Cofield on Oxford & Ole Miss: We Are Proud of You, Sam Kendricks

Scott and Marni Kendricks with Sam and Tom, Charli and John Scott Kendricks. (Photo by Bill Dabney)

Scott and Marni Kendricks, we are all with you … all of us.

Tonight, as with only a few other Oxford last names down through the decades before him, your son Sam joins the list to take the town to international fame.

He also lives on a storied list of Oxford athletes. From the time the University High and Central High he forged a new trail and joined to form the blue and gold of Charger Nation. Whether an Eagle, a Colonel, Commodore, or Charger, the former athletes feel a connection and are all with you, Sam.

The Ole Miss family is proud of its nine former and current Rebels who have exemplified sportsmanship and class in Rio. You lead that class of nine and every Ole Miss Rebel is with you, Sam.

Your dad, brothers and sister, aunts, uncles and cousins are all as proud and nervous as they’ve ever been. But, all your fans fade away in the face of your biggest one. While reading author Larry Brown’s note inscribed in a copy of his book Joe, it now brings to mind your biggest fan, Sam. Her hug is like no other. Larry wrote: “To Mama, the most important one.”

Photograph by Oxford photographer Bill Dabney at http://www.dabneyphotography.com/

John Cofield is a HottyToddy.com writer and one of Oxford’s leading folk historians. He is the son of renowned university photographer Jack Cofield. His grandfather, J.R. “Colonel” Cofield, was William Faulkner’s personal photographer and for decades was the Ole Miss yearbook photographer. Cofield attended Ole Miss as well.

Stay tuned for more information on Cofield’s forthcoming book: Oxford, Mississippi ~ The Cofield Collection — a pictorial history book with John’s writing on the history to go along with the photos.

Contact John at Johnbcofield@gmail.com.