"You're not only a great athlete and student, but you're a great young man overall!!"- Councilman Nick Brown, City of Hattiesburg.
Anthony Aj Maddox Jr. has been named the honoree for the 26th Annual Black History Celebration 2024, serving as Grand Marshal of the 26th Annual Black History Parade. The parade is Saturday, March 2 on Eastside Ave at 12:00 Noon.
Parade Route
The parade will line-up at Rock of Ages Church. The parade will march along Eastside Ave turning left onto JC Killingsworth then right onto Country Club Rd heading into Vernon Dahmer Park where the parade will end and the celebrations will begin. To sign up for the parade visit www.GetHattiesburgNews.com/community.
Related Story: Black History in the Pine Belt: Everything You Need To Know Including The 26th Annual Black History Parade
History in the Making
At only 18 years old, Aj has made history, becoming the youngest person to ever be named Grand Marshal of the famous Black History Parade. Aj, who led the Oak Grove Warriors to victory winning this year's football 7A State Championship, will be officially crowned grand marshal and receive his first lifetime achievement award on Tuesday, February 27 at 6pm, only a few days before the actual parade, during the Black History Ball at the Jackie Dole Community Center in downtown Hattiesburg.
Past Grand Marshals
Some of Mississippi's brightest, most powerful, and most influential African Americans have all served as Grand Marshal of the famous Black History Parade. The short unique list of influencers includes:
Lt. Col. Raylawni Branch, first African American Student to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, Mayor Johnny DuPree, the first African American Mayor of the City of Hattiesburg, Judge Deborah Gambrell, first African American elected in Forrest County, Vernon Floyd, first African American radio station owner in Mississippi and 3rd in the country, Councilwoman Deborah Delgado, Judge Carol Jones Russell, Representative Percy Watson, Judge Charles Lawrence, and a host of others.
Family is NFL Royalty
Aj's family is NFL Royalty. Aj's father is former NFL player Anthony Maddox, who spent years in the NFL, first being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars and also playing for the Houston Texans. He played college ball at Jones College and Mississippi Valley University.
His grandfather is Reggie Collier who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college ball at The University of Southern Mississippi. And currently playing in the league are two of his cousins: Jay Ward of the Minnesota Vikings and Tank Dell of the Houston Texans.
Awards and Honors
Aj has received multiple awards so far throughout his career, though this is his first Lifetime Achievement Award. Not only is he a 4-star ranked athlete, he's also ranked in the Top 10 Quarterbacks in the Country by ESPN, named a Mississippi All-Star plus starting quarterback in the famous MS vs Alabama All-Star Game, MVP of the MHSAA State Championship Game, Mississippi's Who's Who Athlete of the Year, WDAM Player of the Year, and on and on and on.
"Aj is one of the most incredible human beings I've ever met in my life! On and off the field, he's as close to being a perfect person as you can get. Very humbled, strong leadership, very well respected by his peers across the country, extremely inspiring. Little bro is different. He has amazing parents! He entire family is amazing. He's a once in a lifetime person so it makes sense he's joining such a prestigious list of honorees," exclaimed Dee Moye, Chairman of the Black History Celebrations Executive Committee.
Congrats from the Councilman
"I would like to say congratulations not only on this achievement, but also on the achievement of winning state championship and earning your way to the next level!! Continue to soar high!! You are not only a great athlete and student, but you are a great young man overall!! We are so very proud of you!! Keep up the awesome work!" exclaimed City of Hattiesburg Councilman Nick Brown, Co-Chair of the Black History Celebrations Executive Committee.
A Different Parade
Dee, who serves as Principal and Group Chief Executive of Hattiesburg Management Group, the firm that oversees the Black History Celebrations through its Community Development Division, says this year's parade is very different.
How so? Dee will directly produce this year's parade, something he hasn't done in years. "The celebration has grown tremendously over the last few years, and alot of that is credit to our Co-Chair of the Celebrations Executive Committee, Councilman Nick Brown, who's done an awesome job in putting together key parts of the celebration. We've always worked on the big picture and appointed some great people to lead the parade.
However this year, I am not authorizing anyone to organize the parade, I'm working on that myself, personally leading our team and working with community leaders and hopefully, the community will see a huge difference!-" Dee said.
Military Honor
One of the special things included in this year's parade is the US Army. The National Guard will be featured in the parade and will also have a strong presence at the park, hoping to inspire young talented people like Aj.
"The Recruiting and Retention Battalion of the 106th Battalion of the Mississippi Army National Guard is ecstatic to be apart of the 26th Annual Black History Month Celebrations. We're honored to pay tribute and recognize our veterans as well as motivate the future generations to accept the challenge," says SSG Sgt. Ahsaki Wilson.
Parade Theme
"Another major difference is manifesting our theme. This year's theme is 'Am I My Brother's Keeper' and I think you will see that brotherhood and sisterhood theme showcased throughout the entire parade. This parade is a tribute not only to young people, but also to the grand marshal Aj and you will see him honored throughout the entire parade," he explained.
The Chairman's Interview
During an exclusive one-on-one tv interview with Hattiesburg News, Dee, serving his 10th year as Chairman of the Black History Celebrations Executive Committee announced this year's grand marshal. The interview can be seen at the top of this story.
"I am very excited about this year's honoree. This year honoree is a young person for the first time in our 26 year history, none other than AJ Maddox, the former quarterback of Oak Grove, Ole Miss Quarterback. He's just a very very special person. He has shown so much leadership on and off the field. You see so many student athletes from around the country who have enormous amount of respect for him!"
When I was the Executive Producer at the Mississippi vs Alabama All-Star Game at the University of Southern Mississippi, there were 100 of kids, high school all the way to elementary kids standing outside the locker room waiting to see Aj and we he finally appeared the kids were literally screaming just to see him and Aj gave the kids almost everything he gave his socks his shoes he gave them gloves. You name it! He was just so eager to help inspire those other kids.
When my brother was killed a few months ago Aj texted me a very encouraging message he didn't have to text me at all but that's just the kind of person he is and to receive the Dr. Peggy Answorth Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor an African American can receive here in Mississippi and there's no other better person to receive this award than Aj. He's one of my favorite little brother's probably my favorite little brother."
Typically honorees include judges superintendents police chiefs mayors and senators and representatives but this year for the first time it's a student!" - Dee said excitingly.