New Education Award Honors Roy Pollard
By Brother Rogers
One person can make a difference. Citizen leadership is the hallmark of American civic life. Public education is the key to moving Mississippi forward. These three truisms intersect in Starkville native Roy Pollard, known affectionately to his friends as RP.
To honor the significant contributions RP has made to support public education, the Starkville chapter of Parents for Public Schools, with financial support from Verizon of Starkville, has established the Roy Pollard Spirit of Service Award. The award will honor a business or organization that, like RP, has demonstrated a sustained commitment to strengthening public education in Starkville.
The first Roy Pollard Spirit of Service Award will be presented at approximately 6 p.m. this Monday on the lawn of the Greensboro Center as part of the Jacket Jam event sponsored by Parents for Public Schools, the Starkville PTA Council and the Starkville Foundation for Public Education. Jacket Jam is an opportunity for the community to meet new School Superintendent Lewis Holloway, eat free barbecue and enjoy the musical and artistic talents of students in the Starkville School District.
Roy Pollard graduated from Starkville High School in 1969 and then earned two degrees from Mississippi State University. He’s been the human resource manager at Flexsteel Industries since 1985. Both his children, Lindsay and Kyle, are graduates of Starkville High School as well.
RP has been a tireless supporter of the Starkville School District. Instead of parent of the year, if there was an award for parent of the past quarter century, he would deserve it. Twenty years ago he co-founded the Starkville chapter of Parents for Public Schools (PPS) to bring attention to the positive accomplishments of the district. He was president of the local PPS chapter and served on the board of directors for the national organization.
In addition, RP helped spearhead not one, but two successful school bond campaigns in 1995 and 2007. Together these bond issues raised over $36 million for improvements in the Starkville School District. Through his work with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, he has been an unofficial liaison for public education in the business community.
RP has been a PTA president and PTA council member and served on the advisory boards for both Tech Prep and the Millsaps Vocational Center. He was on the Starkville School District Coalition for Children and Public Education. As a dedicated Yellowjacket, RP was an officer in the Starkville High School Football Booster Organization. Fittingly, in 2008, he was inducted into Starkville High School’s Hall of the Famous.
In short, Roy Pollard is a champion for the public schools of Starkville. From volunteering in a concession stand to leading the largest bond issue in the city’s history to speaking to civic clubs about the value of public education, RP has demonstrated tremendous passion for improving our community through quality public schools.
Roy Pollard is a great example of a citizen who has made a difference through advocacy for public education. Everyone who knows him is proud to call him a friend. It is appropriate that PPS establish an award in his name to annually recognize entities that champion public education. Wonder who will win the first Roy Pollard Spirit of Service Award? Joins us for a free meal on Monday evening at the Greensboro Center to find out.
Brother Rogers is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News and works at the Stennis Center for Public Service.
One person can make a difference. Citizen leadership is the hallmark of American civic life. Public education is the key to moving Mississippi forward. These three truisms intersect in Starkville native Roy Pollard, known affectionately to his friends as RP.
To honor the significant contributions RP has made to support public education, the Starkville chapter of Parents for Public Schools, with financial support from Verizon of Starkville, has established the Roy Pollard Spirit of Service Award. The award will honor a business or organization that, like RP, has demonstrated a sustained commitment to strengthening public education in Starkville.
The first Roy Pollard Spirit of Service Award will be presented at approximately 6 p.m. this Monday on the lawn of the Greensboro Center as part of the Jacket Jam event sponsored by Parents for Public Schools, the Starkville PTA Council and the Starkville Foundation for Public Education. Jacket Jam is an opportunity for the community to meet new School Superintendent Lewis Holloway, eat free barbecue and enjoy the musical and artistic talents of students in the Starkville School District.
Roy Pollard graduated from Starkville High School in 1969 and then earned two degrees from Mississippi State University. He’s been the human resource manager at Flexsteel Industries since 1985. Both his children, Lindsay and Kyle, are graduates of Starkville High School as well.
RP has been a tireless supporter of the Starkville School District. Instead of parent of the year, if there was an award for parent of the past quarter century, he would deserve it. Twenty years ago he co-founded the Starkville chapter of Parents for Public Schools (PPS) to bring attention to the positive accomplishments of the district. He was president of the local PPS chapter and served on the board of directors for the national organization.
In addition, RP helped spearhead not one, but two successful school bond campaigns in 1995 and 2007. Together these bond issues raised over $36 million for improvements in the Starkville School District. Through his work with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, he has been an unofficial liaison for public education in the business community.
RP has been a PTA president and PTA council member and served on the advisory boards for both Tech Prep and the Millsaps Vocational Center. He was on the Starkville School District Coalition for Children and Public Education. As a dedicated Yellowjacket, RP was an officer in the Starkville High School Football Booster Organization. Fittingly, in 2008, he was inducted into Starkville High School’s Hall of the Famous.
In short, Roy Pollard is a champion for the public schools of Starkville. From volunteering in a concession stand to leading the largest bond issue in the city’s history to speaking to civic clubs about the value of public education, RP has demonstrated tremendous passion for improving our community through quality public schools.
Roy Pollard is a great example of a citizen who has made a difference through advocacy for public education. Everyone who knows him is proud to call him a friend. It is appropriate that PPS establish an award in his name to annually recognize entities that champion public education. Wonder who will win the first Roy Pollard Spirit of Service Award? Joins us for a free meal on Monday evening at the Greensboro Center to find out.
Brother Rogers is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News and works at the Stennis Center for Public Service.