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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Legend Junie Hovious Passes Away
6/21/1999 | Football
May 7, 1998
OXFORD, Miss. - John A. "Junie" Hovious, a legend of Ole Miss athletics, passed away here Thursday morning at Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi following a lengthy illness. He was 78.
Visitation will be at Waller Funeral Home in Oxford Friday evening from 5:30 until 8:00. Services will be Saturday afternoon at 2:00 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Oxford. The family has requested memorials may be sent to the Billy Sam Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Mississippi.
"Junie was a fine person who did a great job for me while coaching our defensive backs," said former Ole Miss head football coach John Vaught. "He was well liked by everyone and will be dearly missed by all his good friends."
Hovious was an outstanding runner and kick returner for the Ole Miss football team as he lettered in 1939, 1940, and 1941. He also lettered three years in basketball and baseball.
"Junie was a very competitive and intelligent athlete, who had instincts that carried him through in spite of his size," said J. W. (Wobble) Davidson, who played and coached with Hovious at Ole Miss. "He had exceptional fortitude. Playing on pre(c)war teams, pound for pound, Junie may have been the best around. He could do it all. He was a very religions individual and highly principled."
Hovious had 1,017 career rushing yards and scored seven touchdowns while playing for the Rebels. He also returned 84 career punts for 1,142 yards and two TDs, which still ranks first in Ole Miss history. His 96 yard punt return against Georgia in 1940 ranks third best at Ole Miss and his 78 yard rush against Tulane in 1941 is the ninth longest run from scrimmage in Ole Miss history.
Hovious also had an 81 yard TD reception from Merle Hapes against Vanderbilt in 1939, the third longest pass play in Rebel history.
A three time All Southeastern Conference selection, Hovious played one year with the New York Giants and then began 29(c)year career at Ole Miss as an assistant football coach. He also served as head golf coach for 25 years.
He was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1967 and the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.
