Ole Miss Legend Preston "Pep" Bennett Passes Away

OXFORD, Miss. - University of Mississippi athletics lost one of its greats Tuesday night with the passing of Preston P. "Pep" Bennett, a 2005 inductee of the Ole Miss M-Club Athletics Hall of Fame. Services for Bennett, who passed away at his home in Clarksdale, Miss., after a long illness, will be held Friday morning at 10:30 at the First Methodist Church in Clarksdale, followed by burial in Oakridge Cemetary. Bennett hit the gridiron for the Rebels in 1939 as a member of the freshman football team. After being named to Baker's Sophomore All-America First Team in 1940, his legend grew from there as he took the field as a quarterback for head coach Harry Mehre in 1941. Following the 1941 season, Bennett enlisted as a pilot in the United States Navy to fight in World War II. He served the U.S. in the armed forces until his discharge in 1946, at which time he re-enrolled at Ole Miss, joining the football team for a final season under then-head coach Red Drew. Upon completion of his bachelor's degree from Ole Miss in 1946, Bennett continued his education, receiving a Master of Education in 1947. During his time at Ole Miss, Bennett was a member of Phi Eta Sigma academic honorary and ODK leadership honorary. He was also a member of the Rebel golf team and Kappa Alpha Order. Following his graduation, Bennett returned to his hometown of Meridian, Miss., to coach until 1950, at which point he moved to Clarksdale to pursue a career in farming. Bennett served as a Southeastern Conference official for five years following completion of his degree at Ole Miss. He became a sustaining member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980, and was named as a recipient of the Distinguished American Award from the Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2000, Bennett was honored with the Bill Wade Pioneer Unsung Hero Award by the All-American Football Foundation. Bennett was married to the former Gene Thomas. The couple has a daughter, Penelope "Penny" Frazer of Clarksdale; a grandson, Preston Bennett Frazer of Memphis, Tenn.; and three great-grandchildren, Katherine Elizabeth Frazer, Preston Bennett Frazer, Jr., and Charles Harry Frazer, all of Memphis. "I'm pleased to receive the honor of being inducted into the M-Club Athletic Hall of Fame," Bennett said at the time of his induction. "This is a wonderful group of athletes, and it is exciting to be included among such a great group of athletes from Ole Miss. I have never enjoyed anything more than I enjoy being a part of Ole Miss."

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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