2024 ICC Homecoming Honorees
Donna Thomas
FULTON, MS - Itawamba Community College will honor its 2024 Alumnus of the Year, Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Distinguished Service and Young Alumnus of the Year award recipients during Homecoming activities, Oct. 17, at the Fulton Campus.
They include Jonathan Van Every of Nashville, Tenn. and Dr. David Rather of Tupelo, Athletic Hall of Fame; Johnny Crane of Fulton, Distinguished Service; Jamey Logan of Tupelo, Young Alumnus of the Year; and Dr. Lance Evans of New Albany, Alumnus of the Year.
Van Every earned the associate's degree from ICC and the bachelor's degree from Southern Miss, both with honors.
At ICC, he had a career batting average of 375 with 32 home runs over two seasons and was named NJCAA All-American. His statistics include 54 games played and 145 at-bats, fifth in the nation with 32 of 33 stolen bases, fifth on the team with 56 hits, 35th in the nation with 42 RBI, fifth in the nation with 17 home runs and 36th in the nation with a team leading .386 average.
He was selected in the 29th round of the 2000 Major League Draft by the Cleveland Indians and subsequently played for the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals.
Since 2021, he has been employed in pool distribution. He is married to Morgan Van Every.
ICC's and MACJC's first golf coach, Rather led the Indians for 26 seasons (1990-2016), during which he had eight MACJC All-State players, nine NJCAA National Tournament participants, one NJCAA All-American (Alex Rowland) and was named MACJC Coach of the Year in 1992.
Employed at ICC beginning in 1978, Rather served as director of Special Education and the Workforce Development program until 2015. He earned the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, all from the University of Mississippi. His previous work history included Marshall Academy in Holly Springs and Three Rivers Planning and Development District. Since his retirement, he has also taught continuing education classes for ICC.
Rather and his wife, Jane, are the parents of Alexis Rather, who is assistant golf coach at Louisiana State University, and Kate Killough, pre-K director for Alcorn and Prentiss counties, who is married to Chris Killough, and two grandchildren, Miller and McCleary.
Crane, cofounder of FL Crane and Sons, and his family have served as role models for Northeast Mississippi for many years. His generosity and support include significant financial contributions along with personal commitments as well as the devotion of countless hours to the success of charities, churches, schools and civic organizations throughout the region.
A living testament to their generosity and love for the College is located on the site of the "old" football field, the Crane Pavilion, which was established and formally dedicated in 2010. He was a member of the ICC Foundation Board from 2004-20. Crane's honors include ICDC Business Person of the Year, Boy Scouts Yocona Silver Beaver Award, ICC Alumnus of the Year, Good Citizen Award, McLean Award for Philanthropy, Mississippi Associated Building Contractors Hall of Fame, Construction Man of the Year and President. Additionally, on his long list of community involvement are ICDC president, Port Commission, Leadership Itawamba, Harden House, Boy Scouts, Private Industry Council for Job Training Partnership Act and significant support of ICC and Mississippi State University in his contributions to their facilities, scholarships and educational programs.
He and his wife, Bessie Lynn, have three children, Chip (Jenny) Crane, Jacqueline (Kenny) Petre and Dixie (Kirk) Presley; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Logan, who is marketing director for TAG Truck Center, earned the associate's degree from ICC in 2011 and the bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University. His previous work experience includes digital content manager for BancorpSouth and vice president (marketing content director) for Renasant Bank.
At ICC, he was a member of the leadership team and praise band for the Wesley Foundation, praise band for the Baptist Student Union, marching band drum line and Phi Theta Kappa. Logan's honors include Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Top 40 Under 40 (finalist three years), Mississippi Business Journal Top 50 Under 40, City of Tupelo Quality of Life committee member, Kiwanis Club of Tupelo board member and Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association marketing committee chairman and executive board member.
He and his wife, Laura Kay, are the parents of one daughter, Willow Logan, 3.
A 1998 graduate of ICC, Evans became Mississippi's State Superintendent of Education, July 1. His educational background also includes the bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University; master's degree from the University of Mississippi; and educational specialist and doctoral degrees from Delta State University. He played football at ICC, where he was selected to Who's Who Among American Junior Colleges.
Over the past 23 years, he has served as Superintendent of Schools for the New Albany School District and in other roles as teacher, coach, assistant principal and both elementary and high school principal. His leadership skills have earned several recognitions, including 2023 Mississippi Superintendent of the Year and 2015 Mississippi Principal of the Year. Evans has also served on the boards of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents, Mississippi Association of School Administrators and the Governing Board for the American Association of School Administrators. He is also a member of the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs.
He and his wife, Brandy, have two children, Katie and Landon.
The award recipients will be honored during a special ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Davis Event Center and presented during the ICC/Holmes pregame activities, which begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, email maupton@iccms.edu or call (662) 862-8035.
