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Boggs leaves legacy at ICC

W.E. Boggs’ career in education spanned more than 40 years, a great majority of them at Itawamba Community College, where he filled many roles.

Itawamba Community College and the field of education lost one its best supporters when he died at Sanctuary Hospice Monday.

            Since 1971, he was counselor at the Tupelo Campus; IAHS principal (the college and high school were once together); dean of student affairs; instructor; coordinator of bookstores, food service and alumni  affairs; coordinator of public relations, high school-college relations and chair of  the social  science division; administrative assistant to the president; interim dean of academic instruction, vice president of instructional services and interim president.

            He retired May 31, 2001, but his legacy lives on not only through the lives he touched over the years, but also through the Boggs Humanities Building at the Fulton Campus, which in 2005 was named for him and his wife, Gwen, an instructor in the Social Science Department for many years.

            A native of Prentiss County and a graduate of Marietta High School, Boggs earned the associate’s degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College, where he was a basketball standout, and both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University. He served in the Mississippi Army National Guard for two years. His other positions in education include social studies instructor and basketball coach at New Site High School and principal at Shaw, Belmont, Okolona and Amory.

            For many years, he was active in church and community organizations, including founder and co-leader of Leadership Itawamba.

            He enjoyed spending time with his family, including his wife; son, Brad; and daughter, Ginger, and their families; building houses for himself and others and maintaining an immaculate lawn.

            In 2001, Boggs received the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award through Phi Theta Kappa, which is presented to retiring college administrators for exemplary services rendered to the organization during the course of their academic career. His nominator said, “While at Itawamba, President Boggs has been a friend, counselor and adviser to both students and school personnel. In his years of service, he has been a devoted advocate of the students, encouraging their participation in all types of activities. Whether his occupational title was as an instructor, principal, coach or administrator, he unselfishly and successfully served students as an adviser and friend.”

            “We mourn the loss of Mr. Boggs, a dedicated leader who made many positive impacts personally and professionally throughout his life,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “ICC is a better place for the compassion, intelligence and vision he contributed throughout his career. We remain grateful for his devoted career to being an adviser and friend to all he met along his journey. His legacy will live on at ICC and his investment in the College he loved so dearly will continue to produce the best in his honor.”



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