Speakers

Speaker	Date	Topic
CLARK HICKS	Apr 27, 2021	MS Civil Litigation Attorney L. Clark Hicks, Jr. is the managing partner of Hicks Law Firm, PLLC, a civil litigation firm in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where his practice is focused on civil litigation defense. He is a graduate of Mississippi College where he earned his BA Degree in History, special distinction with highest honors. He received his JD, cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law where he served as Research Editor on the Law Journal. https://www.hicksattorneys.com
WILL HALL	May 04, 2021	USM Head Football Coach Hall, a native of Amory, Miss., heads to Southern Miss after serving the last two years as offensive coordinator at Tulane, where he helped the Green Wave average 396.4 yards per game this season and his offense scored 30-or-more points in eight of its final nine regular-season games. As a player, Hall was a two-time Junior College All-American quarterback at Northwest Mississippi Community College before playing his two final seasons at North Alabama, where he earned the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2003 for top player in Division II. His assistant coaching stops included Presbyterian (2004/quarterbacks), Henderson State (2005/quarterbacks), Southwest Baptist (2006/offensive coordinator), Arkansas-Monticello (2007/offensive coordinator), West Alabama (2008-10/offensive coordinator), Louisiana-Lafayette (2017/offensive coordinator and quarterbacks) and Memphis (2018/associate head coach and tight ends). As a collegiate head coach that included Gulf South Conference (GSC) schools West Alabama (2011-13) and West Georgia (2014-16), Hall produced a combined record of 56-21. He oversaw three GSC championship squads as well as earning two GSC coach of the year accolades. His teams played in four Division II playoffs and his UWG squads of 2014 and 2015 reached the semifinals. Hall's players also have had success at the next level, and among that group of honored athletes is 2015 Super Bowl hero and current Tennessee Titan Malcolm Butler, who was a two-time All-GSC performer for Hall at West Alabama. In the spring of 2016, offensive tackle Dominique Robertson became the first UWG player in school history to receive an invitation to the NFL Draft Combine. A 2003 graduate of North Alabama, Hall, and wife Rebecca, have two sons – Tripp and Pete. He also is the son of long-time Mississippi High School coach Bobby Hall.
DESTINY BLACKWELL	May 11, 2021	Tradition Home Health & Hospice Care
MARK LASALLE	May 18, 2021
ERIK GRAHAM, DMD PA	May 25, 2021	Baker & Graham Dentistry A Hattiesburg native with an eye for sculpture, Dr. Erik Graham believes that every smile is a work of art ready to be unveiled. After attending dental school at University Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Graham and his wife Ginny (also a Hattiesburg native) moved back to Hattiesburg and joined Dr. Baker, where they formed Baker & Graham Family Dentistry. “It’s amazing having a partner like Dr. Graham. His wife’s grandmother was my patient, and she told Dr. Graham about me and my desire to find a good partner and expand the practice,” Dr. Baker said of Dr. Graham. “We get along because we are so different. He works at an amazing, meticulous pace and has an encyclopedic knowledge of dentistry. He is so caring with patients, and we complement each other really well.” Dr. Graham believes that the best smiles are artful, authentic, and unique to each person. “I’m not interested in creating a fabricated, synthetic smile. I want my patients’ smiles to look like they were meant to be,” he said. “We’re not like a typical practice. We really get to know our patients and their smiles. We give the best results by using the best materials. We have several options for our patients, from low-cost options to more involved procedures.” For Dr. Graham, the challenge of creating those smiles–along with the connection he gets to form with his patients–drive his passion for dentistry, a craft that all too often perceived as boring, conventional, and even scary. “Anybody who needs dental treatment should feel comfortable and confident coming to our practice. Whatever their needs are, we can help them figure out what they need and even how to pay for it.” Outside of the office, Dr. Graham loves spending time with his wife Ginny and his three sons, Gregg, Parker, and Bradley. He coaches their baseball teams and helps coordinate their Boy Scout endeavors. Dr. Graham also enjoys wood carving, furniture building, and the art of sculpture, a passion which he carries into his dental practice, as well. “If I can visualize it in my head, I like to use my hands to make it,” Dr. Graham said. “I can see how a patient’s smile is intended to look, and I want to help patients realize the beauty and individuality of their smiles.”
PAULA MATHIS	Jun 01, 2021	Director • Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) For more on OLLI and their services, visit https://www.usm.edu/lifelong-learning/leadership.php
BILL RAYMOND	Jun 08, 2021	Historical Administrator—City of Biloxi