MDOT Dedicates Section of Highway 15 in Jones County to Morris “Coach” Brown

Jones County, MS --- The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) hosted a dedication ceremony today designating a section of U.S. Highway 15 in Jones County as “Morris ‘Coach’ Brown Memorial Highway”.

The highway dedication ceremony was at 10 a.m. at the Shady Grove Lunch Room, 4524 Highway 15 in Laurel.

The 2015 Session of the Mississippi Legislature designated a segment of Mississippi Highway 15 in Jones County beginning at the city limits of Laurel, extending north to the intersection with Trace Road as the "Coach Morris Brown Memorial Highway."

“MDOT is honored to dedicate this section of U.S. Highway 15 as the Morris ‘Coach’ Brown Memorial Highway,” Transportation Commissioner Tom King said. “This memorial will remind all of us who travel this section of highway in Jones County of the life of this dedicated teacher and coach.”

Morris “Coach” Brown was born in Millry, Alabama on March 6, 1926. Brown finished high school at Millry after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Brown attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he played football and was later inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. Brown coached all sports at Shady Grove High School for several years and later focused on football. Brown coached football for a total of 14 years with an outstanding win-loss record. After school consolidation, Brown was named the mascot and was the first football coach and athletic director at West Jones High School for four years. Brown served as School Bus Transportation Director for several years and served one term as Jones County Supervisor before retiring. Brown served on the South Central Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees for 19 years before passing away in April 2009.

MDOT will erect and maintain appropriate signs on this designated segment of highway in memory of Coach Brown.

For current travel information visit www.MDOTtraffic.com, download the free MS Traffic app from the App Store or Google Play, or call 511.