McNair’s hometown says goodbye to local hero

REMEMBERING McNAIR: Residents and out-of-state football fans prepare a memorial at the sign on U.S. Highway 49 that touts Mount Olive, Miss., as hometown of the late Steve McNair.

MOUNT OLIVE, Miss. – Steve McNair left this tiny south Mississippi town to become an NFL star, though his presence remained.

The local hero’s death on the Fourth of July left most of Mount Olive’s 1,000 residents stunned and distraught. As they prepared to say goodbye with a funeral today, they again recalled tales of his athletic prowess.

Coach Sonny Magee has mentored nearly every athlete in Mount Olive in the last 35 years. But only McNair provided him a highlight reel’s worth of memories. Whether he had his large hands wrapped around a football, a basketball or a ba...

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July, 2009