Chronicles – Summer 2020 | Georgia Southern Magazine

Eddie McCurley (’76) was recently honored by having the Hart County Comprehensive High School basketball court dedicated to him and his former coach, Bill Ensley. McCurley led Hart County to four Georgia state championships in 1989, ’90, ’91, and ’92. He retired in 2016 after 32 years of coaching basketball.

David Chancey (’79) completed 20 years as pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia, last November. He released his first book, a self-published legacy project titled The Day I Nearly Met Dolly: Tales of Faith, Family and a Few Home Runs, available on Amazon.

James William Strickland (’80), dealer at Bellamy-Strickland Chevrolet/Buick/GMC in McDonough, Georgia, was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award. Strickland was chosen to represent the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition. He was one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious honors. The nominees are among the nation’s most successful dealers who also demonstrate a steadfast commitment to community service. He has been an advocate for A Friend’s House, a safe and loving environment for children in crisis in McDonough.

J. Snypp III (’84) has been named to the Million Dollar Club of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers.

The Rev. Frank Logue (’84) has been elected the 11th bishop to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. He was elected on the first ballot from a field of five candidates. Logue leads a diocese of 70 congregations in mid-south Georgia.

Everett Kennedy (’87) of Statesboro, is one of five new members who joined the University System of Georgia Board of Regents this year. He was appointed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Kennedy is a real estate broker and president of the Statesboro Board of Realtors. He is a loyal supporter of Georgia Southern athletics and active in Statesboro civic groups. A seat on the 19-member board is one of the most coveted appointments in state government. The board oversees operations at Georgia’s largest public colleges and universities.

Heather McAdam Pomilio (’95) of Long Island, New York, who played softball for Georgia Southern, was inducted into the New York State High School 2018 Softball Hall of Fame as well as into the Nassau County Athletics Hall of Fame 2019. She is a retired special education and physical education teacher who owns her own softball company instructing softball players throughout the year.

Melissa Shivers, Ph.D., (’96) has joined The Ohio State University as vice president for student life.

Kim Hartsock (’00,’01) was appointed the new managing member for the Atlanta office of the accounting firm, Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors. Hartsock has been the leader of the local growth strategy team and most recently became the co-host of Warren Averett’s podcast, “The Wrap.”

Demetrius Bynes (’02,’04) has been appointed human resources director for the city of Statesboro. His department provides human resource services for the city’s workforce of approximately 300 people.

Paulette Chavers (’03,’06) helped usher in a new era of political leadership in Statesboro when she was sworn in as a city council member in January. She was one of three women who defeated male incumbents last November, making them the first female members ever elected to the Statesboro City Council. Chavers represents Statesboro’s District 2 city council seat.

Paul Geisler, Ed.D., (’05) a professor of athletic training at Ithaca College in New York, was recognized by his peers recently when he received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award from the National Athletic Training Association.

Mackenzie Anderson (’07) has joined Nike as the company’s director of global purpose communications and engagement. “PRWeek” also named her to its 2020 40 under 40 list.

Stephanie Thomas, Ph.D., (’13) has been recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Supply Chain” by B2G, a business consulting firm. She was among only four academics to be named on the list that primarily recognizes women in senior-level corporate positions. Thomas is Georgia Southern’s first Ph.D. graduate in the Logistics and Supply Chain program. She is now a professor in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

Monica Plut (’14) has been hired as the first women’s lacrosse head coach at Eastern Oregon University. While a student at Georgia Southern, she founded the women’s lacrosse club team. She joined the Mountaineers after leading the women’s lacrosse program at Adams State University in Colorado.

James Woodall (’16) is the youngest person to serve as president of the Georgia NAACP. Elected last October, he is the youngest state conference president in the national civil rights organization.