A rose of remembrance for legendary Mississippi State football player Johnie Cooks, who died Thursday at age 64. Cooks, who played middle linebacker at MSU from 1978-1981, was a central figure in what is widely regarded as the biggest win in Bulldogs’ history, a 6-3 win over unbeaten and top-ranked Alabama in 1980. The win snapped Alabama’s 28-game winning streak, prompting Alabama coach Bear Bryant to visit the MSU locker room after the game to congratulate the Bulldog players. Cooks recorded an astonishing 20 tackles in that game. He was a two-time All-SEC and second-team All-American before becoming the second pick in the 1982 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts. It remains the highest draft pick ever for an MSU player. Cooks, who was enshrined in the Ring of Honor at MSU’s Davis-Wade Stadium in 2011, played 10 years in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl title with the New York Giants in 1990 near the end of his career. He is also a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Off the field, Cooks will be remembered as friendly and generous. The tales of his acts of charity are many. There are few players in MSU history more respected and loved than big No. 99 Johnie Cooks. RIP.

A rose to Jeffrey Simmons, an NFL star who clearly hasn’t forgotten where he came from. Simmons hosted a Summer Fun Day and Fireworks Show in his hometown of Macon on July 1, his way of expressing his appreciation for the community where he was born and raised. At 25, Simmons is a rising star as a defensive tackle with the Tennessee Titans. In four NFL seasons, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice. But the former Mississippi State standout has never forgotten his roots and has shown it. In 2021, Simmons provided meals to Macon Electric workers and 4-County Electric Power Association linemen for their work following a severe winter storm, and funded a $50,000 renovation project for Noxubee County High School to upgrade and renovate its field house and weight room last year. Simmons also donated $75,000 to the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department to build a turf field at the Starkville Sportsplex last year. Simmons said he plans to continue making trips back home to work with local high school students and put on more events. Simmons has proven to be an inspiration for kids and a blessing to the communities of Noxubee County and Starkville.

A rose to the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department, which is reporting record highs in participation and revenue for the fiscal year. SPRD General Manager Brandon Doherty revealed in a board of aldermen work session last week that participation is up a third over last year (3,000 participants) and revenue up by a quarter over last year ($400,000) going into the final quarter of the fiscal year. The numbers will shatter previous records. The fact that the city’s much-anticipated $20-million Cornerstone Park won’t open until later this summer suggests the city is on the right track in bringing people to its program and will only grow. Doherty attributed the growth to new programs offered by the SPRD, including an adult softball league that has been a big hit and a new soccer program. Diversifying programs is an important part of the equation. We applaud the SRPD for its success.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.

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