace and acknowledge these worthy individuals and their accomplishments.”

The Foundation’s Hall of Fame Committee approved these eight alumni for inclusion in the Class of 2023:

• Marvin Fluker (Rowan High School), national and state Elks leader/director
• Mary Danye Gregg (Hattiesburg High School), Chief of Staff for University of Southern Mississippi President, Martha Saunders
• Charles Wick Moorman (Hattiesburg High School), chief executive officer for Amtrac- retired
• Rashad Naylor (Hattiesburg High School), international Broadway actor and musician
• Jimmy Pierce (Hattiesburg High School), coach for Hattiesburg High School
• Ellen Hunter Ruffin (Blair High School), founder of University of Southern Mississippi’s de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection
• Dr. Veronica Scott (Hattiesburg High School), research scientist
• Juruthin Woullard (Rowan High School), retired educator and civic leader

“The process of identifying the individuals for the inaugural class has shown me, to an even greater degree, the number and depth of accomplishments of our graduates over the years,” said Hendley, a 1982 Hattiesburg High School graduate. “I believe this class is an outstanding representation of those gifts and accomplishments we are seeking to recognize and identify.”

The HPSD Foundation is hosting the Hall of Fame as a fund-raising event, with proceeds going to benefit the students and staff of the Hattiesburg Public School District.

The gala is the Hattiesburg Hall of Fame’s signature event, but the Class of 2023 will also be hosted at a planned VIP Reception before the banquet.  On Friday, Homecoming morning, students will meet and engage with this year’s inductees at the Hattiesburg Hall of Fame Student Summit.

“The number of worthy graduates seems to be inexhaustible and certainly more will be recognized in future classes,” said Jerome Brown, President of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, a 1991 Hattiesburg High School graduate. “While the spotlight will be on the Hall of Fame inductees, it is hoped that the students now in the Hattiesburg Public School District will take note of their success and strive to be successful in life, too.”

Businesses patrons, and alumni who would like to become official sponsors for the scholarship gala should go online to www.HPSDFoundation.org. 

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The Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation is classified as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal revenue Code.  Donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Ms. Mary Danye Gregg used her career in Education to inspire, encourage, and mentor thousands of students in the Pinebelt. She taught upper-level math at Hattiesburg High from 1971 until 1981 before joining the faculty at USM and teaching computer science from 1981 until she retired in 2007. She was assistant chairman of the computer science department during the latter year of her time teaching there.

In 2007 when Dr. Martha Saunders was hired as president at USM, Mary Dayne came out of retirement to serve as assistant to the president because of her institutional knowledge and strong campus relationships. Mary Dayne served in the President’s Office at USM throughout Dr. Saunder’s tenure and retire again in 2012.

In addition to her career at USM, Mary Dayne has been instrumental in the stability and growth of Greek Life at Southern Miss. Volunteering countless hours over a three-decade long post as head chapter advisor for the Epsilon Delta chapter of Chi Omega at Southern Miss, Mary Dayne has counseled, encouraged, guided, and mentored thousands of collegiate women. Her strong legacy of leadership in Chi Omega led to her being recognized by the Chi Omega National Headquarters in 2013 as the “Chi Omega National Volunteer of the Year,” and locally by hundreds of Chi Omega sisters with the creation of the “Mary Dayne Gregg Chi Omega Scholarship Endowment,” in 2021 in her honor.

Committed to empowering young people during their early adulthood, Mary Dayne has used her position inside and outside of the classroom to motivate, counsel, and model the value and power of servant leadership.

Mr. Marvin Eugene Fluker, Sr. attended Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana where he became a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration in 1969. Mr. Fluker joined the U.S. Army and served as a Finance Specialist with the 35^th Finance Company in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

     In 1976, Mr. Fluker became a member in the Improved, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World at Jesse L. Brown Lodge #1450 in Hattiesburg, MS, where he has served for over 47 years. He presently serves as the Exalted Ruler of Jesse L. Brown Lodge #1450.  Mr. Fluker has been a member of James Turner Company of the Mississippi Brigade of the Antlered Guard Department of the Elks for 37 years. He holds the rank of Lieutenant General and serves as the Company Commander and the District Commander of the Antlered Guard. He is a member of the Mississippi State Association of the Elks, where he has served as State Auditor, State Treasurer and presently serving his 17^th year as State President. He served on the national level as a member of the Credentials Committee and in their famed Beauty and Talent Department. He is presently serving as the Treasurer for the Region V Education Department and is a member of the National State President Council.  Mr. Fluker has earned the highest honor in the Elks: The Past Grand Exalted Ruler Honor, bestowed upon him in 1992.

He is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (56 years), a member of the NAACP, served over 10 years on the Mayor’s Industrial Park Commission Board as a Commissioner and is a member of 100 Black Men of America.

Mr. Wick Moorman retired from Norfolk Southern Corporation in 2015 as Chairman, President and CEO.  He spent nearly four decades at NS and its predecessor Southern Railway. During his railroad career, he was honored with many awards. In 2011, Railway Age Magazine named him “Railroader of the Year,” and Progressive Railroading Magazine selected him as recipient of its “Railroad Innovator Award” in 2013.

In 2016, the Amtrak Board of Directors appointed Mr. Moorman president and chief executive officer. He was the tenth executive to lead America’s railroad since the company began its operations in 1971. He served in this capacity until July 2017, then became Co-CEO until the end of 2017, when he served as senior advisor at Amtrak.

Mr. Moorman has long been involved with numerous charitable organizations including the Georgia Tech Foundation, the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, The Nature Conservancy of Virginia, and The United Way of South Hampton Roads. He serves on the boards of Chevron Corporation, Oracle Corporation, and Rand Logistics. He is a member of the Smithsonian National Board, and the National Academy of Engineering.  He is a graduate of Georgia Tech with a degree in civil engineering and received his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mr. Moorman and his wife, Bonnie, have two children, John and Marion.

Mr. Rashad Naylor, a Hattiesburg High School graduate, started his professional theatre journey playing “The Scarecrow” in THE WIZ at The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. He then received a Bachelors in Fine Arts from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. After college, he was blessed to create the role of “Thad” in the Original Broadway Company of Hairspray directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’brien and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell. The entire company of Hairspray also won a Tony Award for Best Musical. Naylor eventually played the role of “Seaweed” during his time with that company as well. After Hairspray, Rashad created the role of “Sammy Davis Jr.” in the World Premiere of Rat Pack Live from Vegas which opened at the Cannon Theatre in Toronto, Canada.

His Broadway career thrived after his stint in Toronto, he went on to play “Barry Belson” in the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys as well as Jackie Wilson and Rick James in Broadway’s MOTOWN the Musical. Rashad was also a part of several Broadway National Tours including, ROCK OF AGES, THE BOOK OF MORMON, and WAITRESS.

With 20 years of International and Broadway performing experience under Naylor’s belt, in 2021, he decided to pivot into the world of casting Broadway musicals and plays. He now works as a Casting Professional at The Telsey Office in New York City. The Telsey Office is a premier casting office who is dedicated to transforming the industry by creating safe, equitable, and anti-racist spaces. Since Rashad has been with the company he has helped build companies for the Broadway touring productions of BEETLEJUICE, PRETTY WOMAN, THE PROM and TINA the TINA TURNER Musical. Some of his New York City credits include the casting team that put together Kenny Leon’s TAP DANCE KID and Josh Rhode’s New York Times Critic’s Pick DEAR WORLD at City Center Encores; THE ROOTS’ Tariq Trotter World Premier musical BLACK NO MORE at The New Group; and was also a part of the casting team for Broadway’s Tony Award Winning musical, A STRANGE LOOP. He is a strong advocate for all artists and is thrilled to be a part of helping Broadway continue in an impactful and equitable way.

Jimmy Pierce, a 1970 graduate of Hattiesburg High School, found success in academics as a teacher and administrator and in athletics as a coach.

After receiving degrees from USM and William Carey, Pierce became a teacher and coach at Lillie Burney ninth-grade school, then moved to Hattiesburg High. While most of his success took place at “Smokie” Harrington Baseball Park where he coached the Tigers to two state championships, five South State titles and nine district crowns in his 17 seasons, Pierce said that his time as assistant principal was just as rewarding. He also was HHS cheerleader coach for 21 years, and his teams won three state championships. All totaled, Pierce coached approximately 2,000 Hattiesburg athletes.

Top awards and honors: a Director of Cheer for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Hula Bowl; head coach of the South Region team for the 1981 Olympic Festival; head coach in the MHSAA Baseball All-Star Game in 1981; member of the Mississippi Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame; honored by the naming of “Jimmy Pierce Field” at “Smokie” Harrington Park; and selected as the “Mississippi Assistant Principal of the Year” in 1996.

Ms. Ellen Hunter Ruffin, a 1972 graduate of Blair High School, received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi. In 2006, she became Curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at her alma matter.  She brought attention to the Collection through membership in the American Library Association, her appointment to the Newbery Committee, and as chair of the National Planning for Special Collections in Children’s Literature Committee. She added to the Collection the national Ezra Jack Keats Award for new authors and illustrators. As a result, the Collection attracts nationally recognized lecturers and researchers, and in fact, provided research for the documentary, Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators. The Collection also exhibits in national and international museums. In 2023, Ruffin received the Mississippi Library Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award. She is the co-editor of A de Grummond Primer: Highlights of the Children’s Literature Collection.

Dr. Veronica L. Scott earned a Bachelor of Science degree (2003) and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in microbiology from Mississippi State University. Dr. Scott completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2015. During her fellowship, she designed and evaluated DNA vaccines for C. botulinum neurotoxins, influenza A virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). She obtained United States Patents for her C. botulinum neurotoxins and RSV vaccines. Her research is published in numerous scientific journals.

Dr. Scott joined the faculty of the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM) in 2016. She is an Associate Professor and Course Director for Medical Microbiology. Dr. Scott is the Founder and Director of the Office of Diversity at WCUCOM. She works diligently to provide cultural humility training to students, faculty, staff, and administration. Dr. Scott is passionate about creating an equitable academic environment within WCUCOM.

Mrs. Juruthin Woullard, teacher/administrator, is a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who set her sights on academic excellence at an early age and graduated from L. J. Rowan High School (with honors) in 1958.

She attended Tougaloo College, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, and a Master of Science degree from William Carey College, with further studies at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI and the University of Southern Mississippi.

During her 37 years of service to the Hattiesburg Public School District, she received many educational, community, and civic awards, including HPSD Administrator of the Year (1999).

Mrs. Woullard has served on several boards of organizations and is a life member of several organizations. She is an active life-long member of the Antioch M. B. Church.

Mrs. Woullard is the mother of one daughter, Ms. Ingrid Y. Woullard (HHS graduate, 1987).

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