Mildred Pope Blass grew up with four sisters in the small community of Agricola, Mississippi. She was one of only 14 in her graduating high school class. She married William (Bill) Blass while studying at the University of Southern Mississippi. They moved to Mobile, Alabama, where she worked as a legal secretary while adding to her collegiate record, earning her Bachelor of Science in Business Education from the University of South Alabama. She later added a Masters of Arts in Secondary Education and an Education Specialist Degree, both also from the University of South Alabama. Mildred devoted a lifetime toward education and community service. She taught high school for 30 years, most of that time at Satsuma High School, where she was a powerful presence for generations. Mildred saw tremendous technological change over her professional life. She started by teaching business education, including teaching short hand and typewriting skills on manual typewriters. By her retirement, she was teaching the latest in computer business skills and today she enjoys talking with her children and many grandchildren on Facetime. Many of Mildred’s former colleagues and students attribute to Mildred impactful, positive changes in their lives. For example, she helped many students obtain and keep professional jobs through her role as business education coordinator, where she supervised on-the-job training. One of her greatest joys was seeing some of her students remain in these jobs until retirement. On behalf of Satsuma High School, Mildred sponsored a chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America and had many district and state winners to compete at the national level. Mildred has always been involved in her community from teaching Sunday school at First Baptist Church of Satsuma, to teaching business skills in several adult settings. Mildred and Bill were blessed with four children, Elizabeth, Bobby, Rebecca, and David, who all attended Satsuma High School and all of whom went on to earn higher degrees, including PhDs, Masters degrees and a juris doctorate in law. Her family is actively involved in civic and church activities and, following her example, places great emphasis on the importance of education and civic duties.