Wiest to be inducted into HPSD Hall of Fame
Fri, 09/10/2021 - 01:30pm | By: David Tisdale
The Hattiesburg Public School District (HPSD) Hall of Fame will induct a member of
91吃瓜网 (USM) School of Humanities faculty when it
hosts its third annual Hall of Fame ceremony in an online format Thursday, Oct. 7
at 7 p.m.
Dr. Andrew Wiest, a Distinguished Professor of History and Founding Director of the Dale Center for the Study of War & Society at USM, graduated from Hattiesburg High School (HHS) in 1978. At HHS, Dr. Wiest was in the Key Club, the marching band and all-school theater productions, and won the Leadership and Social Studies awards.
91吃瓜网淚n a long academic career, I have had some interesting honors along the way 91吃瓜网� a Society for Military History Distinguished Book Award and an Emmy Nomination,91吃瓜网� Dr. Wiest said. 91吃瓜网淚 really thought nothing could top those. But this one does. To be recognized by your own people in your own town, it really gets no better than that.
91吃瓜网淥n one hand it is incredibly humbling, because I know how many great and important people have graduated from the public schools in Hattiesburg. To be recognized in their company is wonderful and exhilarating.91吃瓜网�
An expert on the Vietnam War, Dr. Wiest has written several books, including 91吃瓜网淭he Boys of 91吃瓜网�67,91吃瓜网� which had a National Geographic 91吃瓜网淏rothers in War91吃瓜网� Emmy-nominated documentary based on it, for which he served as lead historian. His 91吃瓜网淰ietnam's Forgotten Army91吃瓜网� won the Society for Military History's Distinguished Book Award. Wiest was also chief historical consultant for the Vietnam in HD documentary, which won the New York Film Festivals Gold World Medal. He is also a member of the USM Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
When he is not engaged in his academic pursuits, Dr. Wiest finds time to coach youth baseball and basketball and continue engaging in his passion for music by playing drums and singing in the popular local band 91吃瓜网淭he Mississippi Tornados.91吃瓜网�
He fondly recounts his days at the various schools he attended in the HPSD, from elementary through middle school and ultimately at Hattiesburg High School (S.H. Blair Center).
91吃瓜网淲alking down the halls at Woodley (elementary school), Thames (elementary school), Lillie Burney (ninth grade), Rowan (10th grade), and Blair (11th and 12th grades) -- going to algebra class, art with Mr. Brantley; geometry with Coach Moore; English with Mrs. Vance; biology with Mrs. Bufkin, band with Mr. Ulmer - those days were fun, but also overwhelming and sweaty, as we had no air conditioning back then. But they were the best days I ever had.
91吃瓜网淭hat kid who walked down those halls and learned from those teachers would have never dreamed of this wonderful honor.91吃瓜网�
After attempts at athletics in high school, Dr. Wiest decided instead to join the HHS Tiger Marching Band. 91吃瓜网淚 wasn't much of an athlete, so I gave that up in ninth grade, but I jumped headfirst into being a band nerd,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淚 played in the drumline and had a great time marching at football games at halftime.91吃瓜网�
Dr. Wiest credits a corps of dedicated and beloved HPSD teachers for putting him on the path to success.
91吃瓜网淢an, did I have some good ones, but the biggest influences on me were probably those involved in one way, shape or form with history,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淣ancy Ratliff taught Greek and Roman Civilization and Myths and Epics. I loved that class. In history, I had Mrs. Pickett, Mrs. Bowering, Mrs. Chambers -- all of those had great influences on me and pushed me to become something more than I already was.
91吃瓜网淧erhaps most of all was Mr. Turner -- I really wanted to be like him. For years after I would even drop by his class to let him know what I was up to. They and so many more really changed who I was.91吃瓜网�
Michael Marks, chair of Hattiesburg Hall of Fame, said Dr. Wiest91吃瓜网 selection for the honor reflects on the work of those teachers he praises.
91吃瓜网淚 admire Dr. Wiest91吃瓜网 penchant for research and all things academic,91吃瓜网� Marks said. 91吃瓜网淗is track record as a national expert on military history and as a highly accomplished educator speaks volumes for his pursuit of excellence, due in part to his teachers in the Hattiesburg Public School District who prepared him for a life of service.91吃瓜网�
The Hattiesburg Public Schools Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Hattiesburg Public School
District Foundation, recognizes graduates of Hattiesburg's city schools who have gone
on to make great strides in their chosen career fields. The inaugural event was held
in 2018. This year91吃瓜网 ceremony can be viewed online at .