Bio

Ernest R. Schroeder

Perkinston Agricultural High School & Junior College (1956-1958) / Basketball and Tennis
Pascagoula, Mississippi

Deep in the corner, about 25 feet away from the basket, is where Ernie Schroeder was at his best on the basketball court. Decades before the 3-point shot became standard, Schroeder made opposing teams respect outside play with his shooting touch.

"Ernie was one of the top three outside shooters I ever coached," former head basketball coach Mel Carpenter recalls, "I always wonder what he could have scored under the current 3-point rule."

Schroeder came to Perkinston on a partial basketball scholarship after playing at Pascagoula High School. As a 6-foot freshman, Schroeder was the leading rebounder for Carpenter's 1956-57 team, finishing as the second-highest scoring team in the nation.

"That team was ahead of its time. We ran a lot of fast breaks and got transition points whenever we could. It was exciting to watch. Everyone got a lot of playing time since we were constantly rotating players, so we kept running," Schroeder said.

"Ernie was competing against 6'5"-6'6" guys every game. This is where his intelligence and competitiveness were utilized. Not only was he an outstanding athlete, but he was one of the smartest players I've coached," Carpenter said.

Schroeder also displayed that intellect in the classroom. He was a member and served as president of the Phi Theta Kappa academic honor society. By the end of bis freshman year, Schroeder had earned a full scholarship and was awarded the college's most prestigious honor, the D.L. Hollis Athletic Trophy, recognizing a student who best-promoted athletics.

A year's worth of seasoning made Schroeder an offensive weapon his sophomore season. During the season opener, he scored a career-high 18 points. He would go on to set four new career highs that season, including a 37-point game against Clarke Junior College.

Schroeder's outside shooting was key to the team's South Division runner-up title. The Daily Herald reported, "Schroeder hitting of a set shot from about 25 feet with regularity led Perk to its victory over Jones with a 26-point effort." Schroeder finished the season averaging 14 points a game, was named to the Mississippi Association of Junior Colleges All-State second team and the team's Most Outstanding Player.

Just weeks after leaving the basketball court, Schroeder was on the tennis court playing for Coach Curtis Davis. Schroeder posted more than a dozen wins in both singles and doubles without ever losing a match.

"It's true that I never lost a match, but it's really important to remember that I was the last man on the roster. In those days, it was tough for some schools to get a full roster. I remember playing guys they got out of gym class. Also, I played doubles with Joe McAnulty, an amazing athlete who won two state singles titles."

Schroeder was offered several opportunities to continue playing college basketball, but decided it was time to work on his goal of becoming a lawyer. He graduated from Mississippi State in 1960 and The University of Mississippi's Law School in 1963.

"It seems like I've been to every college in the state, and I wouldn't give up experiences at Perkinston for any of them. If I could have, I would have stayed at Perk for four years."

Schroeder returned home to Pascagoula as a senior partner in a prestigious local law firm, which had eight offices in three states including the District of Columbia, Over the next 40 years, he took part in several "landmark” cases shaping Mississippi law, earning the reputation as a highly qualified insurance defense attorney.

Schroeder has kept close ties with Gulf Coast, attending homecoming events for several years and sponsoring a scholarship for Jackson County students.