EMCC Athletics Remembers Pearl River’s Mitch Deaver

Earlier this week, the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) lost one of its most iconic ambassadors of sports publicity with the sudden passing of Pearl River Community College Sports Information Director Mitch Deaver.  In his memory, MACJC member schools have compiled respective tributes to honor our special colleague whose legacy will live forever through his brilliant photography and outstanding sports journalism.

EMCC Athletics Remembers Pearl River's Mitch Deaver...

I will personally be forever indebted to Mitch Deaver for several reasons.  It doesn't seem that long ago that I was a 44-year-old "rookie" SID in the MACJC ranks.  By the grace of God and with the help of some very good friends, I found a new home in Scooba during the summer of 2008.  With Mitch carrying the torch as the dean of the MACJC's sports information directors, he was one of the first people I heard from during my transition to junior college athletics.  He took the time to fill me in on the nuances of sports publicity at the junior college level from his esteemed perch at Pearl River Community College.  I hadn't met him yet at the time, but I could tell right away that he was a wise, journalistic professional and so very passionate about his work.

And then I found out he could take photos, too.  And boy, could he take photos.  It was also early on that I realized just how generous he was with his photo gems.  From the moment I came on board at East Mississippi Community College, Mitch would find the time and make the effort to always send me some images of EMCC's student-athletes whenever the Lions ventured to Poplarville.  Mitch was so good behind the camera lens that Coach Buddy Stephens would religiously call on Mitch to shoot EMCC's postseason football games.  Coach Stephens and Mitch maintained a friendship that had dated back to when Coach Stephens served as an assistant coach during Pearl River's state championship run on the gridiron a decade ago. 

When he was called upon to preserve precious memories for a football team not called the Wildcats, Mitch would faithfully travel to EMCC's postseason football games usually accompanied by a friend or family member to help him with the driving.  Despite having the arduous task of traveling back to Poplarville that same evening, Mitch would make every effort to provide us with enough images for our post-game recaps to send out to local newspapers before departing campus and hitting the road.

Along with admiring his plentiful photographic contributions and appreciating his unique sense of humor, I also enjoyed our impromptu phone conversations.  Mitch was never shy to pick up the phone and talk about whatever was on his mind at the time.  I'd frequently hear from him while he was driving home from a sporting event and often times while I was making my one-hour daily trek back home to Starkville after a day's work or returning from a road trip of my own.  We'd talk about a variety of topics, mostly regarding the MACJC and the league's athletic prowess, until one of us reached our destination.  Sometimes I'd have to stay in my car parked in the driveway a few extra minutes until Mitch finished his story or completed his thought.  But, I didn't mind at all because he made me laugh and he made me think.

By David Rosinski, EMCC Sports Information Director   

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