Oral history with the Honorable Herman B. DeCell

              Oral history with the Honorable Herman B. DeCell
This oral history is provided through a cooperative project of University of Southern Mississippi Libraries and USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage.
Funding provided by a National Leadership Grant for Libraries from the Institute for Museum and Library Services
The transcript is presented here for reference purposes only. Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright. PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
The Honorable Herman Brister DeCell was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, September 26, 1924, and recalls that " My relatives on my mother's side have lived in Yazoo County since 1828." On his paternal side also is a pioneer Mississippi family, of which he remembers, " On my father's side they have lived in Mississippi for many years, but my father came from Lincoln County and moved to Yazoo County in the early 1900s."
DeCell attended Yazoo City schools from kindergarten through high school and then enrolled at the University of Mississippi to take his pre- law courses. He was just the right age for World War II service. Being eighteen years old and in college, he signed up for the enlisted Army Reserve in order to be able to finish college, but was called into the service.
In the army, DeCell took specialized training in the Engineer Corps, for which he was sent to Mississippi State, and he subsequently attended Officers Candidate School, where he won a commission as a second lieutenant in the Engineering Corps. He served overseas in the Pacific theater in the 108th Combat Engineers of the 33rd Infantry Division. Of his experience he comments that it was " fairly routine," although he found occupation service in Japan immediately after the war different and interesting.
DeCell remained in the military service until the summer of 1946, when he took a discharge in time to resume his education. After completing his pre- law studies at the University of Mississippi, he matriculated at Harvard University Law School and took his law degree there.
Although he considered practicing law in other places, including New York, DeCell returned to Mississippi to take advantage of an opportunity which opened up to join a law firm in his native Yazoo City. He recalls that his opportunity came because, in his words, " One of the partners died in March, 1950. I graduated in June, 1950, so I happened to be in the right place at the right time." Nevertheless, " I've been pleased. I have been very happy with it ever since."
In 1959, DeCell campaigned successfully for election to the Mississippi Senate, and subsequently was reelected to four additional terms. His twenty years as a senator is a record not exceeded by anyone representing his county. DeCell served on several key Senate committees, including the Judiciary B Committee, of which he was chairman, and the Appropriations Committee, of which he was vice-
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