J.C. Arban
Class of 2004

J.C. Arban
At a school where winning has become a tradition in recent years, J. C. Arban was among the group that got the Mississippi Southern College Southerners on the victory path.

Arban attended Athens High School from 1950-54. During his time as an Athens Golden Eagle, Arban played four sports including football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a co-captain of the 1953 football team and played in the North-South High School All-Star Game.

Arban signed a football schcolarship with Mississippi Southern College. He played offensive backfield earning opponent's respect for his solid play at tailback. He set a pair of records in the 1957 Tangerine Bowl that still stand today. He recorded the bowl's longest kick off return (43 yeards) and the most kickoff return yards during the game (75).

One year later, Arban was a big part of the historic 1958 Mississippi Southern College that finished the campaign with a 9-0 record, becoming the first team in school history to complete a perfect season en route to winning the United Press International college football national championship.

Arban is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and All Century Special Recognition Team.

Following his football career, he coached for 37 years in Mississippi at the high school junior college and senior college levels.