Bethel Honors Hall of Fame Inductees During Homecoming
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MCKENZIE, TN - Bethel University honored three former athletic greats and two athletic contributors with inductions into the prestigious Bethel Athletic Hall-of-Fame Friday night [17 October] at the 2014 Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall-of-Fame Dinner which was held in the Board Room at the Vera Low Center for Student Enrichment, Crisp Wing.
The 2014 inductees are:
Dewey Chism (64) Men’s Basketball
Dr. Ernie Owen (64) Men’s Basketball
Bruce Herrin (70) Men’s Basketball & Baseball
JT & Robye Lindsey - Contributors
Prior to this year, seventy three people and one team had been
enshrined into the hall. The 2008 soccer team was the first team to
be inducted at the 2013 ceremonies.
Here is a look at the 2014 Hall-of Fame Class:
Front row L to R: J.T. and Robbie Lindsey; Back row L to R: Dr. Ernie Owen, Dewey Chism, Bruce Herrin (Photo courtesy of Randy Chism)
(Click on photo to see full size)
Dewey Chism is a native of Baldwyn, Mississippi.
After graduating from
high school where he was all-state in basketball and football, he
enrolled
at Northeast Mississippi Junior College in Booneville, Mississippi,
and
was a standout basketball player there for 2 years. While at
Northeast
he was seen by Coach Vincent and the rest is part of Bethel history.
He
attended Bethel and played basketball 1962 - 64. As a forward
and
guard, he was a key member of the Wildcats during his 2 years at
the
school. He was also Vice-President of the PE Club while at Bethel.
He is
a 1964 graduate of Bethel College.
After graduating from Bethel, he obtained his Master’s degree from
Murray State University. He was certified as a Career Level III
teacher by
the state of Tennessee and was a very popular and respected teacher,
coach and mentor in the McKenzie School system. He served the
system well teaching mathematics, PE and Driver’s Education. He was
also principal of the middle and high schools. He coached football,
girls
and boys basketball and affected many young people’s lives in a
positive
and constructive way.
Former McKenzie head football coach and Principal Jerry Escue worked
with Dewey for 4 years. Dewey was on Coach Escue’s football
staff.
Escue had this to say about Dewey: “I don’t know of any more loyal
and
committed person to his fellow workers and students than Dewey
Chism.
Our first summer in McKenzie we had no lockers for our football
team.
He worked tirelessly all summer to help build them and never asked
or
received pay for his work. There are countless other things just
like that
he was a part of because of his loyalty and dedication. His students
loved him and he was a friend to them but they also knew where he
would draw the line. He was a consummate professional in all he did.
He
understood, appreciated and accepted the mission for what it took to
serve.”
Prior to joining the McKenzie system, he coached and taught at
Rosedale High School in Rosedale, Mississippi.
He is a former member of the McKenzie Rotary Club and former deacon
at the McKenzie Church of Christ.
Mr. Chism has been married to Keitha Hatley Chism for fifty years
and
they have two children, Randy and the late Ricky Chism. They also
have two grandchildren, Ashlyn and Caroline Chism.
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(See the complete article at the Bethel University web site: "Bethel Honors Hall of Fame Inductees During Homecoming")