JACKSON — An historic gathering of Mississippi sports legendshighlights the BancorpSouth Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Weekendcelebration July 28-29, 2006 with almost half of all living Hall ofFamers expected to be in attendance.

The 2006 Induction Class consists of Anton Reel, the firstweightlifting inductee; former Ole Miss and Colts championshipplayer Ray Brown; tennis coach Billy Chadwick, the winningest coachin Ole Miss athletic history; Lloyd Clark, who guided Delta Stateto three NCAA women’s basketball titles; former star USMquarterback and current broadcaster Vic Purvis; and, former MSUoffensive lineman Walt Suggs, a member of the Houston Oilers’all-time 30 year team.

Reel, a New York native who moved to Brookhaven in the 1947 topractice dentistry, has won nine consecutive national bench presschampionships. He introduced the benefits of weightlifting inBrookhaven to several football players, including Pro Football Hallof Famer Lance Alworth.

Reel and his family lived in Brookhaven for 41 years beforemoving to Alphafretta, Ga..

Chadwick, of Jackson, was an outstanding player player atBelhaven College. He coached the Ole Miss men’s and women’s tennisteams into national prominence.

Brown, of Greenville, played on college and professionalchampionship football teams on the Ole Miss Rebels and theBaltimore Colts in the 1950s.

Purvis, of Morton, was an all-star quarterback at Southern Miss.He serves a color analyst for the Golden Eagles radio network.

Clark, of Drew, was a highly successful high school coach andled Delta State to three national women’s basketball title.

Suggs, of Tennessee, was an all-SEC offensive lineman atMississippi State. He was an all-AFL selection with the HoustonOiler.

The BancorpSouth Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Weekend willconsist of two events: the 44th Annual Induction Banquet which willenshrine the members of the Class of 2006 on Friday evening July28, 2006 at the Hilton of Jackson; and, the Meet the Inducteesgathering at the Museum on Saturday morning, July 29, 2006, from9:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m. featuring inductees from all classes. Also atthe Museum Saturday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m., there will be a programtracing the development of the Museum from its beginning in 1991 tothe present where Hall of Famers Ralph Boston, Marino Casem andD.D. Lewis will share their favorite Mississippi sportsmemories.

Saturday evening July 29, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., the Museum willcelebrate its tenth anniversary with a birthday cake, $5000drawdown and memorabilia auction sponsored by Wells, Moore, Simmonsand Hubbard PLLC.

“We’re expecting an unusually high turnout of Hall of Famersbecause it’s our tenth anniversary,” said Museum Executive DirectorMichael Rubenstein. “Fifty of the 116 living inductees havecommitted to attend so far and the total might wind up closer to60. In addition to Boston, Casem and Lewis, Boo Ferriss, BaileyHowell, Ray Perkins, Marino Casem and W.C. Gorden are among thosewho have committed to attend.”

For ticket information to all events, please contact the Museumat 601-982-8264 or 1-800-280-FAME or by e-mail at generalinfo@msfame.com.