By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
Feb. 21, 2001
Longtime Northwest Junior High teacher, Athletics Director and coach Billy Burnham was named Meridian High School's new Athletics Director, The Meridian Star learned Tuesday morning.
Burnham, 44, will replace the retiring Mac Barnes. His tenure is scheduled to officially begin on July 1.
Monday night at the regular Meridian Public School District Board of Trustees meeting, Burnham was approved for the new position, but details of the decision weren't finalized until late Tuesday morning, when Burnham was notified by MHS Principal James Bounds.
Burnham, an 18-year veteran of the Meridian Public School system and former president of the North Meridian Youth Optimist Baseball Association, said Tuesday afternoon he was excited to get to work.
Burnham, a native of Bruce, grew up with numerous family ties to Meridian High athletics.
He also served on the charter board of the East Mississippi Pee Wee Football Association.
Head of Meridian Public Schools Dr. Janet McLin said Burnham fit the criteria of coaching experience and also being certified as an administrator.
The school system reviewed six applicants from various places and arrived at the decision based on which candidate scored the highest on a point system.
McLin and Bounds headed up a selection committee to search for a new Athletics Director when it was learned early last month that Barnes would be retiring.
Burnham and his wife, Diane, have one son, Lance, a sophomore at MHS.
He will be working with Barnes in the coming months up until July in order to insure a smooth transition.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.