Shock. Sadness. Regret. Sympathy. Those are just a few of dozens of words that sprang forth late Saturday night and early Sunday morning when the news was confirmed that a friend&8217;s life was cut short.

Dr. Clinton Bristow, president of Alcorn State University for more than a decade, died late Saturday night as he exercised on a track at the university he so dearly loved.

Bristow&8217;s loss is shocking to those who didn&8217;t know him simply because of appearances.

At 57, Bristow was relatively young. He didn&8217;t appear to be in poor health, quite the opposite. It just didn&8217;t fit that his life would be lost so suddenly, so soon.

For people who knew Bristow, the shock is even more rattling. In addition to his relative youth, Bristow seemed more full of life than most.

He was one of those special people who seemed to add energy to a room. His enthusiasm for Alcorn and this corner of Southwest Mississippi made his smile infectious.

He was a great man, a great leader and a dear friend to our area.

His spirit and vision will be missed greatly. His legacy, however, will live on through the myriad of projects and lives he touched during his time at Alcorn.