Retired General, Former MSU Football Star Inducted into ROTC HOF

Retired Brig. Gen. Samuel Nichols Jr. is the newest member of MSU’s Army ROTC Hall of Fame.
Photo by: Beth Wynn

STARKVILLE, Miss. (Press Release) — A Mississippi State alumnus and former member of the Bulldog football team is a newly inducted member of the university’s Army ROTC Hall of Fame.

Retired Brig. Gen. Samuel Nichols Jr. returned to his alma mater last week for a special induction ceremony. A Biloxi native and Biloxi High School graduate, he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the 136-year-old land-grant institution.

With his induction, Nichols became the 17th member of Mississippi State ROTC alumni honored with selection to the military science department’s hall of fame.

As an offensive guard with the Bulldogs, Nichols was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection and member of the 1974 Sun Bowl team. He was chosen for the MSU Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Over a more than 36-year military career, Nichols was honored with the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and Army Achievement Medal, among other recognitions.

Prior to becoming the director of the U.S. Veterans Administration’s Enterprise Records Service in Washington, D.C., Nichols commanded the 290th Military Police Brigade in Nashville, Tennessee, and was deputy commander for Joint Task Force Guantanamo in Cuba.

Additionally, he commanded the 87th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command (East) in Birmingham, Alabama, Regional Support Group East, and 3d Personnel Command.

Chief DA Secretariat and Selection Board Recorder for the U.S. Army Secretariat for Selection Boards-Reserve Components are among his other leadership roles.

Maj. Brad Hollingsworth, assistant professor of military science and assistant recruiting operations officer, and Lt. Col. Brian Locke, professor of military science and battalion commander, were among speakers at the ceremony. Locke presented Nichols with a framed photo that will hang permanently with previous HOF inductees in Middleton Hall, home of Army and Air Force ROTC programs.

Addressing Army ROTC cadets in attendance, Nichols said, “You could not go to another school and find what you find here at Mississippi State. This university is the most fantastic place in the world.”

He went on to encourage members of the MSU Army ROTC department–and those at other Mississippi higher education institutions–to consider starting an adopt-a-veteran program.

“I want you all to have conversations with those young men and women who have gone to war for the past 13 years, who have been on multiple deployments, who have been away from their parents and kids,” Nichols said, adding “because these folks are invaluable.”

Reflecting on his time in military service with what he considers the “best team in the world,” Nichols reminded cadets to cherish friendships made throughout their careers.

“I wish I had 36 more years in the Army; I miss it every day,” he said. “The people that you meet, the relationships that you make, they’re forever.

“They are what makes the profession of arms priceless,” Nichols said.

To learn more about MSU’s military science department and Bulldog Battalion, visit www.armyrotc.msstate.edu, www.facebook.com/msuarmyrotc and www.twitter.com/MsStateROTC.