Jackson Free Press

When 49-year-old Jerome Gentry talks about his high-school football days, his smile and hand gestures become big and animated. In 1975, the Callaway High School Chargers finished 12-0—the first prep team in Mississippi to do so—and brought home the state title. But 34 years later, Gentry, who was a junior nose guard on that winning team, believes the history of the game has been lost.

"There was no history that these players existed. No history. Callaway had not kept (records), nor did the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame have records that this existed," he said. In fact, he says, there are no records of high school state champions or division winners from the years 1950-1980 in Mississippi.

To help document the historic season, Gentry wrote and self-published "Mississippi's Uncovered Glory" ($26.50 hardback) in August 2008. The book highlights the team and the bond between its players.

Family was a big part of Gentry's inspiration to write. Gentry's brother, Lepolian, played alongside him as the fullback and team captain of the Chargers. Lepolian was all-State, all-American, and the Most Valuable Player of the High School All-State game in 1976.

The two had always been close, living in Starkville until moving to Jackson in 1968 when Gentry was 9 and spending summers with his father's family in Noxapater, which he considers home.

After graduating from Callaway, Gentry was set to attend Jackson State University where his brother was just finishing his freshman year. However, the summer before Gentry began college at JSU, his brother died.

Still grieving, Gentry attended JSU where he received a bachelor's degree in accounting. He continued on to receive a master's degree in business administration from Mississippi College.

His business background led him to start his own business in 1990, A&J Financial Consultants, where he works as a tax consultant. Curious about other sides of business, Gentry is also a licensed insurance agent, real estate broker and internal auditor.

After working with different businesses for several years, Gentry wrote his second book, "The Ultimate Business Bible," which offers advice to small business owners about how to run a business. The book is set to release March 30, 2009. He says he plans to write a third book about politics.

Gentry hopes that "Mississippi's Undiscovered Glory" and his works in progress can educate people, especially his daughters Mia and Deanna, about the positives of the state.

"I wanted to dispel some of the myths (about Mississippi)," he said. "I wanted to give a positive side from my experiences.