Thomas University host ribbon cutting ceremony for revealing of Magnolia High School Hall of Fame

THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Thomas University hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the unveiling of the Magnolia High School Hall of Fame.

“So, this started when I first arrived at Thomasville about eight years ago, my predecessor had secured this campus to accommodate the growth of our university. But, this campus is the historic home of Magnolia High School. As the construction was complete, our Board of Trustees and I thought it would be a good idea that we actually call it the Magnolia Campus. The folks that you see here today are part of our community. And, so, I met with the president of the Magnolia High School Alumni Association. He and I started the relationship. Bill and I are thick as thieves. We got on great. We had a really great time. As time marches on and these people fade away, we don’t want to lose our historic memory of these important people that are in our community and make us who we are. Bill Simmons once said, ‘you know, the old phrase mi casa es su casa. When you talk to the alumni, they’ll tell you su casa es mi casa,'” said Dr. Andy Sheppard, President, Thomas University.

“It is a friendship. He and I developed a personal friendship that is just ordinary. I had a vision of doing a Hall of Fame, not to this level, but maybe just identifying the achievers in a name as a certificate or something, saying we remember you and we appreciate you. This was the house that he shared with us. ‘Mi casa es su casa. Well, I looked at it as su casa as mi casa.’ Okay, your house is my house, and my house is your house. We decided that let’s see if we can take it a little further, if they could make this facility available to us and if we could find the funding, why not turn it into a hall of fame for a permanent recognition and historical purposes,” said Bill Simmons, President, Magnolia High School Alumni Association.

Magnolia High School served as a segregated institution for African American students in Thomas county from 1958 to 1970. Despite the uncertain opportunities awaiting these students, Principal Johnnie J. Jones and a dedicated staff committed themselves to preparing these students to achieve their fullest potential.

“This Hall of Fame, we represent a lot of people that had to make a lot of sacrifices in order to be honor students, a student athlete, they didn’t have libraries that they could go to for higher. Most of them lived in a rural community, so they had farm and other chore responsibilities in addition to their education. Many of the kids had to stay home from school just to go into the fields to help support the family. Through hard work and through real dedication, you can do just about anything. If they can make it through those hard times, anybody can make it,” said Simmons.

Magnolia High School and Thomas University Alumni, Loretha Johnson Blaylock, discusses the importance of preserving the history of Magnolia High School.

“Oh, my… Every moment was legendary. Every moment was enjoyable. Even down to the academic stuff. We had great teachers, we had a great leader, Mr. Jones, and we made many friends. We all migrated from different communities, but we all became friends after we got to know each other in 1965. It is very important that we commune together, converse together, and remember our legacy. We as parents have instilled in our children the legacy lives on Magnolia High,” said Loretha Johnson Blalock, Magnolia High School & Thomas University Alumni.

De’Andra Jacobs reporting.

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