Edwards native Otis Harris Jr. shows off his Olympic gold and silver medals during a parade through downtown Edwards on Saturday. (Brian LodenThe Vicksburg Post

[10/3/04]EDWARDS Mississippi’s lone 2004 Olympic gold medalist came home Saturday and more than 1,000 of his closest friends were on hand to greet him.

Otis Harris Jr., who dazzled onlookers by winning the gold medal in the 4-by-400 run and a silver medal in the 400 run, rode in the back of a Mustang convertible Saturday afternoon as throngs of onlookers cheered and clapped for their Olympic hero during a parade through downtown Edwards.

“This is more than I could have possibly expected,” Harris said.

Many of Harris’ teachers at Hinds AHS, counselors, family and fans young and old lined Main Street as a parade made its way through town.

“This is very exciting,” Edwards resident Rufus Williams said. “There are more people out today than I have seen here in years. I know his family well and have been watching him since he was in high school.”

Harris, who grew up in Edwards and attended Hinds AHS, made the Olympic team after a stellar career at the University of South Carolina. He finished second to teammate Jeremy Wariner and the Americans finished 1-2-3 in the 400-dash.

On the final night of competition, Harris and the relay team blew away the field en route to a gold medal.

Those same medals were dangling from Harris’ neck throughout the parade. Fans swarmed the Mustang in which he rode, many snapping pictures, giving h

ugs and getting autographs.

“In a town like Edwards, this is such a big deal,” said Velma Harris, Otis Harris’ counselor at Hinds AHS. “It gives this town a great deal of respect and notoriety.”

During the Olympics, Harris touted his family roots in the small town about 20 miles east of Vicksburg.

“That’s the most rewarding feeling, I think, to be from the area and represent Mississippi, represent the state that I’m from. I’m so proud of Mississippi,” Harris said shortly before winning his gold medal. “Sometimes the state is overlooked, so I just love to get out there and say, Hey, I’m from Edwards, Mississippi, and I came here to represent the people back home.'”

Harris won two junior Olympic gold medals in the 400 meter dash and won the 100-meter state championship as a senior at Hinds AHS in 1999.

“This is a proud day, but I think more than proud, it is a blessed day,” said the Rev. Otis Harris Sr., who sat next to his son during a program after the parade. “The people around here have really made us feel special.”

Most of the paradegoers watched Harris’ achievements on television, and even more said nothing would have kept them away from Saturday’s celebration.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for anything,” Edwards native Donald Smith said. “This is his hometown and he knows it. He knows we are all behind him. It’s great.”

As politicians and honored guests tossed candy into the streets, many of the hundreds of small children wore “Otis Harris Jr. Day” T-shirts. Many had Olympic dreams of their own.

Some had other dreams.

“I want to be a cheerleader,” said 4-year-old LaToya Sims.