Under the leadership of President Rich Cannon, French Camp Academy had grown to the point where its dormitories were filled. In order to serve more children, French Camp agreed with the Chamberlain-Hunt Board of Trustees to take over the operation of CHA, effective April 5, 1998. Three days later, COL Tom Bowen became President of Chamberlain-Hunt. A native of Port Gibson, COL Bowen had successful careers with both the Mississippi Air National Guard and Mississippi Valley Gas. After retirement, he jumped at the chance to use his military and business experience to boost a significant institution in his home town.
Under COL Bowen’s leadership, every student at Chamberlain-Hunt was enrolled in a Bible class, and he offered a scholarship to the rising senior with the best average in Bible. COL Bowen also hired A. Shane Blanton to serve as Principal and Commandant in the Fall of 1999. COL Blanton served this dual role until June of 2003, when he was appointed the school’s President.
These years saw much growth and improvement in all areas of the Academy. A music program was reintroduced, and alumnus Chuck Terrell began instruction in the visual arts. A soccer team was reorganized. Under the leadership of MAJ Linda Montgomery, a Focus program helped many students catch up in basic reading and math skills.
The military program got a big boost. The wilderness area just south of the main campus was set up for military training, and all incoming cadets began going through boot camp as an introduction to life at the Academy in January of 2003. In 2004, the wilderness compound was named for MAJ Allison Killingsworth, and cadets began earning the ECB and participating in the annual CALFEX soon afterwards.
Facilities were also upgraded. French Camp provided funds for much needed repairs to buildings currently in use, and COL Bowen personally insisted that the boards be removed from the windows in Kennedy Gymnasium. Enrollment climbed to the point that Gage Hall had to be renovated, and August of 2002 saw the first cadets living there in many years.
Under COL Blanton’s administration, more improvements were made: a new swimming pool and renovations to the bottom floor of Kennedy Gymnasium gave more options for cadet recreation and exercise. A new activities pavilion provided outdoor exercise space that could be used in inclement weather. Next to be renovated was Guthrie Hall, which reopened for the Fall term of 2006.
MAJ Jack West came to the Academy in the summer of 2003 to improvement the Academy’s publications and help raise funds for the school. A new logo was adopted in the Fall of 2005, highlighting the Academy’s rich history as it celebrated 125 years of continuous operation. To mark the occasion, Dr. Howard Edington, a direct descendant of Rev. David Planck, the Academy’s first chaplain, preached the baccalaureate service that year, and Gov. Haley Barbour delivered the commencement address.
The Academy celebrated its historical connection with Alcorn State University at an annual Founder’s Day program held in Oakland Chapel. The first speaker, in October 2004, was U.S. Senator Trent Lott. 
November 2005 saw the first of many Veterans Day parades down Church Street in Port Gibson, with the cadet corps carrying a huge flag that covered three lanes of traffic.
In June of 2008, COL Jack West became President of the Academy, with Quentin Johnston and Todd Patterson serving as Principal and Commandant. The stock market crashed soon afterwards, and the Board of French Camp began to wonder how they could support two schools, neither of which was operating at full capacity. As early as June of 2010, they seriously considered closing CHA, although COL West’s efforts at fundraising held off the final decision until July of 2014.
2008-09 August Sept
2009-10 Fall Printer Spreads.pdf
