Paul Highstreet came to Pearl River in the fall of 1955 from Redemptorist High in New Orleans as a senior and played three years as an offensive and defensive tackle, weighing 220 pounds, for Coach Dobie Holden. 

"I really loved it at Pearl River," said Highstreet. "Coach Holden was one of the finest people I ever met. He treated me like a son. I left New Orleans in 1955 on a Greyhound Bus. The bus let me off at the Movie Star plant and I walked across the street to the junior college."

He explains why he came to Pearl River for his senior year. "In New Orleans, when you reached 19 years-old in high school, you couldn’t play. I played in the high school all-star game as a junior. Coach Holden went to the game and he chose me to come to Pearl River."

He made the All-State team for two years and participated in the All-American game in Jackson his sophomore year. 

While at Pearl River, Highstreet also made a name for himself as a Golden Glove boxer. "A bunch of us were sitting around the gym, bored to death," he said. "We decided to put a boxing team together, six of us. We went to Hattiesburg to compete and three of us won, including myself. We went to the state championships."

Highstreet fought in the heavyweight class and won. However, Holden did not let him go to Memphis for the regionals because Pearl River was beginning spring training.

Highstreet signed with the University of Miami and married Janice Lott, a PRCC student from Bassfield. "She got pregnant and homesick, so we moved back." USM came calling and Highstreet wound up playing two seasons there.

He then spent 36 ½ years in the oil business before retiring in Hattiesburg. 

"This honor brings tears to me eyes," Highstreet said. "I really am proud. You know, both of my sons played ball at PRCC. This is one of the greatest honors I have ever received."