Alum dating back to 1950s turn out to celebrate Bearcats’ centennial

By Toni Miles

Alumni from across the decades, dating all the way back to the 1950s, gathered at the Lumpkin-Magee Stadium to take part in the LBSD’s Centennial Celebration as the Bearcats squared off with the Forrest County Agricultural Aggies. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)

Hundreds of people showed up not only to watch football but also to celebrate one-hundred years of Bearcat football on September 4, as the Long Beach High School Bearcats defeated the Forrest County Agricultural Aggies 17-7 on home turf at the Lumpkin-Magee Stadium.

The win is not all that was celebrated at the game that night. Long Beach School District alumni from 1956 to 2026 gathered for the LBSD’s Centennial Celebration as former classmates, teammates, cheerleaders and others joined together in festivities and an alumni walk, which included one alum, James “Skippy” McKay, from the Class of 1956.

“Centennial Swag,” including one-hundred-year commemorative coins, stickers and other memorabilia were also available for purchase.