Wilson receives Col. Bradly MacNealy Leadership Award

Holmes Community College sophomore linebacker Luke Wilson of Mantee received the Colonel Bradly MacNealy Leadership Award during the football team's awards banquet Tuesday night in the Math/Science Building on the Goodman Campus.

The award is named for former Holmes Bulldog Colonel Brad MacNealy, who was also in attendance. For his dedication and leadership, Holmes' football coaching staff has created the Bradly MacNealy Leadership Award. MacNealy, who is now retired, served as U.S. Property & Fiscal Officer for the Mississippi Army and Air National Guard with signature authority for an annual Congressional Appropriation in excess of $650M and provided federal oversight for more than 10B worth of federal equipment and facilities.

During his distinguished military career, MacNealy served four active duty tours with two tours in combat zones. He commanded the first National Guard Aviation Brigade (134 Aircraft, 3K soldiers) ever deployed in combat, created and implemented "Catfish Air" as theater distribution system in Iraq (Google Catfish Air), led aviation efforts (68 helicopters) on Mississippi Gulf Coast in response to Hurricane Katrina and was the former Deputy Commander, 1st U.S. Army, (500K soldiers), working for General Russel Honore'.
 
He spent over 7,000 flight hours as an airplane and blackhawk helicopter pilot spending 200 hours in combat. He is Airborne Paratrooper and Air Assault qualified.
 
For his efforts, he has been awarded a Bronze Star, Air Medal, Meritorious Service, Mississippi Magnolia Cross and many others. He also serves as a referee for the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges.

"It feels great to be back here with these young guys," MacNealy said. "They have a lot of character, and they are team full of leaders. It is great Coach Koonz has two awards named after the military. One is after me which is a great honor for me, but also a Medal of Honor winner (Milton Lee Olive) who is from very close by here in Ebenezer. That shows respect to the military. Coaching these young people and combining service to military and football is a great thing to teach them to respect the military and to appreciate the sacrifices."

MacNealy talked about Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts and used him as a good example of a leader. "He came in and did great things," MacNealy said. "He was a leader all year even though he wasn't the starting quarterback. You don't have to be the star player of a team to be a leader. Any coach will tell you that leadership is critical to a team. You can have fantastic talent but if you don't have leadership you don't have the team you should have.

"That speaks volumes of this young man (Luke Wilson) to be a leader of a team of 55 players that go out there," he said. "This rose him above the rest of the 55. He's got exceptional leadership talent and that will pay huge dividends for him the rest of his life."

As a sophomore, Wilson finished the season with 51 tackles including eight tackles for loss, four and one half sacks and one fumble recovery. As a freshman, he played in five games and had eight tackles.

"I was really honored to receive this award," Wilson said. "You can try to be a leader and don't know if everybody is going to back you. You have to go out every day and give your hardest and hope people can follow what you do.

"It's a great honor to get an award from a guy like that," he said of Colonel MacNealy. "Being a leader in a football game or practice doesn't compare to what he's been doing. He's been working for our country for 36 years. Just being in the room with him and getting an award from him is a great honor."

Wilson's parents were also in attendance at the awards banquet. "It was a surprise," Wilson said. "I'm glad they got to experience what happened. They deserve a lot of respect for raising me and had a lot to do with that. I would like to thank them for all they've done."

Wilson said he's enjoyed his time at Holmes. "This place is a great place," Wilson said. "The coaches believe in you from day one. Everybody on campus has their best interest for you. Coming out of high school, you don't know if you are going to get that same treatment. This place is definitely like home, and it's a great place."

"The Colonel MacNealy Award is a special award named after a great leader himself, who is an alumni of Holmes, and I've been knowing him a long time," Holmes Head Coach Jeff Koonz said. "Whoever does get that award does have to exemplify outstanding leadership. Luke Wilson really epitomizes what that award is all about. He came in and really led the defense. We were much improved this year. He could get everybody lined up. He could rally the troops and make the calls. He's a very smart football player, and we are very proud for him, and he is well deserving of the Colonel MacNealy Leadership Award."

Wilson has committed to play next season with Mississippi College.