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But Lewis kept praying about the PRCC job and looking for God’s guidance. Then, one statement cemented it for him. “My mother, on her death bed, told me I should take the Pearl River job if it was offered.” Lewis and Janet Gale spent seventeen years in Poplarville and have nothing but great thoughts about their time there at PRCC. “We quickly came to love it there. I miss it now. It was a great time and most of all, I miss the people. They are wonderful,” Janet Gale expressed. “When we went to Pearl River, I told William I was going to be me and not change. They accepted me for who I was, not the President’s wife. The people were just great!” “Looking at it now, the good Lord has plans for us and l don’t think we would have wanted it to be any other way,” said Dr. Lewis. When he first arrived in Poplarville in 2000, Dr. Lewis felt a new culture would be needed to foster improved relationships with the local governments in the district. Pearl River serves six counties in south Mississippi and all of the counties lend local financial support for the college. He knew that it was important to create a vision for what PRCC could be, and he immediately formulated a plan to reach that vision for the college and wanted to get that vision introduced to the people who could make it come to fruition. “In my first address to the faculty, I told them three things were needed. Number one, we wanted our students to be first in all that we do. Number two, in everything we attempt, do it with quality from top to bottom or don’t do it; and, the third must have was to build a feeling of family for everyone which includes students, alums, and visitors to Pearl River.” Dr. Lewis saw some things happening at the school in a positive way those first few years. Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, plans were made to seek private donations to build a chapel on the Poplarville campus. After a successful campaign raising over $700,000, the school broke ground for the new Malone Chapel in 2003. Construction began on a third renovation and addition to Crosby Hall. The addition added a 300 seat conference room onto the Olivia Bender Cafeteria and a student life center for study and relaxation to the old structure. PRCC started the first museum at a Mississippi community college. Then in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devasted the Poplarville campus. All indications had the storm headed west into Texas / Mexico border, but it changed direction. • Affordable Cost of Living • Low Taxes • Low Crime Rate • Quality Medical Care • Recreation • Educational & Cultural Opportunities • A Warm, Welcoming Community Come Home PICAYUNE to a place called 1 of Mississippi’s only 20 Certified Retirement Cities www.southernsenior.info 19