By John Howell Sr.

Batesville Mayor Jerry Autrey was honored Friday for his support for the Finch-Henry Job Corps Center.

Aldermen Stan Harrison, Ted Stewart and Eddie Nabors joined County Administrator Kelley Magee, Minact, Inc. founder and President Booker T. Jones and other Minact and Finch-Henry Job Corps friends and officials for the reception at the Batesville Holiday Inn.

“Thank you for your service to Batesville and the Finch-Henry Job Corps Center,” center director Cordella Smith said.

Smith also acknowledged that the mayor’s father, the late F. J. “Jelly” Autrey, had been a supporter of the Batesville center since its opening in the early 1980s.

“He had a genuine concern for the students,” Smith said about F. J. Autrey. “He’s the legend of his father,” she added, nodding to the mayor who was seated next to his wife, Mary Lou Autrey, in the banquet room.

Smith also used the opportunity to announce that the Batesville Center has climbed to 18th out of 123 Job Corps centers across the nation in monthly evaluations by the Department of Labor.

In recent years, FHJCC has climbed steadily in the monthly rankings.

“We’re thankful that you have always taken the high road of service,” Minact Vice President Delois White told the mayor.

Minact president Jones, who founded in 1978 the Mississippi-based company that now operates 11 centers in eight states followed, also expressed his appreciation to the mayor.

“He even asked me to a South Panola football game, and I was there,” said Jones.

“Thank you for your leadership as president of the CRC (Community Relations Council),” CRC representative Brenda Black said.

Another CRC member, former Batesville alderman Rufus Manley told Autrey, “We’re proud to see the work that you’re doing.”

The events concluded with Jones leading the room in a round of singing, “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” after which at least one person reminded Mrs. Autrey that it was now her job to bring him back to earth.