College Sports Communicators Logo

Special Awards Salute: Southern Mississippi's Shirley Jones-Hill to receive 25-Year Award

Date postedApril 23, 2012
Awards,

College Sports Information Directors of America

Special Awards Salute: Southern Mississippi's Shirley Jones-Hill to receive 25-Year Award

Below, see the schedule of the 2012 Special Award recipient feature stories which will be written by CoSIDA members throughout the spring. The full slate of 2012 Special Awards was announced March 2. All awards will be presented during the 2012 CoSIDA Convention in St. Louis (June 23-26).

Southern Mississippi's Shirley Jones-Hill to receive CoSIDA 25-Year Award in June

by Debbie Davis, Conference USA Associate Director of Communications

When one thinks about Southern Miss Athletics and, specifically, the sports information department only one name comes to mind, Shirley Jones-Hill. Mrs. Shirley, as she's known around the Hattiesburg community, is a true pioneer in women's athletics.

Her 34-year relationship with the University of Southern Mississippi has provided a unique blend of experience as she played for the Golden Eagles women's basketball team, served as a graduate assistant followed by an assistant coach and then found her true calling in sports information. That mixture has enhanced her career to show and communicate the intricacies of women's athletics at the University as the school's first full-time SID in charge of women's sports.

"Shirley has used that unique experience to successfully promote and cover all of our women's sports," said Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Jack Duggan. "She has made herself a part of all of the women's teams that she has covered and forged personal relationships with the coaches and student-athletes. Shirley has helped to increase the awareness of Southern Miss athletics as a whole and has created relationships with the media that cover the Golden Eagles that have benefited the coverage of Southern Miss sports."

One relationship that has continued to grow over the years has been with current Southern Miss head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. The two played basketball together and when ask to talk about Shirley, Lee-McNelis had this to say:

"Shirley is a special person because of her commitment to excellence, and her love for people. She has blessed my life and others with her fun loving spirit. Shirley is a great wife, mother and friend. Again, I am blessed to have been her teammate and co-worker."

Jones-Hill's work ethic developed as a player under the legendary Coach Kay James, as she would give 100 percent in practice and in a game. That determination rubbed off on then freshman Lee-McNelis. The two teamed up to form a pretty powerful duo in 1981 under James and both are now members of the Lady Eagles Hall of Fame.

"Shirley was a senior when I was a freshman," said Lee-McNelis. "I had much respect for "Shirl the Pearl" because of her leadership and competitive spirit. Every day, Shirley came to practice to give her all. She would dive on the floor after loose balls, take charges, and defend like she was playing for a championship. In games, she was the vocal leader and her success on the court came easy because of the way she practiced. She was truly the example of 'you play the way you practice.' "

Even though she says landing in the SID world was by accident it was the best thing that could've happen to her. "The plan was very simple for me," Jones-Hill said. "When I finished college, I was going be a teacher and coach on the high school level."

Those plans changed after Coach James offered her a graduate assistant position that involved calling the newspapers and TV stations after every game to report scores and give a few details. After getting hired on full-time as an assistant coach, she would also help out in the sports information department.

"I didn't really know anything about sports information or what they actually did," Jones-Hill said. "I was literally thrown into the fire when it came to the SID work. I had never done anything like that and, to be honest, I was not prepared for it. I spent the mornings in the sports information office and the afternoons in the basketball office. I definitely was learning on the job."

Even though she didn't foresee herself in this field she has made tremendous contribution to the profession. Her tireless work ethic and commitment to her programs stands second to none.

"Her devotion and dedication to Southern Miss has helped our University and athletic department grow and prosper," stated Duggan. "Her personality and willingness to work with people have made her one of the most beloved members of the athletic staff and community.

"Shirley is without question the most popular athletic department employee and is equally as well known by faculty members and University employees as well."

Her biggest fan and supporter has been her husband of 27-years, Mosses. The couple has two daughters, Megan and Courtney.

"That was probably the most challenging time of my life," says Jones-Hill. "I had to rely on my family and friends to help out a lot. The girls also spent time with me in the office. I would give them lots of paper, color pens and pencils, markers and let them use the stapler while I worked.

"As they got older, I would take them to all my home events and eventually they became ball shaggers for volleyball and ball girls for basketball. On occasion, I would take them on road trips. They loved being around the players and also developed a love of sports."

This demanding career path also provides grand rewards and for Jones-Hill those rewards have come in the form of student-athlete relationships and travel. "The best part of my job has been working with the student-athletes," she stated. "They come into your life and they give you a purpose. You watch them grow and mature into functioning adults. There have been so many people I have met over the years and now I have made a lot of life-long friends in this business.

"I have certainly enjoyed all the traveling. That has been a bonus. I've had the opportunity to go places I never thought I would."

Jones-Hill admits that she has very little "down time" and that vacation days are at a premium around Southern Miss.

"Since I started in this business, I've not had a lot of down time. I'm always doing something or filling in for someone. Once the sports that I cover end, it's time to start again. However, I do like reading a good book and spending time with my family and friends. Mostly, I like doing absolutely nothing in my 'down time','" she commented.

For everything she given the University of Southern Miss and Hattiesburg over the past 34 years she was rewarded for her endless hours by becoming the first female inducted into Southern Miss M-Club Sports Hall of Fame.

"That was such an honor and privilege," said Jones-Hill. "I could not have imagined that, ever. At the time, I believed there were more deserving female athletes than myself. Words cannot adequately describe my feelings. That was without a doubt, one of the more special moments in my life when I received that phone call. That will always be special to me as the first-ever."

When asked to list the rules she has lived by in athletics communications over the three decades she stated, "Put God first, family second and the rest will follow. Be honest, respectful and learn how to say no every once in a while. If there is one thing that I've learned to do is don't sweat the small stuff."

Individual recipient feature story schedule for 2012 Special Awards

General 2012 Special Awards release March

Awards to be presented during CoSIDA St. Louis Convention, St. Louis, Missouri Sunday, June 24: Kickoff Luncheon

*Awards presented:* 25-Year Awards; Trailblazer, Kenworthy Community Service, Rising Star (University and College Divisions), Keith Jackson honors

Monday, June 25: (two award presentations) CoSIDA Hall of Fame luncheon

*Awards presented:* Esposito, Lifetime Achievement, CoSIDA Hall of Fame awards

Capital One Special Awards Gala (dinner/ceremony)

*Awards presented:* Arch Ward, Warren Berg, Jake Wade, Lester Jordan, Enberg awards; Capital One Academic All-America Hall of Fame induction

Calendar

Important Dates

Categories

Most Recent Posts