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Marcus Dupree endorses Dow Yoder in...

Marcus Dupree endorses Dow Yoder in Court of Appeals race

By: Magnolia Tribune - September 23, 2016

Following an announcement for future induction into the prestigious Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame earlier this afternoon, Marcus Dupree, the legendary football running back from Philadelphia, Mississippi, publicly endorsed Dow Yoder’s election to the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

Yoder was born in Columbus. After graduating from S.D. Lee High School, he earned a football scholarship to Mississippi College. As a red-shirt freshman, Yoder was part of the Choctaw’s 1989 NCAA Division II National Championship team.

The former Assistant District Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney has lived within the judicial district in Lowndes, Jones, and Madison counties for nearly 40 years.
Yoder currently resides in Ridgeland, with his wife, the former Melinda Lee Price. He volunteers for the Broadmoor Center for Hope and Healing, and their sons’ local Boy Scout Troop.

The Golden Triangle counties of Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha mark the northern boundary of a district which includes Dupree’s home county of Neshoba, along with Noxubee, Winston, Kemper, Leake, Lauderdale, Newton, Scott, Clark, Jasper, Smith, Rankin, and parts of Madison, Attala, Wayne, and Jones counties.

The non-partisan race for the 10 member appeals court follows the retirement of Judge Larry Roberts, of Meridian. Most decisions involve felony criminal appeals from Mississippi’s 22 Circuit Court districts. Court of Appeals cases are assigned by the Mississippi Supreme Court, Mississippi’s highest court.

As Co-Chairman for the Friends of Dow Yoder, Marcus Dupree joins Rhonda Keenum, of Starkville, and the former U.S. District Court Judge Charles Pickering, of Jones County.

With greater height and weight than Bo Jackson and Hershel Walker, and faster in a 100 yard sprint, Marcus Dupree was an explosive force from the backfield.
Dupree led Philadelphia High School to a State Football Championship. Oklahoma Head Coach Barry Switzer described Marcus Dupree as the most talented football player to ever wear #22.

A knee injury cut Dupree’s promising NFL career short. Mismanagement and fraud by self-described ‘sports agent’ Kenneth Fairley resulted in financial hardship for Dupree, whose meteoric rise to fame ended prematurely for football fans. His story was depicted in an ESPN 30/30 documentary, ‘Marcus Dupree: The Best That Never Was.’

Dow Yoder Press Release
9/22/16

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Magnolia Tribune

This article was produced by Magnolia Tribune staff.