Contents: B.L. Moor Teachers, Administrators, and Staff | Community School Educators | Notable Alumni

This page is designed to honor those who made Pleasant Grove, B.L. Moor, and other community schools in southeast Oktibbeha a possibility despite the consistent injustices faced during and after segregation, as well as provividing education to countless students who may have otherwise gone without.

In addition to these individuals, this page will honor notable alumni who have made a difference during and after their time at B.L. Moor.

B.L. Moor Teachers, Administrators, and Staff

E.N. Wicks

Reverend Enzell N. (“E.N.”) Wicks, Sr., the son Isaac and Lucina Wicks, was a Lowndes County native who graduated from the Ministerial Institute in West Point, Mississippi in 1941 before joining the Army during WWII until being honoraby discharged in 1945. After his military service, he attended Okolona community college before transferring to Tougaloo College where he attained his Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1951. He later earned his MA in School Administration at Tuskegee Instititute in 1961.

Rev. Wicks started his professional career at Rock Hill in 1953 where he served as a teacher for one year and a principal for six years (1954-1960). He went on to serve as Alexander Junior High’s first principal for a year (1960-1961). From here, he went on to serve as B.L. Moor’s principal for 21 years from 1961 to 1982, the longest tenure of any B.L. Moor principal. In total, he served the Oktibbeha county as a teacher and administrator for 29 consecutive years. During this time, students recall him being a strong and attentive leader who connected with faculty, staff, and students alike.

Class of ‘67’s Allen Marie S. Landfair describes Wicks as attending sporting events and cheering the players on, saying, “those are my children!”. Furthermore, she says he went above and beyond his role as a principal, as he would carry sick students home or to the doctor Academically, Landfair commends Wicks of his steadfast strength and generosity that prompted both student success and productive members of society in the face of social inequality. And it is for these reasons that Willie E. Thomas and Landfair say he was an “excellent leader, a disciplinarian” and a “friend that was much like our father… a good man [who was] extremely proud of our achievements in academics, sports, and other areas. I consider him a hero.”

Wicks also served as the president of the Oktibbeha County Association of Educators, the Fifth District Teacher’s Association, and the vice-president of the Lowndes County Water Association. He was also a member of the National Association of Educators, Mississippi Associtation of Educators, the Mississippi Teacher’s Association, the NAACP.

In addition to his time at B.L. Moor, he accepted his calling to the ministry in 1968 and served as the pastor for St. James in Crawford, Mississippi for four years and Fourth Street M.B. Church in Columbus, Mississippi between 1976 and 1989.

Rev. E.N. Wicks passed away in May of 1996 but lives on through his wife, Modess Stanfield Wicks, his eight children, and the numerous individuals he touched while alive.

Dr. Walter Conley

Dr. Walter Conley was the first Black Superintendent elected by Beat Five voting precinct after he noticed, as a teacher, that B.L. Moor needed better representation amongst the all White office. Conley, a graduate of 1964 - the first full class of B.L. Moor, served 40 years as an educator and 20 years as a superintendent (1988 - 2008) of Oktibbeha County School District.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in mathematic from Tougaloo College in 1968, Conley began teaching at B.L. Moor until 1977 before going on to earn his master’s degree in Mathematics education in 1974 and a doctorates in educational leadership in 1996; both were from Mississippi State University.

Conley significantly impacted the attitude and accountability of the community, as he improved the schools academically. In example, while superintendent, Conley enabled the establishment of computer labs and computerized libraries, both of which helped improve distant learning capabilities. These enhancements allowed two elementary schools to earn the Achievement Gap Award in 2006-2007, beating out the other 12 schools in Mississippi. Moreover, the district became one of 25 schools in the nation to receive a NASA grant. Alumni consistently refer to Conley as being an influential leader who provided them with countless opportunities.

Upon reflection of his career, Conley stated, “One thing I want to make clear - though I have been superintendent for the past 20 years, without the help of the community, none of this would have been possible. It was a team effort.”

Ms. Emma Conley

Emma Conley began teaching at Austin community school before moving to B.L. Moor in 1960, the year of consolidation. Ms. Conley taught at B.L. Moor for forty years thereafter, two years before the school would see another consolidation into East Oktibbeha County High School (EOCHS).

B.L. Moor Staff

Educators and administration are often the primary individuals commemorated, but without the staff’s consistent help, schools would not be able to operate efficiently and smoothly. These listed are just a few who attributed to B.L. Moor’s success.

Matthew Rice served as the first custodian for many years, and the first secretary, Vivian Curry, served for 34 years and under seven principals. The initial bus drivers consisted of Fred Stallings, Joe Ree Malone, and James Beckum. Annie L. Curry served as the first food services manager and R.L. Stevenson took her place thereafter.

Community School Educators

Pleasant Grove

A former student recalls five teachers over four year at Pleasant Grove:

• Mr. King: a Social Studies teacher who also served as the school principal.
• Mrs. Hilliard: the choral director whose choir had won many competitions.
• Mrs. Perkins: an English teacher who focused heavily on diagramming.
• Mrs. McDowell: a Geography and Life Skills teacher.
• Mr. Wade: a Math teacher who taught Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry.

New Prospect, Bethel, McGee, Turnpike, etc..

For 50 years, D.R. Rives dedicated himself to educating students in 1900 at New Prospect school before moving to various locations througout the years. Out of the 9 different schools and 50 years in which he taught, he spent 18 years at Bethel.

Chapel Hill

Per former students, Mr. Bus Hill, Mrs. Cora Hill, and Dr. Mary Harrell Mosley were educators here throughout the years. Dr. Mosley, educated at Rust College, Mississippi Sate University, Tuskegee University and the University of Mississippi, started her career at Chapel Hill in 1953 and served as a teacher, basketball coach, and principal simultaneously. She retired after 37 years of teaching in Oktibbeha county.

Notable Alumni

Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice graduated from B.L. Moor in 1980 and attended Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi a year later. Rice helped B.L. Moor go undefeated in 1978, allowing them to compete in the North Central Athletic Conference championship.

Rice is largely regarded to be the greatest National Football League (NFL) wide receiver of all time. At the time of retirement in 2005, Rice held 38 career NFL records:

Career Records:

• 13-time All Pro
• Career receptions with (1,549)
• Receiving yards with (22,895)
• Most yards from scrimmage (23,540)
• Combined yards from scrimmage (23,546)
• Rushing and receiving touchdowns (207)
• Most playoff games (29)
• Super Bowl receptions (33)
• Super Bowl receiving yards (589)
• Super Bowl all-puprose yards (604)
• Super Bowl touchdown receptions (8)

Season / Single Game Records:

• Total receiving yards (1,848)
• Touchdown receptions (22)
• Super Bowl receptions (8)
• Super Bowl receiving yards (215)
• Super Bowl touchdowns (3, twice).

There are less than half of his records. To see a more detailed overview of his achievments in the NFL see Raider Nation.

Rice was inducted to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Rice’s comments about B.L. Moor:

• “I get chills even now just walking up the hallway. I learned here that if you dedicate yourself, there’s no telling where you can go.” - 2004.

• “This high school really gave so much to me when I was growing up, and the teachers, and all the coaches, the time that was spent to make me into the person that I am today. So, for me to be able to come back [for the banquet], it feels the same way… it’s wonderful” - 2004.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Ellis

Jacqueline “Jackie” Ellis, class of ‘74, has put in tremendous efforts to preserve and propogate the educational history of southeast Oktibbeha county from the early 20th century up until the final consolidation of B.L. Moor in 2015. Ellis currently serves as the EAEOCS president and has accomplished many endeavors that have and will impact the southeast Oktibbeha community’s past, present, and future. Her efforts to date include: helping plan reunions, having the historical marker accepted by MDAH, the construction of the ampitheater and courtyard at EOHS, the initiation and manufacturing of this webpage. Ellis also went to great lengths to reclaim section 16 land despite the inability to do so.