Kix BrooKs - Louisiana Tech University Alumni Association

No.28 | summer 2012
why Tech’s
a hit with
magazine
Kix
BrooKs
Athletics on the move!

Alumni AssociAtion
Officers
Jason Bullock, President
Caroline Wilkerson Reaves, Vice President
Dawn Young McDaniel, Treasurer
Gil Dowies, Member-at-Large
Jeff Parker, Past President
Daniel D. Reneau, Ex-Officio
BOard Of directOrs
Doyle Adams, Joanie Burton Andrew,
Sean Cangelosi, David Caston,
Lisa Porter Clark, Lacie Frasier Covington,
Cathi Cox-Boniol, Wendell Delaney,
Lee Denny, Brennan Easley, Brent Gregory,
Kelly Harp Haber, Jeff Lee, Greg Lott,
Dave Matthiesen, Jeff Pace,
Stacee Miller Priddy, Terry Snook,
Chris Stegall, Michael Stephens,
Wade Stephens, Dustin Sumrall,
Kim Ashy Swart, Bradley Walker,
Keith Welch, Barry West, Trey Williams
alumni assOciatiOn staff
Corre Anding Stegall
– Vice President for University Advancement
Corre@LaTechAlumni.org
Ryan W. Richard
– Director of Alumni Relations
Ryan@LaTechAlumni.org
Jimmy D. Washington
– Coordinator of Advancement Programs
Jimmy@LaTechAlumni.org
Barbara Britt Swart
– Administrative Coordinator
Barbara@LaTechAlumni.org
Lisa Graves Smith
– Communications Coordinator/Editor
Lisa@LaTechAlumni.org
university
communicAtions
Dave Guerin
– Executive Director
Teddy Allen
– Writer/Editor
Mark Coleman
– Designer
Donny Crowe
– Photographer
AETN/Zach Dilgard
– Contributing Photographers
Louisiana Tech Magazine is published
semiannually by the Louisiana Tech Alumni
Association.
We welcome your comments or
suggestions.
A Word from the
Alumni Director
Summer is in full swing on the Louisiana Tech campus! Incoming freshmen are busy with
orientation and learning their way around, while faculty and staff are preparing for the fall
when these new students will begin their journey to become alumni.
More than 1,800 students made the transition from student to alumni this academic
year, growing our total number of alumni to more than 93,000! Read about some of our
exceptional young alumni on page 20.
Fall will be a busy time – a fun time – and we hope you’ll be a part of it. Our reigning
Western Athletic Conference championship football team will play six home games, including
the season opener in Shreveport against Texas A&M. See page 14 for a preview of this year’s
team. (Need tickets? See the back inside cover for details and a schedule of home games.)
Make plans to tailgate with the Alumni Association prior to each home game and on the
road at Houston. And join Tech alumni and friends in September for a trip to Charlottesville
where your Tech Bulldogs will take on the Virginia Cavaliers.
Thank you for staying connected to your University! The Alumni Association is forming
Alumni Chapters in several areas to bolster support and help alumni stay in touch with one
another and their University. Watch for more information, or contact Jimmy Washington at
Jimmy@LaTechAlumni.org if you’d like to help with a chapter in your area.
I hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine! And stay in touch – we love to hear from you!
Ryan W. Richard (’98/’02)
ConneCt with teCh
Marbury Alumni Center
Louisiana Tech University
P.O. Box 3183
Ruston, LA 71272
1.800.738.7950
318.255.7950
318.251.8324 (FAX)
LaTechAlumni.org
Alumni Association, University Foundation and LTAC.
LaTech.edu
News for today’s and tomorrow’s students.
LATechSports.com
All Tech athletics, from tickets to game times.
facebook.com/LaTech
facebook.com/LaTechAlumni
facebook.com/LATechAthletics
All your Tech “friends” are right here!
twitter.com/LaTech
Get hooked up for quick answers to your Tweets.
youtube.com/LouisianaTech
Tech videos created by staff, faculty and students.
flickr.com/photos/louisiana_tech/collections
Collection of recent Tech photos, updated regularly.
contents
2 From the 16th Floor
Glad you asked …
3 Faculty And Staff We Love
Robert C. Snyder Sr.
4 Hall of Distinguished Alumni
Bobby Lyle
Lu and Mildred McGehee
14 Athletics
Full Speed Ahead: Bulldogs defend their WAC football title
Hoops preview, spring sports
18 Homecoming 2012
Nov 2-3: Picture YOU back on campus!
20 Young Alums
Jeff Albert (’08), Robin White Connell (’05), Mike McDaniel
(’07): Wasting no time in making a difference
22 News Around Campus
26 Foundation Spotlight
28 News About You
Including Tech Triumphs: “Duck Dynasty,” Faith Jenkins,
Debbie Primeaux Williamson, Stanley Nelson
36 Building Tradition
Tolliver
10
Just What the Doctor ordered
The ‘new’ Lambright Sports and Wellness Center
6 High (on) Tech Redneck
Kix Brooks: A Hard Workin’ Man
12
Hello, Conference USA!

from the 16th floor
Glad You Asked …
in many ways, these are the most stable of times at
Louisiana Tech. Because of the thoughtful and deliberate
long-range planning and dedication by our faculty, staff
and administration, Tech continues to thrive.
At the same time, higher education in our state has
always been a bit of a fluid situation and will continue to
be, at least for a while. As you know, the Tech family has
demonstrated its characteristic resolve and resiliency in
recent years as much as ever; i’m certain of that remaining
a constant, and i can sleep a lot better at night.
To update you, here are some answers from my point of
view concerning the issues i’ve been asked about most
often during the past several months. Each deals on some
level with either stability or uncertainty.
Conference USA:
Receiving the invitation to join Conference USA was certainly
a red (and blue) letter day in the long and proud history of
our athletics program. It’s a credit to members of our athletics
administration and student-athletes, past and present, our campus
and alumni communities, and supporters of Louisiana Tech who
have all worked so hard to get us to this point. It’s something we
should all take a great deal of pride in. Now, let’s leave the Western
2 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
Athletic Conference this year in grand style, with class and
championships.
The Proposed Merger with LSUS:
As I have said from the very beginning, we did not initiate this
process or the resulting legislation to merge the two institutions.
We were invited by the Shreveport/Bossier business communities
to participate and, out of our longstanding commitment to
improving higher education and economic development
opportunities for all of north Louisiana, we supported the merger
proposal and the potential for region-wide growth it represented.
Despite the decisions made regarding the merger legislation,
Louisiana Tech will continue to work for what is best for all of
north Louisiana and to provide new opportunities for our entire
region and state.
Budget cuts:
During the past four years of constant and deep budget cuts,
there has not been an area of the campus that has not been
significantly impacted. At the same time, there has not been an
area of the campus that has not stepped up and continued to
perform at the highest levels. Louisiana Tech is a great university
because of its people and their commitment to growing and
moving the institution forward, despite the financial challenges
we’ve faced. Currently, we remain on watch and with the same plan
as always: hope for the best, prepare for much less than that.
Physical expansion on campus:
It’s inspiring to think that in the midst of some of the most
challenging budget years we’ve ever faced, we’ve seen a significant
transformation of the physical campus with new construction
taking place to enhance the educational and campus experiences
and opportunities for our students. For example, the new College
of Business building will provide a state-of-the-art learning
environment and a link between the academic campus and the
research park (Enterprise Campus), affording students unique
opportunities to learn and interact with both academic and
industry experts. Tech Pointe and University Hall are in operation,
as is the “old meets new” Lambright Sports and Wellness Center,
featured in this edition.
Finally, my thanks and congratulations to Vice President of
Academic Affairs Dr. Ken Rea, who retires Aug. 31 from his most
recent post. Throughout his splendid 44-year career, Dr. Rea
has exemplified personal and professional commitment, loyal
service, and strength of leadership for the faculty of Tech. I have
been privileged to work with him and to have him by my side as
academic vice president throughout my entire tenure as president.
Much of Tech’s academic and programmatic progress has come
as a result of his tireless efforts and dedication. We wish him well,
thank him sincerely and congratulate him as the University’s Vice
President and Professor Emeritus.
Linda and I wish you the best as you enjoy the last half of your
summer. We hope to see you soon, either in town or on campus,
and in the fall at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Daniel D. Reneau
FAculty AnD stAFF We love
You were a student once, and someone’s encouragement and dedication back then makes a difference
in your life still. A Tech faculty or staff member inspired, instructed, directed or simply listened. Someone
cared. Someone assured you that dreaming was not just oK, it was preferred, even necessary. Without their
influence, where would we be?
Maybe it’s time we said thank you. Email your 600-word submission to WeLove@LaTechAlumni.org or send to
Faculty and Staff We Love, Marbury Alumni Center, Louisiana Tech University, P.O. Box 3183, Ruston, LA 71272.
robert c. snyder sr.
Professor robert snyder holds a very special place in our lives
and in the lives of literally thousands of students he taught in a remarkable 42-year
career at Tech. He loved us and we loved him.
Mr. Snyder was a brilliant man, a scholar and a gentleman. He was that gifted
teacher who not only changed your understanding of literature, he changed your
life. He joined the English faculty at Tech in 1947, and generations of students
were privileged to study under him.
Without a doubt, he could be irascible; he was intolerant of mean-spirited, lazy,
ignorant, bigoted people, but he would exhaust himself trying to defend a person
who had been wronged or was seeking to advance a just cause. He loved a good
fight, and he knew how to win one – and what to do when the fight couldn’t be
won. Without his faults, he probably would have had to fight fewer battles, but
then we would have missed the lesson of courage based on true convictions. He
never lost an opportunity to teach, challenge or inspire even the most unwilling
pupil, and we are all the beneficiaries of the lesson he lived, day in and day out.
And he was pure magic in the classroom. It was here, among the acne and
the ignorance, that he was perhaps most at home and at his best. He was a brow
beater, a book waver, an insult slinger — and a literary fire starter. Among his
most precious gifts shared was his ability to almost trick students into doing their
best, his knack for making struggling students who “had to take English” find a
side of themselves that needed and even longed for the lessons of literature.
Mr. Snyder instructed, encouraged, counseled, consoled, challenged and
inspired. He did it with everything from Plato’s “Republic” to Frost’s poetry,
all with a charm and passion, a shout or a whisper. He expertly navigated the
classroom trail, sometimes changing tactics, but tailoring his presentation to
students while stealthily making them rise to his level. He was always true to the
old masters of the craft, to the mind of the past. Faithfully, he passed the lessons of
those lives along.
Realizing life while we live it; making the most of every moment of every day,
of every opportunity, every circumstance; learning everything that we can possibly
learn; having the courage to stand up for the right things for all the right reasons,
having fun and enjoying every day and every person – that’s what he tried to do
and what he spent his life trying to teach us.
Even in the final words of one of his last speeches, he was still teaching, and his
voice we hear even now:
“I have learned that if one lives confidently in the direction of his dreams, that
he or she will find happiness unbelievable. Poverty will not be poverty. Loneliness
will not be loneliness. Solitude will not be solitude. I have learned that all things
are possible if you commune with the divine spirit. And finally, I have learned,
as the poet Tennyson said, ‘More things are wrought by prayer than this world
dreams of.’”
Mr. Snyder is, as Hemingway said of Paris, a moveable feast. He’s the little book
you always keep in your pocket. His words are the voice we will always hear; his
lessons are the wisdom we will ever lean on; his classroom is the one we’ll never
leave, and we thank our God for the life of this great man, our master professor.
ABout mr. snYDer: He served more
than 40 years in Tech classrooms. He received
the Modisette Award for Outstanding Trustee
from the Louisiana Library Association in 1971
and was a member of Louisiana’s Commission
on Governmental Ethics for more than 20 years.
He is a former Chairman of the Department of
English and Foreign Languages at Tech, was
named Tech’s first ever Distinguished Professor
in 1982 and was awarded the rare and coveted
honor of Professor Emeritus upon his retirement
in 1982. In 2005, he was honored with the
Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service
Award. He passed away June 8, 2011, at age 92,
just nine weeks after the death of Virginia Webb
Snyder, his wife of 65 years.
ABout the Authors: Vice President for
University Advancement Corre Anding Stegall
(’66) was first one of Mr. Snyder’s students, then
served under his leadership as a teacher in the
University’s English Department, and finally
became and remained his close friend. Teddy
Allen (’84) was also one of Mr. Snyder’s students
and is still trying to memorize “A Child Went
Forth,” assigned by Mr. Snyder in 1982.
WWW.LATECH.EDu | 3

The Tower Medallion
Award signifies
membership in the
Hall and is awarded to
Tech alumni who have
distinguished themselves
by exceptional
achievement,
community service and
humanitarian activities.
trio of
Distinction
Hall of distinguished alumni
The late Lu McGehee (left) along with his wife
Mildred and Dr. Bobby Lyle (pictured above
at commencement), became the University’s
newest Tower Medallion recipients when
they were inducted into the University’s
Hall of Distinguished Alumni during spring
commencement exercises Saturday, May 19, in
the Thomas Assembly Center.
Dr. BoBBy B. lyle
Few resumes from any university are either as varied or as accomplished
as the one which summarizes the career of Dr. Bobby B. Lyle.
A 1963 Louisiana Tech graduate in mechanical engineering, Lyle has
distinguished himself as an engineer, corporate executive, entrepreneur,
civic leader, professor and academic administrator during his impressive
career. Earlier this year, he received Tech’s Outstanding Mechanical
Engineering Alumnus Award and was the featured speaker for the College
of Engineering and Science Convocation in September 2011 in Howard
Auditorium.
But Lyle refuses to shift to neutral.
“I know that there are so many other Tech alums that are more
deserving of the award, but none will ever be more appreciative,” said Lyle,
who founded Lyco Energy Corporation in 1981 and has been recognized as
a leader in the petroleum and natural gas industry for more than 25 years.
“Returning to Louisiana Tech to receive the Tower Medallion has evoked
two very different emotions,” he said. “On the one hand, it feels like the
completion of a very important journey. On the other hand, it feels like the
beginning of a challenging period in which I have to try to earn the right
to keep the Medallion. I know that I will spend a lot more time working on
the latter than reflecting on what might have given rise to the selection in
the first place. Our community has lots of significant challenges, and I plan
to continue to do my part to meet those challenges head-on for many years
to come.”
Recipient of the SMU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996 and
of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Volunteer Center of
North Texas in 2010 in recognition of years of service to the Dallas
community, the 1958 graduate of C.E. Byrd High in Shreveport
contends Tech was the ideal launching pad.
“Tech was the ‘right’ size, in the ‘right’ location and had the
‘right’ curriculum for me,” he said. “...Fortunately, the acculturation
period was short and the next five years (yes, I did take a ‘victory
lap’) proved to be some of the best of my entire life. For me, Tech
was the right choice and I could
not be more proud than
to be a graduate of the
University.”
His career as an
entrepreneur has included
service on the boards of
more than 20 public or
private businesses, many
of which he helped start in
diverse industries such as oil
and gas, real estate, banking,
restaurants, software
technology, ranching, timber
and textiles. Obviously, he’s
an expert at spotting both
what’s proven and what has
potential.
“Students who graduate from Louisiana Tech are going to be
extremely well prepared to face the challenges of our nation,”
Lyle said. “…Tech is already well respected among engineering
schools across the nation. It is positioned to take on an even
more significant role in higher education in the years ahead. The
plans that are ‘on the drawing board’ are bold and creative. I am
hopeful that the state leadership will have courage and commit
the resources to enable President (Dan) Reneau, (College of
Engineering and Science Dean) Stan Napper and our other
University leaders to implement those plans that will allow
Louisiana Tech to reach its full potential. I am optimistic that will
happen.”
He is the father of two adult children: Sharon, who resides in
Dallas, and Christopher, who lives in Portola Valley, Calif., with
his wife Lyndsay and their daughter Emerson.
milDreD AnD lu mcGehee
It was in the late 1940s when the World War II veteran and
rookie poultry producer from Downsville called on the Castor
school teacher for a date. Their marriage resulted in six children,
but the couple didn’t stop there. Hugely successful in both the
child-rearing and the chicken-raising business, Lu and Mildred
McGehee made Louisiana Tech a part of their ever-expanding
family, too. Through the years, the relationship exposed a very
tangible love on both sides.
Very quietly, the McGehees have made an immense difference,
both for Ruston and for Tech. When Lu passed away in November
of 2010, Tech faculty, students, administration and coaches lost
a wonderful advisor and voice of encouragement and humor. Yet
his impact at Tech continues, both through gifts already in place
and through the continued support of Mildred, a Tech graduate
and Lu’s wife of more than 60 years, and their children, each a
Louisiana Tech graduate.
“We always considered ourselves trustees of what had been
given to us,” said Mildred. “God gets the glory. We love Tech and
knew the gifts would be used wisely there, and still are. Lu and
Dan (Reneau, Tech president) are visionaries and always have
been, not only in education and academics, but also in research
and in things involving athletics.”
The faithful stewardship of this couple shows no sign of
stopping as great-grandchildren are now arriving, even in
multiples. The McGehees have never done anything halfway.
Though unassuming, what they contend to be nothing more than
“doing the right thing” has blossomed to benefit so many.
McGehee Poultry Company merged with
ConAgra in the early 1970s, the beginning of
the McGehees’ successful business dealings. Lu
was instrumental in organizing Lincoln Bank
and Trust Company and served on the Board of
Directors. He also served many years as board
president of the Northwest Louisiana Production
Credit Association.
His business expertise proved beneficial to
several volunteer organizations, including the
Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home, Boy
Scouts of America, the Greater Tech Foundation
and the Ruston/Lincoln Chamber of Commerce;
the chamber
recognized Lu
and Mildred
with the 1997
Russ Award for
outstanding
community
service. And
always, they were
faithful in serving
and supporting
Grace United
Methodist Church.
Though Lu
attended but did not
graduate from Tech,
the University in
2000 awarded him a
much-deserved, and
cherished, Honorary
Doctorate of Humanities.
As Lu felt a special call to support Tech’s agriculture and athletic
programs, Mildred felt the same toward its School of Human
Ecology. A 1945 Tech graduate in home economics, Mildred was
a highly successful and motivated teacher of Home Ec when she
married Lu. Such was her interest in broadening the horizons
of her students that in the late ’40s, she took several girls all the
way from Castor to Kansas City for the national home economics
meeting.
Early childhood education continued to be a great area of
interest and remains so today. She served on the Board of Home
Economics at Tech and as a Director of the Louisiana Tech
Foundation.
Yet the McGehees found a way to support the entire University,
not just the areas of their professional preferences. The couple’s
support was vital in both the rebuilding of Hale Hall and the
recent furnishing of University Hall, much of which was done
through Mildred’s philanthropy in honor of her late husband.
For more than three decades now, every Tech faculty and staff
member and student has felt the impact of this faithful pair.
4 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 5

Tech Mag: A lot of people think country music stars either do
concerts in two hours or write songs in 10 minutes, then sort of
fish or hang around. But you’re working on a holiday.
Kix Brooks: “You bet. Today I’m working on the show; got to be
in the studio for an interview at 10, and then the countdown. We’re
in our fifth year now and just negotiated three more years with
Cumulus. I’m also starting to host a five-day-a-week overnight show.
“I never realized what a good job ‘radio host’ was. I’m a musician
and songwriter at heart, but that’s also why Cumulus was interested
in hiring me – I have the inside track on some of these people. Plus
they know I love to hear myself talk.”
TM: You love tech athletics and your contributions to make the
annual Bradshaw-Brooks Golf tournament (pictured right) at
squire creek country club a success make that evident. What
are your thoughts about tech joining conference usA?
KB: “Sounds like a great opportunity. It’s going to help us from
a TV standpoint; as everyone knows, that’s what draws attention
to your school. Once more people notice us, they’ll see what an
awesome University we have. From a standpoint of integrity and
class, we’re already at the point where no one’s better. But sports,
that’s what people eyeball; athletics is the window people see us
through. So that’s what we need, to keep supporting the programs,
keep improving, keep giving ourselves a chance to get better and a
chance to be seen by more people.”
TM: like Bradshaw, you’ve given a lot of personal stuff to
the university (see next page). Where would you like to see it
displayed?
KB: “You know, about that, I mean this in all sincerity: I’m
honored that anybody even cares. What the University does with
this stuff is up to them. Just the fact that they cared to have it
makes me feel good.”
TM: talk about your mom a bit. (Patricia “Patsy” thompson
Brooks of marion was a Kappa Delta, tech class of ’45.) her
sorority friends have a lot of wonderful stories about her from
when she was at tech.
KB: “She died when I was 4, so I’ve had to know her mostly
through all the stories I’ve heard, about her and dad, her playing
the piano and singing and whatever. They were the life of the party,
quite a show in their day. It’s fun to visit Tech and hear her sorority
sisters tell me stories; it’s the only way I have of knowing her. My
grandmother was really musical, too. A lot of the family is.”
TM: What class at tech was the hardest for you?
KB: “Probably engineering. Like most kids I think I wanted to try
and do something to please my father (Leon), who went to Tech.
I didn’t know if I was good enough for music, so I thought I’d
take engineering, see how that’d work. Didn’t work too good. Not
enough gray matter in my brain, I don’t guess.”
TM: You were a favorite of Katie robinson, who was tech’s
director of the school of the Performing Arts back then. she
liked you a lot because you worked hard, even though theatre
wasn’t your major. she said you wrote a play for her? how long
did it take to finish that?
KB: “It really didn’t take that long. ‘Grease’ was supposed to be the
senior play and she was in a panic. We were sitting at Sundown
actually, a few of us, and she was upset. The ‘Grease’ scripts had
come in and for some reason, they
were in Spanish. Unfortunately,
nobody could read Spanish. In my
naïve arrogance, I told her I’d write
us a play. Me and Clyde Hargrove
from Shreveport, he was at Tech
and we were always making 8mm
movies and goofballing and
making stuff up. We sketched
out this ridiculous concept for a
three-act play. We built screens,
set up a projector in the middle
of the theater and tried stuff out
on film. The theatre department,
like everywhere else, they had a
little clique, but they jumped in
and supported me. It was a huge
deal. Without those people helping, we’d have never pulled it off.
For them to jump in on a project with someone they barely knew,
to risk their reputation as a theatre department and then for us to
pull it off, that gave me a lot of confidence. It was really kind of
amazing that we did it. That was one of the funnest times of my
life ever. It had music in it: it was about a schizophrenic entertainer
– who was me – a blues entertainer, so I got to perform the music
I was into. Maybe it was a big train wreck but it was pretty fun.
The title was ‘The Late Late Show.’”
Famous in a music genre that’s long poked fun at itself, Kix Brooks
TM: Did that tech experience help you when you started being
in music videos?
KB: “The videos reminded me that I did want to go back and get
(speech communications ’78) isn’t afraid to play along now and then. But there’s
more “savvy” than “shucks” in this good-humored and talented Tech grad, an
alum who counts his blessings, and one his University can count on. His donation
to Tech of special memorabilia will be on display soon, and alums have come to
enjoy and count on his company at the annual fundraising Bradshaw-Brooks Golf
Tournament at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant.
Louisiana Tech Magazine caught up with the country star on Memorial Day
Monday; he was heading to work as radio host of the nationally syndicated
American Country Countdown. He’s also co-owner of a vineyard and production
company, and he released his first post-Brooks & Dunn single in March, a song
he co-wrote. Plus he’s a dad and a busy husband in support of wife Barbara, a star
TM: Playing the sundown tavern in ruston was one way for you
to make some money as a student. Any favorite story from a
night there?
KB: “Every night at the Sundown was always an adventure. Bruce
(Van Zandt) ran the place with an iron fist – and still does, I’m
pretty sure. You never wanted to get too out of line. I saw more
than one fight start back by the pool tables while we were singing
or performing or whatever, and Bruce – he’s not the tallest guy but
he’s built pretty solid – I saw him take some ol’ boys a lot bigger
than him right out the front door, and with no problem.”
into acting or production. Now I’m partner in a film production
company and I’ve acted in a couple of movies. (The company is
Team Two Entertainment; the completed but not-yet-released
western movies are “To Kill A Memory” and “Thriftstore
Cowboy.”) But everything I learned at Tech helped me, from taking
business administration as a freshman, right on through the music
stuff. One thing school does is give you a sense of responsibility:
having deadlines, studying for a test, preparing for the school
play. You have deadlines. I see it all the time with writers and
entertainers: ‘I’m gonna do that,’ but a lot of them never follow
through. School teaches you that at some point, you have to be
in quarter horse circles. Like the title song of the Brooks & Dunn ’93 album that
TM: What the best song you’ve written recently?
ready, whether it’s getting a song finished in time to play for an
yielded five hits, the accomplished Brooks is still a “Hard Workin’ Man.”
KB: “In the past few months I’d say it’s ‘New To This Town,’ the
new single. Not too bad. I like it. Like the video we shot for it too.”
artist or whatever.”
(continued)
6 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 7
High Tech
Redneck
Kix Brooks is part of the most successful
duo in country music history: Brooks &
Dunn sold more than 30 million albums,
scored more than two dozen No. 1 singles
and became the most awarded act in
American country music’s storied history
during the Brooks and Ronnie Dunn 20-year
partnership. Today Brooks is radio host
of the nationally syndicated “American
Country Countdown,” co-owner of
Nashville-area Arrington Vineyards, involved
in the quarter horse arena with his wife
Barbara, and still singing, songwriting and
entertaining. “New To This Town,” written
with a couple of Nashville friends, was
released mid-March (listen for the Joe Walsh
guitar) and is his first Arista Nashville single.
BRooKS & FUN: A paisley-outfitted Kix with Tech
president Dan Reneau and vice president for University
Advancement Corre Stegall at the 2011 Bradshaw-
Brooks Golf Tournament social.
“...everything I learned at Tech helped me, from taking business administration as a
freshman, right on through the music stuff.” - Kix Brooks, Class of 1978

To Tech, From Kix
inspired by buddy terry Bradshaw and the Blonde Bomber’s
donation to tech of athletic memorabilia now on display at the
louisiana tech museum in the charles Wyly athletic center,
Kix announced at last summer’s Happening XXX his donation
of artifacts that have been meaningful to him in hopes “that
when students see them they might think, ‘Wow, that’s really
interesting,’ and they’ll be inspired to achieve something and to
have a life that was as blessed as mine’s been,” Kix said. “the thing
i remember most about tech is how i was inspired by the people
at the university to make me want to do something bigger and
more exciting than i would have dreamed of growing up.” Here Kix
talks about some of the things he’s donated (so far):
Academy of
Country Music Top
Vocal Duo of the
Year, 2007
“I think that’s the last
one we won from them.”
(Actually the group won
their final – and 25th – ACM
award in 2008, also for Top
Vocal Duo of the Year.)
8 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
Kix’s first electric guitar
His “bloody” cotton
cowboy shirt from the
“South of Sante Fe” video
shoot
Dunn and a posse chase Brooks, a
dying gunfighter, who had to “get
shot” and fall off his horse four times
before the director got the take he
wanted. There’s no visible music
performance on the video, just a
mini-western. Kix co-wrote the song
and the video concept with a couple
of Nashville buddies.
It’s from Sears Roebuck, a “Sears Silvertone Model 1448 Guitar and Amplifier,” white and
black with sparkly things in the black. The amp’s built into the guitar case: “My dad gave it
to me when I was 12 and I knew two chords; I’d gotten my first acoustic when I was 10. In
the sixth grade I had that electric and a band. We were The Originals. Did our first show at
Johnny Horton’s house for his daughter’s birthday, in their garage off Audubon Place (in
Shreveport). Played everything from The Monkees to ‘Hey Good Lookin’.”
Country Music
Association (CMA)
Vocal Duo of the Year,
1997
“I wouldn’t say we (Kix and
Ronnie) weren’t taking this
whole thing seriously, but we
didn’t think of ourselves as a
real duo; we’ve been enticed
into being a duo by the record
company. Ronnie and I never
thought it would last beyond the
first album. Then when it turned
out to be such a big hit (‘Brand
New Man’ in 1991 produced
four consecutive Number One
singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot
Country Singles & Tracks charts
and sold more than five million
copies), we figured we might as
well make another one. Being
in the business as long as we
had, we realized what a fluke
that many No. 1’s on an album is,
and what a great opportunity it
was. When we were still getting
these awards seven years in,
that’s when I said, ‘Man, where
does it end?’ When people ask
me, ‘When do you think you’d
made it?’ I think this is the award
I put a star on. I don’t say with
any sense of arrogance that
I’ve ‘made it’; all these kids in
Nashville today can do stuff
better than I ever could. But I do
feel blessed that I’ve been able
to take advantage of the skills I
do have and the work I’ve been
willing to put into it.”
Prototype Red ‘Flame’ Shirt
The shirt Brooks wears on the cover of the “Hard Workin’ Man” album, and often
wore in concert, began as a design in his mind. “I designed that going to Dallas to
the shirt company on an airplane one day. I started drawing hot rod flames…they
thought it was ridiculous. It IS ridiculous!” Western shirt maker Panhandle Slim out of
Fort Worth, which collaborated with the duo for the first “Brooks & Dunn signature
apparel” collection, describes the shirt as black with red “tongues of flame blazing
down the shoulders in a fiery inverted triangle.” The one donated by Brooks is the
“original” original: “those flames are actually glued together and glued onto the
shirt; it’s the first flame shirt ever made.” But not the last: Kix said he was presented
a plaque from the shirt makers, “like what they give you when you have a platinum
album, but it has a shirt in it to commemorate so many sales.” And when he sees a
guy walking down the street in one? “That’s pretty strange.” (We should mention: the
shirts come in women’s and children’s sizes too.) Brooks donated a “black flame” shirt
too, featuring “ZZ Top” on it and worn by Brooks onstage during a Country Music
Television show featuring Brooks & Dunn teamed with the legendary rockers.
An acoustic guitar given to him and autographed by Chet
Atkins
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself because of things like Joe Walsh agreeing to play
on my current single (“New To This Town”) and Chet Atkins even ever knowing who I
was. Same with Roger Miller…Johnny Cash…those are the kinds of things that make
you want to do good. For Chet to give me a guitar like that, that makes you WANT to
practice. You don’t want him saying, ‘Man, that guy’s not very good.’”
WWW.LATECH.EDu | 9

Just What the
Doctor ordered
the “new” Lambright Sports and wellness Center
An expanded and reconfigured campus playground is
drawing rave reviews.
“This rivals poolside resorts in Vegas.”
“Whoever thought we’d have THIS in RUSTON!?”
“This is a happy place.”
Designed for relaxation and leisure, the Lambright Sports and
Wellness Center opened this spring after an approximately $12
million expansion funded by student fees. Formerly the Lambright
Intramural Sports Complex – a cutting-edge complex of its type
when it opened 30 years ago – the new facility literally picks up
where the old one left off. Now that the new building has been
connected with the old, the result is a facility that better connects
with the needs of students.
“We’ve taken a huge stride toward more health benefits overall
by combining intramurals and pure recreation with well-being,”
said Jim King, Tech’s vice president for student affairs. “Students
who eat better and exercise regularly give themselves a better
chance to perform well academically, to be more well-rounded
students. This complex sort of screams at you to come have fun
and feel better and improve yourself overall at the same time.”
It’s a place that’ll cure what ails you.
There’s a lot to see in a brief tour of the facility, named in honor
of Tech Athletic Hall of Famer Maxie Lambright (see inset), the
University’s former football coach and athletic director:
• A 25-yard indoor competitive pool, equipped with lanes for
lap swimming; includes a zero-depth entry warm-up lane
partitioned off to allow for swim classes; already this is a huge
hit with Bulldog Aquatics, a club that includes 90 children –
and it’s growing. The indoor pool is enclosed with glass walls
with views toward Aillet Stadium and Tech Drive, and the
lighting allows for an impressive view at nighttime looking in;
• While the indoor pool is more about exercise, the outdoor
MAxie LAMBRigHT
The architect of a “golden era” for Bulldog football, Lambright won seven
conference championships during his 12 years as Tech’s head coach, captured
the NCAA Division II national title in 1973 and earned a variety of five various
national titles in 1972-73-74. From 1971-74, Tech went 44-4, and during 1973 and
1974, the Bulldogs won 23 straight games, the nation’s longest winning streak in
college football. Coach Lambright, also the athletics director during his final eight
years at Tech, retired after the Independence Bowl season of 1978. He passed
away Jan. 28, 1980.
pool is all about fun. The 50-meter pool allows
for training (we’re talking to you, marathon
swimmers!), but its curved sides are pools
within the pool, places for lounging and
playing hoops or volleyball; it’s cooled in
hot weather and is situated for full sun all
afternoon, and evening sun until at least 7,
while at the same time a protruding roof
blocks the sun’s glare for those inside;
• Tech director of recreation, Bobby Dowling,
calls it “a Louisiana sundeck with a
Caribbean feel,” and that’s just what surrounds
the outdoor pool; the sundeck/cabana look is of garapa wood, plus there are
chaise lounges, soft seating and tables, cooling misting machines, and tropical plants. “Designed for
leisure,” Dowling said;
• Look Ma, no gutters!; both pools are constructed so that the water is even with the surface level;
• Inside and just right for the health conscious, the new “Counter Culture La Tech” offers frozen yogurt,
sandwiches, salads and more, and students can have their refreshments brought poolside. Non-
Lambright members are welcome, too; Counter Culture La Tech is open to the public. Walk in. Eat.
Relax. Take a tour. Enjoy!;
• No need to walk around in a damp swimsuit: new locker rooms have quick-dry machines;
• The most prominent addition just inside the entrance is a 29-foot tall, 50-foot-wide rock climbing wall
of both real and performance rock surfaces. Dowling’s staff is certified to train others in climbing: it
takes just four classes, offered daily, of 15 minutes each, or a novice climber can climb with the aid and
instruction of a certified student;
• An outdoor deck, great for visiting and eating, and in view of the pool;
• Big screen TVs and eating areas in a large open space, also in view of the pool;
• A workout area overlooking the indoor pool will open in August. The “old” Fitness Room downstairs in
the original building has been renamed the “Billy Jack Talton Fitness Room” in honor of “The Father of
Louisiana Powerlifting” and retired Tech professor who started the Tech team in 1974: Tech’s men’s and
women’s teams have won more than 27 national collegiate titles since. The team will move its training
from Memorial Gym to Lambright: the hope is that, through fundraisers specific to the purpose, a
new floor will be installed in the renamed and soon-to-be-remodeled fitness room, and the number of
powerlifting stations will increase from four to 12;
• Parking lot work south of the facility and a sidewalk to connect the complex with the Marbury Alumni
Center began as soon as spring quarter ended.
Most importantly, completion of the wellness center – exam rooms, counseling space and classrooms –
will create the tie between the facility and the University’s academic programs, a component that “will give
us a forum for a more proactive model for health,” King said. “Recreation is a big part of university life, and
students' habits are usually formed now. Our goal is to provide them with the right information to make
informed choices.”
The complex still has the bowling lanes, gyms, student workout areas and other amenities that had
already made it a solid recreational complex.
This dream come true for Tech should translate into increased student retention and recruitment. As
it does, Lambright will continue to evolve, Dowling said, as the University comes to understand how the
facility can best meet the needs of the students and community.
Meanwhile…surf ’s up!
* For information on memberships, go to LaTech.edu/students/recreation/LambrightMembershipInformation
10 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 11

ALABAMA-BiRMiNgHAM (UAB) BLAzeRS
Founded: 1969 Colors: Green and gold
enrollment: 17,543 Miles from Ruston: 385
Trivia: One of only two C-USA schools (UTEP is
the other) to compete in Div. 1 women’s rifle; the
Birmingham area is home to the Birmingham Barons, the
Class AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and the team
Michael Jordan played for in ’94.
CHARLoTTe 49eRS (CHARLOTTe, N.C.)
Founded: 1946 Colors: Green and white
enrollment: 25,277 Miles from Ruston: 782
Trivia: Begins football in 2013 (most recent game was in
’48); men’s basketball has been to the NCAA Tournament
11 times and went to the Final Four in 1977; until 2000,
known mainly as UNCC.
eAST CARoLiNA PiRATeS (GReeNVILLe, N.C.)
Founded: 1907 Colors: Purple and gold
enrollment: 27,816 Miles from Ruston: 899
Trivia: Beat Tech, 35-13, in Independence Bowl III,
Dec. 16, 1978; actress Sandra Bullock went to school
here; named after American Revolutionary War hero
Nathanael Green, Greenville is a place of relaxation (it’s
home of the world’s largest hammock manufacturer)
and of daredevils (it’s known as "BMX Pro Town USA").
FLoRiDA iNTeRNATioNAL (FiU) PANTHeRS (MIAMI)
Founded: 1965 Colors: Blue and gold
enrollment: 47,966 Miles from Ruston: 1,069
Trivia: One of three C-USA schools (UAB, Tulane are the
others) to compete in Div. 1 women’s sand volleyball.
LoUiSiANA TeCH BULLDogS/LADY TeCHSTeRS
Founded: 1894 Colors: Blue and red
enrollment: 11,804
Trivia: First university to award a bachelor’s of science
in nanosystems engineering (’07); this year launched
the nation’s first cyber engineering B.S. degree; located
just 15 miles east of the state’s highest natural summit,
humble Driskill Mountain, 535 feet above sea level.
MARSHALL THUNDeRiNg HeRD (HUNTINGTON, W.Va.)
Founded: 1837 Colors: Green and white
enrollment: 13,814 Miles from Ruston: 838
Trivia: Alums include ’50s and’60s TV star Soupy Sales
and NBA Hall-of-Famer Hal Greer; named after John
Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States.
NoRTH TexAS MeAN gReeN (DeNTON)
Founded: 1890 Colors: Green and white
enrollment: 33,422 Miles from Ruston: 290
Trivia: UNT’s College of Music was the first school to
offer a degree in jazz, and music award-winners Norah
Jones, Don Henley, Meat Loaf and the Eli Young Band are
all former Mean Greeners; Phyllis George, a trailblazer in
female sportscasting and former Miss America (’71), was
born in Denton.
12 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
no Place like home
After 11 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference,
Louisiana Tech gets to play in its backyard again when
it joins regionally based Conference USA next summer.
the Western Athletic conference has been good for
Louisiana Tech.
The shift to Conference USA should be great.
The announcement in early May that Tech would relocate to a more
regional conference was met by both cheers of celebration and sighs of
relief from Tech administrators, coaches, student-athletes and, probably
most of all, fans. Tech is in the heart of C-USA, making travel now much
easier on the pocketbooks of both the University and Bulldog/Lady
Techster faithful.
The more regionalized 14-team, two-division league gives all 16
of Tech’s Division I sports an opportunity to create more compelling
schedules. The move not only keeps Tech no more than one time zone
away from a conference opponent, but it also allows fans to become more
familiar with Tech’s opponents.
While Tech benefits from joining another highly regarded but closer-tohome
league, C-USA welcomes a tradition-rich University that recorded
a four-year student-athlete graduation success rate of 72 percent last year
and continues to make substantial improvements to its athletic facilities.
Tech has invested more than $50 million during the most recent four
years in the construction of several new athletics venues and large-scale
improvements to existing facilities.
But, first things first: the WAC finale.
Then, onward to C-USA, onward to home.
What they're saying:
“…the athletic program takes another step forward. I expect the
football team to compete at a very high level and keep getting
better and better.”
– Willie Roaf, NFL Hall of Fame, Class of ’12
“I’m most happy for the students and the fans who can see us
play more often on the road now…it’s a lot more fun to play on
the road when you see all these familiar faces there supporting
you and cheering you on!”
– Cheryl Ford, WNBA Rookie of Year (’03), two-time WAC Player of Year
“…it’s going to be a great union, for ALL sports. The proximity
of the schools in the conference is going to create some great
rivalries and hopefully give our fans and students an opportunity
to really follow the Bulldogs!”
– Tim Rattay, record-setting Tech and NFL QB
“…the culmination of an effort by our University and friends for
the past 10 years…I am absolutely elated…this new affiliation
will offer a legion of benefits for our University and its fans."
– Mickey Slaughter, Denver and Tech QB and coach
“…an incredible milestone for our athletic program…we’ll reap
huge dividends from this move for many years to come.”
– Jim Oakes, former Tech A.D.
oLD DoMiNioN MoNARCHS (NORFOLk, Va.)
Founded: 1930 Colors: Blue and silver
enrollment: 24,466 Miles from Ruston: 1,101
Trivia: Foreman Field, formerly the field hockey and
women’s lacrosse teams’ home venue, was renovated to
accommodate the football program, reinstituted in 2009;
the Monarchs are 27-8 (9-2, 8-3, 10-3) since; ODU had
discontinued football in ’41.
RiCe oWLS (HOUSTON)
Founded: 1912 Colors: Blue and gray
enrollment: 5,760 Miles from Ruston: 312
Trivia: The private school is named after investor/
businessman William Marsh Rice, victim of a sensational
murder in 1900 (his lawyer and valet were convicted
of conspiracy), who left the bulk of his estate to the
founding of a college in Houston.
SoUTHeRN MiSS goLDeN eAgLeS (HATTIeSBURG)
Founded: 1910 Colors: Black and gold
enrollment: 16,000 Miles from Ruston: 236
Trivia: Captain William H. Hardy founded the town in the
1880s and named it in honor of his wife Hattie; Tech has
visited often, having played Southern Miss in football
more than 40 times since 1935.
TexAS eL PASo (UTeP) MiNeRS
Founded: 1914 Colors: Orange, blue and silver
enrollment: 22,000 Miles from Ruston: 800
Trivia: In El Paso, it’s usually “gonna be a hot time in the
ol’ town tonight” – the annual average is 302 days of
sunshine, 109 days above 90 degrees, and 20 days above
100.
TexAS SAN ANToNio (UTSA) RoADRUNNeRS
Founded: 1969 Colors: Blue and orange
enrollment: 31,114 Miles from Ruston: 473
Trivia: Played its first football game (against
Northeastern State) on September 3, 2011, at the
Alamodome; the attendance of 56,743 is the record for
the highest-attended game for an NCAA Division I FCS
start-up program.
TULANe gReeN WAVe (NeW ORLeANS)
Founded: 1834 Colors: Green and blue
enrollment: 11,911 Miles from Ruston: 315
Trivia: The New Orleans university has been closed twice
in its long history: for the first semester after Hurricane
Katrina in August 2005, and during the Civil War.
TULSA goLDeN HURRiCANe
Founded: 1894 Colors: Blue, gold, red and yellow
enrollment: 4,100 Miles from Ruston: 413
Trivia: One of only two C-USA schools (ODU is the other)
with a women’s rowing team.
WWW.LATECH.EDu | 13

FULL
SPeed
AheAd
Louisiana Tech heads into its
final football season in the
Western Athletic Conference
with a big-play-potential kind
of team that could prove hard to
forget, and for all the right reasons.
The opportunity is there. Can the
Bulldogs say goodbye with back-toback
titles?
Few football seasons in ruston have been as highly
anticipated as the one upcoming.
Louisiana Tech is expected to do something this year that it wasn’t
expected to do last year but did, and in dramatic fashion: win the WAC.
The coach in Sonny Dykes is cautiously optimistic, but the fan in him is
pretty excited about the cards he’s holding.
“I think we’ll be better overall as a team,” said the third-year head coach
of the ’Dogs, who rallied from a snake-bit 1-4 start to win seven straight and
claim the WAC title outright. “We’ve got more depth than we’ve had, which will
make us a more solid team overall. And I think we have more big-play potential
offensively; we should be more exciting to watch.”
That’s a tall order. Excitement was rarely in short supply last fall as Tech fought
back from early-autumn disaster to finish 8-5, a season that ended with 11-2 Texas
Christian scoring with four minutes left in the game to beat the Bulldogs, 31-24, in
the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
Dykes gives a lot of credit for Tech’s turnaround to “fans still being supportive and not
panicking” after a sour September.
“What the team accomplished was due to a combination of a lot of different things: growing
and maturing as a program, becoming more sure of ourselves…The thing we did that I’m most
proud of as a team and as a coaching staff and program is that nobody panicked,” Dykes said. “We
knew we were doing the right things and we just kept getting better at what we were trying to do.
“A lot of times when things get tough, everything turns negative,” he said. “That didn’t happen with
that team.”
A lot of “that team” is now “this team,” the 2012 Bulldogs. Most of them, you already know. That’s a good
thing, when you’re talking about a defending conference champ.
The team’s deepest unit? “Probably offensive line and receivers,”
Dykes said.
All-conference center Stephen Warner returns in the line,
along with starters Kevin Saia, Oscar Johnson and Jordan Mills,
but backups Larry Banks, Jeremy Graffree, Matthew Sheppard,
Vincent Cano and Josh Parrish all played last year in a line that
got stronger as the season got deeper. They’ll have their hands full
this season protecting the one spot on Tech’s offense that’s thin
of experience: quarterback. Colby Cameron, who took over the
starting role midway through the seventh game last fall, is the only
Bulldog on the roster who threw more than one pass last season.
The athleticism and speed the Tech receivers bring to the field
will make Tech’s offense dangerous against any opponent and
could lull opponents into forgetting about Quinton Patton until it
is too late. But how under any circumstance can a defense forget
about Patton? As a junior last year, he caught 79 passes for 1,202
yards and 11 touchdowns – several of the acrobatic variety – and
his “Attaboy!” attitude did much to keep hope alive. Perpetual
Motion Patton.
So there’s Patton. Speedy Myles White. And Jacarri Jackson,
whose fingertip fourth-quarter catch at Reno was huge in Tech’s
storied comeback win against Nevada. To that trio, add Andrew
Guillot and Richie Casey and back/receiver Lyle Fitte, each who
missed spring practice while recovering from injury. Spring was
a coming-out party for Tulane transfer and West Monroe High
School product D.J. Banks, giving Tech more ammo to go with
Patton and White and Tevin King.
“All those guys are big-play guys,” Dykes said. “We’ve got more
speed, more fast guys than we’ve ever had.”
But are either of those offensive units deeper than Tech’s bunch
of running backs? Ray Holley (pictured left) and Hunter Lee and
Fitte return, three different types of tailbacks with lots of game
experience. Add the quickness of King and the powerful running
of Kenneth Dixon – two freshmen who should have an impact
this year – and you’re five deep. Then there’s Rickey Courtney
and Marlon Seets, a pair of walk-on
transfers who showed in the T-Day
Spring Game that they can play.
Like Fitte, Holley and Lee have
shown in games and in spring practice
that they can line up at receiver as
well, a nice option that should add to
the confusion for opposing defenses
and expand the Bulldogs’ offensive
opportunities. With more targets for
Cameron, defenses will be forced to take
their double coverage off Patton, which
should help the senior become an even
more dangerous threat this fall than last,
when he averaged a team-best 15.2 yards
a catch.
It was almost impossible to run up the
middle on Tech last year, and this year
should be more of the same. Second-team
All-WAC tackle Justin Ellis, Shakeil Lucas
and Jon’al White were big reasons Tech held 12 of its 13 opponents
below their per-game rushing averages. End Kendrick James
“keeps getting better,” Dykes said, and added that the other starter
at end, I.K. Enemkpali, “is primed to have a great season.”
The linebackers, led by Rufus Porter, may not be as good as
the Adrien Cole-Jay Dudley 2011 tandem on an individual basis,
but a crew of Porter, Antonio Mitchum, Ty Hook, Ches Morrison,
Solomon Randle and others have the opportunity to be just as
good as a unit. Porter has plenty of game experience on special
teams and was the most consistent linebacker during spring
practice. He has also shown he can fire a team up when necessary.
The secondary figures to be busy. Coming off a solid spring,
Dave Clark could be the leader back there among several players
– Quinn Giles, Jamel Johnson, Javontay Crowe, Lavender Liggins
and Craig Johnson – who all have substantial playing time. And
keep your eye on Brice Abraham, the redshirt freshman corner:
“We’ve got more depth than we’ve had, which will make us a more solid team overall. And I think we have more
big-play potential offensively; we should be more exciting to watch.” - Sonny Dykes, head football coach
he’s fast, he gained
a lot of experience
this spring, and he
lettered in three
sports in each of
his four years at
Jennings High.
Athletes in the
secondary can
recover.
Steady
placekicker Matt
Nelson is back, as
is possibly Tech’s
most valuable
player in 2011.
Ray Guy Award
winner Ryan
Allen
quinton
patton
Stephen
warner
flipped the field for Tech time
and again with his punts last fall
as he earned the title of college
football’s best player at his
position.
Now all that’s left is to
play the schedule, which
begins with a most worthy
and familiar opponent:
Texas A&M, in Shreveport’s
Independence Stadium,
Thursday evening, Aug. 30.
14 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 15

Though a “down”
year for the Tech
teams, the Bulldogs
and Lady Techsters
still added to what is
quite a run.
Redshirt senior
Chelsea Hayes was
named WAC Female
Track Athlete of the
Year and sophomore
Dennis Richardson
was named WAC
Male Track Athlete
of the Year; a Tech
male athlete has won
a WAC superlative
award every year
since 2007.
The Techsters
finished third in the WAC, ending a run of seven consecutive
outdoor championships; they’ve won 13 of the last 16 WAC
Championships. The men finished fourth after a third-place finish
last year.
Hayes’ accomplishments are most impressive: three gold medals
and two WAC records at the conference meet, and 14 WAC gold
medals in her career at Tech.
Richardson also won three golds and, like Hayes, won them in
the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in the league meet in Idaho.
Overall, Tech athletes won 18 gold medals and brought home 47
hayes
Watch out for
Willie in the Hall!
A two-time all-South Independent
Conference selection, two-time all-
Louisiana offensive lineman and an
all-American in 1992 as a senior at
Tech, Willie Roaf will be inducted in
the Pro Football Hall of Fame during
its Enshrinement Festival Aug. 4-5 in
Canton, Ohio.
The No. 8 overall pick in the
1993 NFL Draft and a finalist for the
Outland Trophy as a senior, Roaf
enjoyed a 12-year career highlighted
by 11 Pro Bowl appearances as a
member of the New Orleans Saints
and the Kansas City Chiefs. Roaf and
other Class of 2012 inductees will be
introduced to the crowd Aug. 5 at the
Hall of Fame Game between Arizona
and New Orleans, the first official
preseason game of the summer.
TRACK AND FieLD:
Lots of stars, but Hayes burned brightest
The Tech men’s basketball team made
enormous strides in the first year of the
Michael White Era. Picked to finish last in
the WAC by both the conference coaches and
WAC media, the Bulldogs exceeded outside
expectations in conference play and tied for
fifth place in the regular season standings.
The eighth youngest team in the nation
shocked the WAC by knocking off Utah
State and Nevada on back-to-back nights to
reach the WAC Tournament Championship
game for the first time in school history.
Tech fell just short of making its first NCAA
Tournament since 1991.
WAC Freshman of the Year Raheem
Appleby (pictured) is back to lead a group of
talented vets that includes returning point
guard Kenneth “Speedy” Smith – who broke
the program’s mark for assists in a game
with 15 against Central Arkansas – and
Michale Kyser, who blocked 60 shots last
all-conference honors in two days of competition.
Tech track and field student-athletes earned 17 entries into the
NCAA East Preliminary Championships in May, second only to
LSU among the state’s Division I schools.
Following that competition, seven WAC athletes qualified for
the NCAA Championships: six of those were Techsters. Hayes
qualified for three events: long jump, 100m and 4x100m relay.
Kenyattia Hackworth competed in the long jump and Kim Francis
in the 100m hurdles.
At the NCAAs, Hayes finished third in the long jump and ran
11.58 in the 100m dash finals to finish seventh. Though it was her
slowest 100m time of the year, she still broke another record by
being awarded another All-America title by the U.S. Track & Field
and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the sixth
of her career. She surpasses Bryant Wesco’s five All-America titles
for the most top honors to be awarded a Louisiana Tech athlete.
More impressive, Wesco’s five honors came over a four-year time
span. Hayes claimed all six of hers in only two years.
The final stats for Hayes: six-time All-American, 14-time WAC
champion, 18-time All-WAC, four-time WAC Athlete of the Year
and four-time WAC high point scorer.
Tech, in its 24th season under head coach Gary Stanley, should
continue its reign of success when it moves to Conference USA
for the 2014 track and field seasons. Of the 14 schools that will
comprise C-USA in the spring of ’14, there were 15 total qualifiers
for the NCAA Championships this spring. That means that Tech’s
five entries represented one-third of the to-be league’s marks.
Besides Tech, only Southern Miss, with four entries total, had
multiple qualifiers this spring.
Bulldogs: They'll grow on you
winter. Seniors Brandon Gibson and J.L.
Lewis should provide veteran leadership
to a promising group of signees. One of
those – Florida Class 1A Player of the Year
Alex Hamilton – averaged 21.3 points,9.4
rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.6 steals per game
for state champion Chipley High School.
Softball:
A recordsetting
finish
The Lady Techster
softball team did something
this spring only two
other WAC teams have
accomplished. Tech
and perennial NCAA
powers Fresno State and
Hawai’i are the only three
programs that qualified
for the league’s postseason
tournament for the seventh straight season.
The Techsters finished 25-33 and had trouble finding a consistent stride
during the regular season, but in the WAC Tournament, they caught fire.
The sixth-seeded Techsters opened the double elimination event by
defeating third-seeded Fresno State 17-7 in a record-breaking performance
in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Tech set numerous team and individual
records in the victory. Junior outfielder Dacia Hale made ESPNU
Sportscenter and other local, regional and national newscasts when she hit
three home runs and tied the NCAA Division I single game record with
11 RBI in the win. Hale and junior Meghan Knowles earned spots on the
WAC all-tournament team.
Tech – which went 2-2 in the tournament before being eliminated –
loses only two seniors from this year’s team and is set to host the 2013
WAC Tournament in Ruston.
Lady Techsters: Help's on the way
With the graduation of five seniors, head coach Teresa Weatherspoon’s
Lady Techster will have new look – and new attitude – in 2012-13 after a
rollercoaster season that ended in a loss in the WAC Championship game.
Expected to have an immediate impact will be six newcomers, led by
Clemson transfer Kelia Shelton, a strong, explosive guard who saw plenty
of action in the ACC as a true freshman and who will have three years of
eligibility remaining. Weatherspoon added three junior college signees:
guard Brittany Jefferson (ranked No. 2 in scoring in the history of Texas
high school girls basketball), forward Jasmine Bryant and point guard
Janay Borum (who ranked among the nation’s leaders in assists and steals).
Two area high school stars will also join the program: Benton guard Lulu
Perry (Louisiana’s Miss Basketball) and Richwood forward Veanca Hall.
Those six will join six
veterans,
highlighted
by forward
Whitney
Frazier, who
was named
to the WAC’s
All-Defensive
team and
was named
the Louisiana
Sports Writers
Association
State Freshman
of the Year.
knowles
goLF: Closer to a breakthrough
On the verge of making program history this
season, coach Jeff Parks and the Bulldog golfers
came within just a few spots in the Golfstat
rankings of qualifying for the school’s first ever
NCAA Regional appearance.
After a highly successful season that saw the
Bulldogs enter the 2012 WAC Championships as
the highest ranked team among the eight-team
field, Tech struggled during the opening two
rounds before finishing strong to place fifth overall
and dropping just short of consideration for an
NCAA Regional bid.
Senior Cody Blankenship capped his
remarkable comeback from a snowboarding
accident that shattered his arm just over a year
ago to earn second team all-WAC honors.
Tech’s roster next season will include returners
Sam Forgan, Jack Lempke, Travis Wilmore and
Chandler Vilcheck, along with newcomers Brandon
Newton, Victor Lange and Ben Robinson. Newton
won his fourth straight individual state title in
the spring for Cedar Creek High in Ruston and
appeared in the June 4 issue of Sports Illustrated
in the magazine’s popular “Faces in the Crowd”
feature.
TeNNiS: Most wins since ’94
After helping Tech complete its most successful
season in 18 years, senior Elne Barnard and junior
Alena Erofeyeva were both named to the Louisiana
Sports Writers Association all-state teams.
Erofeyeva earned first team all-state honors;
Barnard was a second team selection. The two allstate
team selections are the most for the program
in more than a decade.
Tech finished 14-8 – the program’s most wins
since 1994 – and now has consecutive 10-pluswins
seasons for the first time since 1986.
BASeBALL: Season of heartbreakers
After dropping close game after close game
while losing nine of its first 10 WAC regular season
games, coach Wade Simoneaux and the Bulldogs
showed their moxie by winning six of their final
eight to qualify for the league tournament.
The 2012 (27-28) team then set a school record
as Tech advanced farther in the WAC Tournament
than any other team in school history and was
one game away from the WAC Tournament
Championship game(s). Tech eliminated three
teams from the postseason and set a one-day runs
record by scoring 33 runs in two wins on a single
day after falling into the loser’s bracket with an
opening-day loss.
The No. 6 Bulldogs eliminated No. 4 Hawai'i,
No. 1 New Mexico State and No. 3 Nevada,
respectively, while facing elimination in all three
games.
16 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 17
frazier

It’s the first weekend in November.
It’s an annual tradition that never
gets old. And it’s a lot more fun
when you’re here to join in.
Homecoming 2012 is Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3, a weekend we hope will be
filled with good weather, good football and good times between old friends and new ones.
Friday is the annual Alumni Awards Luncheon, when the University honors its Alum of
the Year and the colleges honor their Distinguished Alums of the Year. That’s kickoff to an
evening of pep rallies and parties and a Saturday of tailgating and reunions.
The Class of 1962, this year’s 50-year class, is this homecoming’s MVP – Most Valuable
People. The Class will be inducted into the Golden Society with a brunch Saturday
morning.
Other events will be ongoing at the Student Center, at Tailgate
Alley, at Argent Pavilion and at Garland Gregory Hideaway Park.
Then at 3 p.m., Louisiana Tech’s Bulldogs, defending champs of
the Western Athletic Conference, will take on the University of
Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners in Joe Aillet Stadium in Tech’s
next-to-last WAC home football game.
Check the Homecoming website often as we finalize plans and
release schedules for student and alumni events:
latechAlumni.org/homecoming2012
18 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
homecoming 2012
schedule of events
FRiDAY, NoVeMBeR 2
Alumni Awards Luncheon
• Tech Student Center
Class of 1962 Reunion
• Ropp Center
Pep Rally and Presentation of Court
• Thomas Assembly Center
SATURDAY, NoVeMBeR 3
Alumni and Friends open House
• Marbury Alumni Center
Bookstore open House
16th Annual golden Society Brunch
• Louisiana Tech Student Center
• Honoring the Class of 1962 and prior
years
Alumni and Friends Tailgate
• Argent Pavilion
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs.
University of Texas at San Antonio
Roadrunners
• Joe Aillet Stadium - 3 p.m.
• To purchase tickets visit
LATechSports.com or call the Tech
Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631
Check the Homecoming website –
LaTechAlumni.org/homecoming2012
– for up-to-date information on
Homecoming ’12!
WWW.LATECH.EDu | 19

taking tech With them
Meet three of Tech’s many Young Alums who have wasted
no time making a difference for their University, for their
neighbors and for their world.
jeFF ALBeRT (’08)
Age: 31 | DegRee: M.S., exercise science
HoMeToWN: Rochester, N.Y. | NoW ReSiDeS iN: Jupiter, Fla.
FAMiLY: wife Ashley, son Otto and dog Slugger
oCCUPATioN: Fifth year as hitting coach in the minor league system of the World
Champion St. Louis Cardinals; currently with Palm Beach (Fla.) Cardinals.
sWinG trAininG
Because he wanted to go back to baseball, Jeff Albert came to
Louisiana Tech.
“Tech offered the best combination of opportunities related to
my preparation for a career in baseball,” said Albert, a New York
native and former player, first collegiately at Butler University
and then in independent pro leagues. He came to Tech with an
undergraduate degree in business.
“I finished my graduate degree in six total quarters, which
included one quarter of undergrad courses and an internship
with a professional baseball team,” Albert said. “Working directly
with Dr. (David) Szymanski provided opportunities to assist
with the baseball and softball strength programs, participate in
several published research projects and acquire a highly regarded
certification in the field.”
Albert was the first graduate of a relatively new Tech
kinesiology program concentrating on sports performance.
Szymanski’s line of research specifically evaluates baseball and
softball physiology, or how physiological research directly
applies to baseball and softball. In part, the research involves
the effects of strength training with over- and under-weighted
implements – think heavy and light balls and bats – and how
these exercises may increase bat speed or throwing velocity.
As he played, coached, studied and taught during the past 20
years, Szymanski gradually developed – is still developing – a
greater understanding of what type of specific training enhances
baseball and softball performance (ways to allow athletes to
swing and throw with greater speed). Both Szymanski and Albert
have their own equipment to measure not only bat speed and
throwing velocity, but also a player’s reaction time to a simulated
pitched ball, a measurement that requires different technology
than that which measures bat speed or throwing velocity.
“The beauty of having this equipment allows Jeff to give
the hitters he’s working with immediate feedback about their
reaction time and swing velocity,” Szymanski said. “A player
can directly see the tangible effect of his training and swing
mechanics. The quicker your bat speed, the longer you can wait
to make a decision of whether to swing or not. This allows the
hitter to be more selective, swing at good pitches, and ultimately
hit the pitched ball hard and with greater regularity.”
20 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
Something
easy to measure
is the program’s
success so far: Six
students who have trained under Szymanski,
including Albert in ’08, have either a job in professional baseball
or an internship in pro baseball or with another university as
strength and conditioning coach. Eric Beiser, Benn Fairbanks
and David Accardo are with the Minnesota Twins organization;
Tyler Donahue is an intern with the St. Louis Cardinals;
Barrett Stover is an intern at N.C. State under former Oakland
Athletics strength coach Bob Alejo. Three other former graduate
students are in doctoral programs working on their Ph.D.s in
exercise physiology: Jason Bean and Hung Sheng Hsu are at the
University of New Mexico, and Jeremy Carter is at Texas A&M.
“If you want to be involved with baseball strength and
conditioning, with baseball physiological research, this is the
place to come,” Szymanski said. “I believe that we are the only
institution in the country right now that has a program in ‘sports
performance’ with an emphasis in baseball/softball sport science.”
A disciple of Tech’s department of kinesiology, Albert left
Tech feeling like a pro, even as he became one.
“Dr. (Lanie) Dornier taught us to be good consumers of
information and that has stuck with me,” Albert said. “While
I’ve always been most interested in the technical aspects
of biomechanics and movement, the kinesiology program
combined aspects from several other important disciplines such
as motor learning, physiology and sport psychology. Having the
ability to find information and answers in these various areas
has been an advantage for me.”
It’s this kind of information that Albert passes on to raw
minor leaguers, helping them to “develop their talent with a
lot of specified effort – both physical and mental. Most of the
successful players, even the ones who appear to be the most
natural, work very deliberately to refine their skills and reach
the highest levels,” Albert said.
“Teaching and helping develop young players is what I enjoy
doing,” he said, “and it’s fun to watch them as they make their
way to the major leagues…It was also awesome to watch our
major league team win the 2011 World Series!”
RoBiN WHiTe CoNNeLL (’05)
Age: 30 | DegRee (DoUBLe): Plant Science/Ag Business
HoMeToWN: Hornbeck | NoW ReSiDeS iN: Little Rock, Ark.
FAMiLY: Husband Seth and two “blonde kids,” their dogs Oliver and Natalie
oCCUPATioN: Small business owner of an interiorscaping company, PLANTation Services,
(plantationservices.com)
GroWinG A comPAny
In more ways than one, Robin White Connell has a
business that’s sprouting up all over the place. Good thing
for this Louisiana Tech-educated designer, horticulturist and
businesswoman.
“We provide indoor plant rentals and maintenance for
commercial customers and residential customers throughout
Central Arkansas,” said Connell. “My position includes
operations support, sales, customer relations, financial reviews
and making the day-to-day business decisions that small
business owners face daily.”
Connell’s business makes live indoor plant recommendations
for offices and homes, then provides ongoing care for the
plantscape. Her touch is seen in the live, lush tropical indoor
plants decorating and refreshing hotels, hospitals, malls, offices,
living rooms, dens and retail space.
She began working for the company’s former owners not long
after her graduation from Tech.
MiKe MCDANieL (’07)
Age: 26 | DegRee: Mechanical engineering
HoMeToWN: Pine Bluff, Ark. | NoW ReSiDeS iN: Houston
FAMiLY: Wife Kaitlyn (M.E. ’08) and their dog Buster
oCCUPATioN: Piping Specification Resource Center leader and Piping Materials Subject Matter
Expert at Dow Chemical
enGineerinG teAm relAtionshiPs
Though he graduated just five years ago, Mike McDaniel
is already heading into his third year as a member of Tech’s
Engineering and Science Foundation Board.
“I love the continued interaction with the University,” he
said. “I find that when I talk to people about what is going on at
school they also get excited and want to help out in their own
way. Most people just don’t have an opportunity to hear the
stories and see the things that I have, so I make it a point to tell
them and show them.
“Kaitlyn (also an engineer at Dow) and I try to come back as
often as we possibly can,” he said. “We are already trying to get
a big group of people to come see the Tech vs. Texas A&M game
(Aug. 30 in Shreveport at Independence Stadium) since a large
number of our co-workers went to A&M. We love seeing the
campus and seeing the Bulldogs play – and win!”
McDaniel has created a website at Dow for Tech alums who
work there. He keeps it updated himself to inform all his friends
about all things Tech. Though the McDaniels are a young
couple, they’ve already made a generous donation to the College
of Engineering and Science building campaign and participated
“They developed me to be
in the position to take over
ownership of the company,”
said Connell, who purchased
PLANTation Services last summer.
“Louisiana Tech definitely played an important role in
enhancing my love for plants and showing me the many fields
that were possible careers for my skill set,” Connell said. “I am
very blessed to have found an industry that I love: product,
customers, and industry peers and affiliates. My long-term goal
is to stay in Little Rock with this company, continue to grow and
possibly expand our services.”
She’s blooming in Arkansas, but it started in Ruston.
“My older sister graduated from Tech the year before I started
there. She was responsible for introducing me to the University,”
Connell said. “I attended because of the scholarships offered to
me as well as the fondness I developed for Tech, something I’ll
never lose.”
in the College’s building
auction fundraiser.
“I wanted to be an
engineer and most of my
friends were going to University of Arkansas,”
McDaniel said. “I loved my friends but felt it was time to try
something different. I had a cousin who was finishing up her
graduate degree at Tech, and she had nothing but great things
to say about the place. I visited and fell in love with the projectfocused
atmosphere (and the foundry) and never looked back.”
His typical workday consists of his acting as a piping
consultant on projects or helping pipe leads answer technical
questions or resolve design challenges. He also manages the
piping specs resource center, which involves interfacing with
tech centers.
“With people management all you can do is enable people
and encourage them to do what needs to be done; they still have
to do it,” he said. “It feels almost like your success is in other
people’s hands, but I find it to be a very worthwhile challenge.
It’s nice to celebrate successes as a team, and that is the type of
environment I try to foster.”
WWW.LATECH.EDu | 21

neWs ArounD cAmPus neWs ArounD cAmPus
THe ReA FiLe
• The Dr. Kenneth W. Rea Honors
Scholarship has been established to
provide study abroad scholarships for
Honors Program students. Donations may
be made to The Louisiana Tech
Foundation, P.O. Box 3183, Ruston,
LA 71272.
• Named “Vice President and
Professor Emeritus” at a Universitywide
retirement reception held in
his honor on May 15.
• A recognized scholar, he has
authored four books on China,
several chapters included in other
books, and numerous articles.
• Under his direction as vice president
of academic affairs, the University has
added doctoral degrees in education,
computational analysis, counseling
psychology, audiology, industrial and
organizational psychology, and just
recently a Ph.D. in molecular science
and nanotechnology; the University also
gained Regents’ approval to offer 14 new
masters and graduate certificate degree
programs and to establish 14 academic
and research centers.
• Has represented the University and
the University of Louisiana System
on numerous statewide committees,
including two terms on the Louisiana
Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission for
Educational Excellence, Chair of Louisiana
Board of Regents’ Support Fund Planning
Committee (since 2004), Regents’ Task
Force on International Education (chair)
and International Education Advisory
Council, Regents’ Task Force on General
Education, and the Louisiana Library
Network Commission.
english honor society makes “A” mark
Seven members of Tech’s English honor society, the Rho Gamma
chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, made a notable impression on the
organization’s international spring convention in New Orleans,
including a first place award for scholarly research.
Brian Bellocq, a graduate English student from Metairie, placed
first in the Critical Essays, British Literature category for his essay,
“Male Homoeroticism in ‘Heart of Darkness’ and ‘Mrs. Dalloway.’”
Bellocq received $500 for his achievement.
Five other Tech English majors presented research at the
convention:
• missy Wallace, a graduate student from Ruston, presented “’He
is Born Again and not of Woman’: The Womb and Rebirth in
Dr. Ken Rea: A 'Grand' Retirement
Emma Caroline Rea will turn 1-year-old in August. Like her grandfather, she
won’t be working a fulltime job.
Kenneth Rea retires Aug. 31 after 44 years at Tech, giving him and wife Becky
more time to spend with new granddaughter Emma
and more time to travel to Shreveport to see her.
Tech’s vice president for academic affairs since 1987,
Rea holds a Ph.D. in Chinese history and also plans
to visit China again since “I haven’t been back in
several years,” he said. “I also have a few research
projects that I need to complete.”
What he has completed is a dutiful career at the
University, a most impressive run that began when
he was a student and ends after service to Tech in
several capacities, including history professor and
associate dean.
“We plan to remain in Ruston and still be
involved with Tech,” Rea said. “As a professor,
administrator and alumnus of Tech, I recognize
the important role that alumni play in supporting
and promoting the University. Tech is blessed to
have alumni who are loyal, dedicated and willing to show their strong support.”
A Ruston native, Rea learned about Tech’s care for its students when he began his
studies in history in 1962, when the University was still called Louisiana Polytechnic
Institute. He intended to go to law school. But a course in the history of the Far East
under Dr. John Winters sparked his interest in Asian studies, particularly in Chinese
history. Dr. Winters and Professor Donald Lemieux, who taught Latin American
history, influenced his decision to go to graduate school.
Later, Dr. Bill Thompson, head of the history department, and Dr. Paul
Pennington, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, encouraged the young thenprofessor
to move into higher education administration.
“They served as excellent mentors early in my career,” he said. “I had so many
excellent teachers when I was a student here that I wanted to continue that tradition.”
Speaking of grand traditions, Margaret Alexander, assistant in academic affairs,
also retires this summer after 36 years at Tech, 25 of those serving alongside Dr. Rea.
“Margaret has been an integral part of Academic Affairs and the University and
played a key role in establishing the Office of Disabilities Services,” Rea said. “I have
been extremely fortunate to have her with me for the past 25 years!”
‘All the King’s Men.’”
• Patrick Boyd, a junior from Choudrant, presented “Panoptic
Paradoxes: Control and Captivity in Morrison’s ‘Beloved.’”
• lillian Grappe, a junior from Jonesboro, presented, “The Wife
of Bath: A Tragic Caricature of Women.”
• Kristin Farquharson, a junior from Ruston, presented,
“Assigning Blame in ‘Chronicle of a Death Foretold.’”
• christina thompson, a senior from Ruston, presented “The
Panoptic Gaze of Kafka’s ‘The Trial.’”
Members from more than 400 chapters attended this year’s
convention.
2011-2012 Retirees
Jan Albritton (36 years) Director,
Admissions
margaret s. Alexander (36 years)
Academic Affairs, Assistant to Academic
Administration
Aubra Glen Alford (12 years) Maintenance
Foreman, Residential Life
sharon J. Alford (33 years) Administrative
Assistant 5, President’s Office
Debra l. Blackman (14 years) Assistant
Professor, College of Business
carol l. Bradley (14 years) Administrative
Assistant, Engineering & Science
Dr. John c. Brewer (42 years) Director,
Barksdale
Dennis r. carr (20 years) Custodian,
Athletics
Dr. Alice P. carter (6 years) Assistant
Professor, Psychology
Barbara A. crawford (30 years) Library
Specialist 3, Prescott Library
stephen l. Defreese (36 years) Electrician
Specialist Foreman, Physical Plant
Peter J. edwards (35 years) Plumber/Pipe
Fitter Foreman, Physical Plant
robert J. Fakelmann (31 years) Professor,
School of Architecture
Dr. Peter W. Gallagher (33 years) Professor,
Agricultural Sciences
Dr. D. morris Griffin (28 years) Professor,
Civil Engineering
shane Griffin (35 years) Superintendent;
Support Services, Operations &
Maintenance
John h. hill (30 years) Laborer, Physical
Plant
Garland t. hood Jr. (32 years) Painter
Foreman, Physical Plant
rose m. Jackson (11 years) Administrative
Coordinator, Financial Aid
sherry J. Jones (17 years) Accounting
Technician, Research & Development
Virginia Ann Jones (25 years): Custodian,
Physical Plant
Pamelia G. labbato-Witt (15 years)
Administrative Assistant 4, Liberal Arts
stacy o. maryland (16 years) Laborer,
Physical Plant
mary c. mccorkle (6 years): Assistant
Professor, Prescott Library
Dr. mark J. miller (32 years) Professor,
Psychology
charlotte Abigail nelson (16 years)
Librarian, A.E. Phillips Lab School
Dr. James D. nelson (32 years) Professor
and Associate Dean, Civil Engineering
Billy J. norman sr. (25 years) Research
Farm Assistant 1, Farm
Dr. Kenneth rea (44 years) Vice President,
Academic Affairs
Gerald W. reeves (24 years) Director,
Bookstore
Fishing club members catch
winning prize
Two members of Louisiana Tech’s Bass Fishing Club have reeled in some serious
cash.
Sophomore agriculture business major Peyton Igo and sophomore construction
engineering major Matthew Loetscher placed first at the National Guard Forrest L.
Wood College Fishing Southern Conference event in March at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
in Lufkin, Texas.
The dynamic duo caught five bass that weighed in at 15 pounds, 8 ounces. Igo and
Loetscher won $5,000 and said the money will go back into the club account.
“The more money we win gives us the better chance to give more money to the
school,” Igo said. “We’re representing Tech at every tournament…to defeat that many
other schools and win is a feeling like no other. Our main goal is to win the national
championship.”
John r. reppeto (23 years) Maintenance
Repair Master, Physical Plant
sandra c. robinson (4 years) Procurement
Specialist, Purchasing
Davey A. ruby (16 years) Administrative
Coordinator 3, Professional Aviation
Dr. Patricia B. simeon (11 years)
Instructor, Mathematics & Statistics
carl. B. smith (11 years) Locksmith
Master, Physical Plant
Patricia s. stevens (15 years) Instructor,
A.E. Phillips Lab School
Dr. Gary m. stokley (40 years): Associate
Professor, Sociology
Flora n. stringer (33 years) Public
Information Officer 2, Tech Talk
Judy sutton (died this year in active
service)
Billy m. terrill (25 years) Maintenance
Repairer 2, Housing
nellie K. theodos (29 years) Food Service
Specialist, Food Services
Prentice rogers Vick Jr. (17 years)
Director, Financial Aid
Dr. John m. Wakeman (34 years) Professor,
Biological Sciences
Dr. carynn t. Wiggins (22 years) Director,
A.E. Phillips Lab School
22 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 23

neWs ArounD cAmPus neWs ArounD cAmPus
Lasting legacy: Students pass fee to construct, enhance campus facilities
Tech students overwhelmingly passed a new student fee and
renewed a previous fee that will support the construction and
improvement of several campus facilities and provide for new
recreational and outdoor classroom spaces.
The assessment was voted on during Tech’s annual Student
Government general elections this spring; 84 percent of students
approved the $50 quarterly fee.
The new student assessment consists of a renewal of the “20
for 20” fee, which has contributed to the construction of several
state-of-the-art student facilities including the $12 million
Lambright Intramural Center expansion, and a new $30 campus
enhancement fee. Projects to be supported by these fees include
the construction of new campus parking facilities, recreational and
parade fields, stadium field house expansion, and the demolition
of decommissioned dormitories.
“This creates a lasting legacy that will benefit generations of
future Louisiana Tech students,” said Tech president Dr. Dan
Reneau. “This is only the second time in 25 years that I have asked
for a specific student fee. I commend the students and the SGA.
These resources will greatly enhance the academic and student life
resources that are available to all students at Louisiana Tech.”
In addition to the physical campus enhancements, several
academic and student life programs will also benefit from the new
student fee. Tech’s kinesiology and ROTC programs, for example,
will have opportunities to utilize the new facilities and green space
to grow and showcase their students and curricula.
Throughout the past several years, Louisiana Tech has focused
its vision on growth and advancing the institution, both through
strong academics and athletics programs. Guided by its strategic
plan, Tech 2020, Louisiana Tech continues to enhance all areas
of the campus’ physical infrastructure including housing,
student leisure and recreation, health and wellness, research and
development, and intercollegiate athletics.
Community engagement:
Greek week, volunteerism means gifts for others
More than 600 students participated in Greek Week events this
spring to raise money for worthwhile causes.
Sixteen organizations planned and worked to raise nearly
$10,000 in money and gifts.
Greek Songfest, a fraternity/sorority song, dance and skit
competition, netted $750 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
and more than 200 cans of food for Christian Community Action
in Ruston.
“Penny Wars” was another fundraiser fueled by the sweat of
fraternities and sororities. The result was a donation to Med
Camps of $8,148.
And a Tech Greek Week record 401 pints of blood was donated
to LifeShare.
In addition, The Big Event on April 14, the biggest community
service undertaken annually by Tech, was again a meaningful
success as 25 on-campus organizations of students, faculty and
staff volunteered to work and make a difference at more than 120
community sites.
Finally, Tech was named to the 2012 President’s Higher
Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation
for National and Community Service (CNCS) for its leadership
among institutions of higher education in Louisiana in supporting
volunteerism, service-learning and community involvement.
The Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that
reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve
meaningful outcomes in their communities. It is recognition from
the highest levels of the federal government for commitment
to service and civic engagement on a university’s campus and
throughout the nation.
Tech is the only public university in north Louisiana and only
institution in the University of Louisiana System to make the
Honor Roll every year since 2008.
“I am very pleased that Louisiana Tech faculty and students
continue to enhance learning opportunities through real world
service learning and community service projects,” said Dr.
Ken Rea, retiring vice president for academic affairs at Tech.
“The value added to students’ learning experiences and to the
community partners and recipients of the service is significant.”
Lagniappe Ladies:
15 equals $58,303.21
Fifteen campus groups have recently been
awarded Lagniappe Ladies grants totaling
$58,303.21. A giving circle created for women
who passionately support the mission and the
vision of Louisiana Tech, Lagniappe Ladies awards
grants to campus organizations, teams, projects
and initiatives that it deems would make the most
significant positive impact upon the University
and the community.
For information about joining Lagniappe Ladies,
contact Jennifer Riley (Jennifer@LaTechAlumni.
org) or Corre Stegall (Corre@LaTechAlumni.org), or
phone (318) 255-7950.
This year’s grants:
1. Department of Agricultural Sciences - $3,589
Jeff Hillard Memorial Courtyard
2. Department of Agricultural Sciences -
$3,920.66
Sheep and goat care
3. The early Childhood education Center -
$5,000
Smartboard technology for the Early Childhood
Education Center
4. Division of Nursing - $2,017.76
Moveable partitions for new simulation lab
5. Division of Nursing - $1,806.62
Tables and chairs for simulation lab
6. College of education - $5,000
Teachscape
7. College of education - $2,669.17
Reading Resource Center for use with K-5
students
8. A.e. Phillips Lab School - $5,000
IPads
9. School of Performing Arts - $1,000
Permanent folders to hold sheet music for the
ensemble; sheet music
10. School of Performing Arts - $5,000
Tuba repairs and new tuba cases
11. School of Architecture - $5,000
HabiTECH
12. Louisiana Tech Athletics - $5,000
Lighting for soccer field
13. Society of environmental and ecological
Development (SeeD) - $4,300
Expand recycling effort throughout campus;
build recycling drop-off depot; support H.A.T.S.
14. Department of Testing and Disability
Services - $4,000
Acoustic art panels for testing area
15. Prescott Memorial Library - $5,000
Liberal arts books for the collection of Prescott
Memorial Library
Tech takes checkered flag again
at Shell Eco-marathon
A team of Tech students won first place for design and first place for diesel
fuel mileage in the Urban Concept class and first place for Team Spirit at the
2012 Shell Eco-marathon Americas in Houston.
The Tech team also earned second place for gasoline fuel mileage in the
Urban Concept class.
Tech’s new Urban Concept vehicle, “Hot Rod,” won the diesel fuel
competition in Urban Concept with a fuel efficiency mark of 488.7 miles per
gallon. “Hot Rod” also won for best design with its retro hot rod look and red
and white paint design featuring flames on each side of the front of the car.
“Roadster,” which set an American fuel efficiency record of 646.7 miles per
gallon in the Urban Concept class in last year’s competition, took second place
with 321 miles per gallon. “Roadster” retained its American record through this
year’s competition.
“Roadster” was featured nationally on ESPN2’s “NASCAR Now” program.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team and the way they have represented
us,” said Dr. Heath Tims, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and
one of the team’s faculty advisors. “Even as we competed and worked to correct
problems with our cars, we were still assisting other teams, especially the high
schools from Louisiana that competed in this year’s event.”
The two-day competition challenged students to design, build and test fuelefficient
vehicles in an attempt to travel the farthest distance possible using the
least amount of energy. High school and university teams from throughout
North America took part in the event. Benton High, Airline High, Haughton
High and North Desoto High all competed in this year’s event and received
assistance from Tech during the school year.
The Tech students, who come from many different academic degree
programs, participate in the project as volunteers and do not receive any class
credit. They design, build, paint and test the cars on their own time, usually in
the evenings, after class and on weekends, and they assist with fundraising and
publicity.
While employing skills they learn in the classroom, these students are also
developing leadership and project management skills that will serve them
throughout their careers.
Last year the Tech team took home $8,000 in prizes – more than any other
U.S. university in the competition – besting traditional powerhouses such as
Purdue, Penn State, UCLA and the University of California at Berkeley.
24 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 25

FounDAtionspotlight
Donors of the Louisiana Tech university Foundation offer private gifts
for a pure and public cause: to support the educational mission of the
university. For information on how to be a part of the Foundation’s
mission, call 1-800-738-7950.
the ABcs of the Foundation
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the
Louisiana Tech University Foundation
maintains its original purpose: support the
educational mission of the University
What is the Louisiana Tech University Foundation?
The Foundation was established in 1962 to provide a means
whereby alumni and friends of the University can provide support
for the educational mission of the University. The first name of
the Foundation was "The Louisiana Tech Alumni Foundation"; in
1987, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution that changed
the name to "The Louisiana Tech University Foundation." The
Foundation operates under the umbrella of Louisiana Tech’s
Division of University Advancement (which also includes the
Louisiana Tech Alumni Association and the Louisiana Tech
Athletic Club) and is housed at the Marbury Alumni Center at 900
Tech Drive in Ruston.
Why does Tech need a Foundation?
As public higher education undergoes extensive change, the
role of the Foundation becomes increasingly important. Although
Louisiana Tech is a public university, it receives less than half of
its total budget from the state of Louisiana. Private support and
commitment are crucial to the maintenance and growth of the
quality educational experience at Tech. During the past three years,
more than $10 million has been transferred from the Foundation
to the University for scholarships and other university support.
What are the primary functions of the Foundation?
The Foundation staff receives and processes thousands of
donations each year. Additionally, numerous annuities, life
insurance policies, trusts, real estate holdings and other donated
property are administered by the Foundation. The assets of
the Foundation now total nearly $90 million, and more than
1,200 active accounts of the University and its departments and
constituent groups are under its management, including the assets
26 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
of endowments for scholarships and
other purposes.
Who “runs” the Foundation?
The Foundation’s operations are governed by an alumni Board
of Directors. Current board officers are Benny Denny (pictured
above), president; Jack Byrd, vice president; Elizabeth Green,
secretary; Russ Nolan, treasurer; and Don Updegraff, immediate
past president. Each year, five new members are elected to the
Board to serve three-year terms, resulting in 15 regularly elected
directors who serve with a number of privileged directors and
directors emeriti. The Foundation has a staff that consists of
five development (or fundraising), three accounting and three
advancement services employees who are supervised by the Vice
President for University Advancement, Corre Stegall.
how can I contribute?
Your gift can be made in the form of a one-time gift by cash,
check or credit card; a pledge of monthly or quarterly payments; a
stock donation; a planned gift such as an annuity or life insurance
policy; or funds to establish an endowed professorship or chair
(which may include matching funds from the state of Louisiana).
Many donors or their spouses work for companies that have a
matching gift program, allowing them to double or even triple
the amount of their donation. You may designate your gift to the
college, department or area of your choice or to the University
Fund for use in the areas of greatest need. Donations can be
mailed to the Foundation at P.O. Box 1190, Ruston, Louisiana
71273, or made online at www.LaTechAlumni.org. The Louisiana
Tech University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation, and all
donations are tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS.
‘mac’ mccann: A legend and a legacy
Melvin F. “Mac” McCann entered Tech in 1936 and worked
his way through school as a teacher at the Civilian Conservation
Corps camp in Ruston. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the
College of Arts and Sciences in 1940.
After retiring from the U. S. Marine Corps, Mac went to work
for the U.S. Postal Service in Shreveport, and for years he worked
the graveyard shift – his preference. Following the death of his
wife, Robbie Sanderson McCann, he contacted President Dan
Reneau to tell him that he wanted to leave his entire life savings –
a million dollars – to the University.
Mr. McCann established a charitable remainder trust, and
during his lifetime, he was able to have the pleasure of seeing
LEAVE A
LEGACYFOR TOMORROW’S
BULLDOGS
Julian, Mcayla and Gabriel, children
of Bill (electrical engineering, ‘87)
and Sharon Bailey of Arab, Ala.
the benefits of his philanthropy and meeting his scholarships’
recipients. The McCann Scholarships provide assistance to worthy
students who have great financial need.
Said McCann, “I know I had a hard time getting through
school. I had to work the whole time I was there. I’m sincerely glad
to contribute to the welfare of education and to scholarships.”
Melvin McCann died in 1999, and the proceeds of his charitable
remainder trust provide the permanent endowment for the
McCann Scholarships. Each year, several students are beneficiaries
of Mac’s legacy. The Louisiana Tech University Foundation’s
Planned Giving Society was named in Melvin McCann’s honor as a
fitting tribute to this generous, dedicated Tech alumnus.
The McCann Society recognizes alumni and friends who
include Louisiana Tech in their estate plans. The society is
named in honor of the late Melvin McCann, an alumnus of
Louisiana Tech’s Class of 1940 and one of Tech’s most
generous supporters through planned giving.
A bequest in a will, a charitable remainder trust, an insurance
policy or a gift annuity - all are examples of planned gifts
administered by the Louisiana Tech University Foundation.
These gifts of future support will play an extraordinary role in
ensuring Tech’s commitment to its students. The Foundation
welcomes the opportunity to work with you to establish specific
criteria for your gift, which can be named in your honor or for
loved ones.
Contact Jennifer Riley (Jennifer@LaTechAlumni.org)
or Corre Stegall (Corre@LaTechAlumni.org) at
318-255-7950 for more information.
WWW.LATECH.EDu | 27

neWs ABout you
WhAt’s neW With you?
Do you have news to share in the News About You section? We want to share the stories of your accomplishments and
milestones. Photos are always welcome, too. Submit your information for News About You online at LaTechAlumni.org where
you can then click on “News About You.”
1971
Andy C. Malone, health and physical
education (master’s health and
physical education 1975), has been
inducted into the Texas High School
Baseball Coaches Association Hall
of Fame. He finished with 861 wins
in a 41-year baseball career. He
retired following the 2007 season but
returned to the coaching ranks and
spent two seasons at Longview before
calling it quits following the 2010
season.
1972
Buie Harwood,
interior design
(master’s art
1973), was
recognized by
the Interior
Design
Educators
Council (IDEC)
with the Arnold Friedmann Educator
of Distinction Award at the IDEC
annual conference in Baltimore. She
is only the second recipient of the
award. She also received IDEC Merit
and Service awards in recognition of
her work as Chair of the IDEC 50th
Anniversary Celebration Task Force.
The Educator of Distinction Award
is presented to an IDEC member in
recognition of significant, sustained
and distinguished contributions in
interior design education.
1974
Barbara Hughs Bloom, office
administration, has been promoted
to Senior Vice President and Chief
Operations Officer at City Savings
Bank in DeRidder. She has been
employed with City Savings Bank
since 1996 and is the bank’s Partners
in Education representative with
Pinewood Elementary.
Phil roBertson (’69, ’74)
“I’m gonna fear God, love my neighbor,
shoot ducks, and let the chips fall where
they may.”
The Duck Commander and former Tech
quarterback takes a shot at television – and
scores big. Watch the highly rated and
acclaimed “Duck Dynasty” on A&E this fall.
Check aetv.com/duck-dynasty for air times; in
its premier season, “Duck Dynasty” aired new
episodes Wednesday nights at 9 CST.
Just when you thought you’d plucked just about
every interesting feather off one of LA Tech’s most endearing athletic personalities – and arguably its finest
duck hunter – here comes Phil Robertson again, starring, quite by accident, in a hit reality series on cable.
What? You haven’t watched an episode of “Duck Dynasty”? Are you a quack? Trust us: if you want
originality and the humor that comes from people being exactly who they were created to be, you’ll love
these real-life tales from what might be the Bayou Country’s favorite family.
Robertson, owner of a master’s in health and physical education and the family patriarch, gave up football
for hunting about the same time he sold his first Duck Commander duck call, about 40 years ago. Tech
fans have known this.
But now, America is getting to know the Robertsons. Not only has the business expanded, but so has the
brood of his and Kay’s, Kay being Phil’s high-school sweetheart. A more fun bunch to be around, you may
never find.
Once reality TV discovered the Robertsons, we’ve been treated to episodes like “Leave It To Beavers,”
“Willie Stay or Willie Go,” “Frog In One,” “Redneck Logic,” and “Plan Bee.”
And each was filmed right down the road from Ruston near the Robertsons’ home in West Monroe.
Most of the time, a reality series is the LAST thing you’d want an alum starring in. But not this alum, and
not this show. It’s bull’s-eye real and funny and original. There’s only one Duck Commander, and only one
“Duck Dynasty.”
1979
Stephen B. Walker, chemistry,
has been named chief medical
officer to oversee CNSI Clinical
Affairs, a government provider of
technology solutions, including
evidence-based medical policy. The
company currently provides health
care solutions and services for state
Medicaid projects as well as for
those in the federal, military and
commercial health markets.
1981
Suzanne
Harper
Stinson, office
administration
(general
business 1988,
business
administration
1992, master’s
business administration 1992,
master’s industrial/organizational
psychology 1994), was selected to
serve on the board of directors for
the International Association for
Court Administration (IACA). The
IACA’s “founding principles envision
a global association of professionals
collectively engaged in promoting the
effective administration of justice.”
She is currently Court Administrator
for the 26th Judicial District Court of
Bossier and Webster Parishes, where
she has been employed since 1982.
She received her Fellowship from
the Institute for Court Management.
She is past president of the Louisiana
Court Administrators Association,
past president of the National
Association for Court Management,
and currently serves on the board
of directors for the National Center
for State Courts. She also serves on
the advisory council for the Institute
for Court Management and on the
editorial board for Future Trends in
State Courts. She was appointed by
the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve
on the Louisiana Supreme Court’s
State Court Rules Committee and
appointed by Chief Justice Catharine
Kimball to serve on the Judicial
Compensation Commission. She is
past president of the Commission
for Women of Bossier City and the
Benton Rotary Club, and currently
serves as president of the Shreveport-
Bossier Bar Auxiliary.
James Phillip Webb Jr., petroleum
engineering, has joined Denbury
Resources Inc. as Vice President,
East Region. He will oversee all of
Denbury’s operations in Mississippi
and Alabama. Denbury is a growing
oil and natural gas company. The
Company is the largest oil and natural
gas operator in both Mississippi and
Montana.
1982
Kevin Longino, marketing (master’s
business administration 1985), has
been appointed to the National
Kidney Foundation (NKF) Board
of Directors. A consultant to small
businesses and technology companies
and a private dealer of contemporary
photography, he previously held
multiple senior management
positions during his 13-year tenure at
Compaq Computer Corporation.
1983
Leo F. Nelson, agricultural business,
has been named Regions Bank’s
city president for Monroe. He is
responsible for leading all lines
of business and new banking
relationships within the Monroe and
northeastern Louisiana markets as
well as Alexandria. He will also be
responsible for agriculture-related
business within the bank’s Arkansas,
Louisiana and Texas footprint.
1984
Susan
Stierheim
Adams,
general studies
(psychology
1995), is
the 2012
recipient of the
Distinguished
Service Award from the Association
for Adult Development and
Aging (AADA), a division of the
American Counseling Association.
She is an associate professor of
counseling and development at Texas
Woman’s University. She is also an
internationally known speaker on
adults dealing with grief and loss and
was the immediate past president of
the Texas Counseling Association
(TCA), the largest state counseling
association in the U.S.
Laurie Whitten James, speech, has
been chosen as the 2012 recipient
of the Sue Bernie Justice Award.
The state-level award is given by the
Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual
Assault and acknowledges those that
demonstrated outstanding support
of victims’ rights and willingness to
educate self and colleagues about
sexual assault. She is assistant district
attorney in Lincoln Parish.
1987
John M. Sullivan, graphic design, is
the new president of the Art Academy
of Cincinnati. He was formerly vice
president of academic affairs and
dean of the faculty at Watkins College
of Art, Design and Film in Nashville,
Tenn.
Perrye K. Turner, mathematics, has
been named special agent in charge
of the FBI’s Louisville Division. He
had most recently served as deputy
assistant director of the Information
Technology Engineering Division
at FBI Headquarters. He began his
career with the FBI as a special agent
in 1991 assigned to the Birmingham
Division, Huntsville Resident Agency.
1988
Kyle Edmiston,
finance, has
been appointed
assistant
secretary of
the Louisiana
Office of
Tourism. He
has served as
president and CEO of the Ruston-
Lincoln Parish Convention and
Visitors Bureau for six years and was
involved extensively in statewide
tourism efforts, serving separately
as vice president, secretary and
treasurer of the Louisiana Travel
and Promotion Association. He also
served as president of the Louisiana
Association of Convention and
Visitors Bureau and sits on several
regional tourism boards.
1989
Carla K. Corkern, technical writing,
has been nominated for the Ernst &
Young Entrepreneur award. The
award recognizes entrepreneurs
whose ingenuity, hard work and
perseverance have created and
sustained successful, growing
FAith Jenkins (’99)
business ventures. She is Chief
Executive Officer at Talyst, a leader
in pharmacy automation, and helps
pharmacies enhance efficiency,
provide greater inventory control and
improve patient safety by delivering
enterprise-class software and proven
hardware components.
Doreen Lilly Griffith, accounting,
has been named National Managing
Partner of Tax Services at Grant
Thornton LLP. She is currently the
firm’s Regional Tax Partner in the
West region, a role she has held since
August 2007, and is the Tax Practice
Leader for San Francisco and San
Jose. As part of the firm’s National
Tax Practice Leadership team, she has
news neWs about ABout you you
“Competing in the Miss America system helped shape me into who
I am today.” (Follow Faith at faithjenkins.comand on twitter @
faithjenkins1)
The former Tech Pom Pon Girl, Miss Tech (’98), Miss Louisiana (’00) and
first runner-up to Miss America is a New York-based lawyer and regular
contributor to cable news dialogue.
Current oCCupations: Attorney; TV legal analyst
Hometown: Shreveport
now resides in: New York, N.Y.
degree: Political Science
wHat brougHt you to teCH? The campus was beautiful and everyone I met was so welcoming and friendly. It
was also close to home so I thought it was perfect for me.
Career stops: Currently, civil litigation for a litigation firm in New York. Former criminal prosecutor in the
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
your best memories of teCH: I was a member of several organizations at Tech, but two stand out the most: (1)
Louisiana Tech Pom Pon Girls – I got to dance on a great squad with people like Mette Boving (another
former Miss Louisiana), Christina Cherry, who was a wonderful dancer and friend, and Anna Zielinski,
who is now an actress in Los Angeles. I didn’t make the squad the first year I tried out, but Candee Terry
encouraged me to come back and the second time was a charm! (2) Orientation Student Leaders. That
was a life-changing experience. Chris, Lisa, and Les were our advisors. I don’t think I’ve ever bonded with
a group of people more than them and the OSLs that year. It was one of the greatest experiences of my
college years and life in general.
How did tHe pageant system Help you ‘grow up’? Competing in the Miss America system helped shape me into
who I am today. It all started with my dream of becoming Miss Tech. I wanted to represent my school.
As Miss Tech, I learned how to speak to large groups of people, be a leader on and off campus, and be a
positive role model for young people. I also learned basic things, like how to apply makeup. Before Miss
Tech, I never wore makeup.
you’re on a lot of news sHows as a legal Contributor. do you get nervous? I do get nervous, especially when
I’m on shows like “The O’Reilly Factor” or “Hannity” on Fox News, but it’s the nerves that help make me
better. Bill O’Reilly is a challenging interviewer and I have to be prepared to think on my feet…I like doing
legal commentary on TV. I get to share my perspective with viewers, debate hot legal topics, and analyze
some of the highest profile cases in the country. I consider it an honor. I just started contributing on a
regular basis this year, so it’s something I see myself doing for the near future.
Faith is scheduled to be a legal pundit on “Unresolved: Celebrity Cases,” a new TV series scheduled to
film this summer (2012) and air this fall on TV One. The investigative show will look back at important
cases of national interest and offer viewers an updated perspective on their impact. Check local listings
for air times.
For more about Faith, go to LaTech.edu/TechTriumphs
played a key role in setting the firm’s
tax strategy and developing talent for
the practice.
1991
Thomas Steen Trawick Jr., zoology,
has been appointed to the boards
of directors of Home Federal
Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly owned
subsidiary, Home Federal Bank. He
is currently Vice President of medical
staff of CHRISTUS Schumpert and
CHRISTUS Highland and medical
director of CHRISTUS Highland
Hospitalist Program. He serves as the
president of the Shreveport Medical
Society and is actively involved in the
Louisiana State Medical Society.
28 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 29

neWs ABout you
1992
Leon J. Anderson, music education,
has been named the 2012 Alumnus
of the Year in Music by Louisiana
Tech’s School of the Performing
Arts, Department of Music. He is an
Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at
Florida State University.
1996
Judson G. Banks, marketing, has
been named partner at the Baton
Rouge-based law firm Crawford
Lewis, PLLC. He practices areas of
commercial litigation and corporate/
business law.
Raymond C. McKinney, psychology
(accounting 2000), has been named
partner with Gollob Morgan Peddy
PC. He has been with Gollob
Morgan Peddy since 2004 and
his focus is real estate taxation,
including cost segregation studies.
Gollob Morgan Peddy has provided
personal and business tax planning
and preparation, audit, business
valuations, appraisals, and other
consulting services for 30 years.
30 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
DeBBie PrimeAux WilliAmson (’85, ’86)
A champion as a Lady Techster, this mom, professor, athletic director’s wife
and No. 1 fan of Johnny’s Pizza is still knee-deep in the NCAA as Women’s
Basketball’s National Coordinator of Officials and Secretary-Rules Editor.
title/oCCupation(s): Consultant to the NCAA as National Coordinator of
Officials and Secretary-Rules Editor; Online Physical Education Instructor
for North Carolina State University; Asst. Professor for Physical Education
at the University of West Alabama.
Hometown: Hayes; graduate of Bell City High School in Bell City
now resides in: Livingston, Ala.
degree(s): B.S. and M.S. in Health and Physical Education; Doctorate of
Education, University of Houston
family: Husband, Stan Williamson of Ruston and Tech grad (’85); daughter, Courtney (22), and two sons
Mark (20) and Nathan (15). Courtney and Mark are students at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.
wHy did you CHoose tHis Career? Basketball and teaching have always been my passions. I spent my first years
as a full-time NCAA Division I assistant coach and the travel was too much for me as a first-time mother,
so I forfeited that career so I could raise my kids. While I homeschooled the kids, I finished my doctorate
which allowed me to do research in women’s basketball. I have spent the past 15 years teaching college
students while dabbling in basketball as a part-time coach, referee and an independent contractor for
NCAA Women’s Basketball. My most recent opportunity with the NCAA will allow me to take some time
away from classroom teaching and focus on the national basketball officiating program. Outside of having
my children, almost everything I have done has been driven by my love for the game of basketball and my
desire to serve Jesus on that platform.
your best memories of teCH: Our home-game crowds at Memorial Gym; game-winning hits on our new
softball field; winning and winning and winning basketball games; my softball and basketball teammates;
seeing the country while sharing the front seat with Ms. Hogg; trying to beat Coach Barmore at anything;
being the first Tech volleyball coach; being treated like a queen by my foster parents, Betty and Butler
Hampton and The Tip-off Club; great Bible studies at Wesley and the BSU; seeing my first football game;
people not being able to understand my Cajun accent; being proposed to by Stan in front of the Thomas
Assembly Center; being taught by the best physical education teachers, then leaving with two degrees; and
LOTS of Johnny’s Pizza.
For more about debbie, go to LaTech.edu/TechTriumphs
1997
Brian M. Davis, architecture, has
been named executive director of
Historic Salisbury Foundation,
Salisbury, N.C. He was the
preservation services director
of Galveston (Texas) Historical
Foundation. He has served on the
board and steering committee of
Galveston Historical Foundation
and is a member of the board of the
statewide organization Preservation
Texas. He also served on the city
of Galveston’s building standards
commission and was its chair. He
has been responsible for saving and
preserving many historic buildings
in Galveston as director of the
foundation’s active revolving fund.
2000
Jessica Watson
Hammons,
accounting, has
been elected
Partner at
Thompson
& Knight,
LLP law firm
in Dallas. She is a member of the
Firm’s Corporate and Securities
Practice Group, advising clients
on securities matters, mergers and
acquisitions, as well as the adoption
and implementation of corporate
governance policies and procedures.
Ramunda K. Russell, mechanical
engineering, has been recognized
by The Global Directory of Who’s
Who for outstanding contributions
and achievements in the field of
Energy, Utilities and Resources.
She is a senior engineer at NRG
Energy, specializing in mechanical
engineering. She is a licensed
professional engineer in Teas with
11.5 years experience and a recipient
of the TXU Diversity Advancement
Award.
Kyle Steven
Templin,
chemical
engineering,
was named
“Outstanding
Lead Actor in a
Drama” at the
2011 Los Angeles Web Series Festival
for his work in “Breaking Point,”
an independent television project
designed to air online. Season 2
launched April 10. The show’s website
is breakingpointshow.com
2001
Jeremy W. Gantt, accounting, was
re-elected to serve as a Director to
the Deep South Equipment Dealers
Association. The Deep South
Equipment Dealers Association is
made up of Agricultural, Industrial
and Outdoor Power Equipment
Dealers in Louisiana and South
Mississippi, and is headquartered
in Baton Rouge. He is manager of
Ruston Tractor, Inc., a New Holland
and Kubota dealer.
Ella Marin Kennen, industrial/
organizational psychology, is a
finalist in a popular competition
by storybook app MeeGenius. Her
latest children’s tale, “The Reluctant
Caterpillar,” advanced among a field
of nearly 400 to reach the final 13.
2002
Brooke Lassiter
Stoehr, business
administration,
has been named
co-head coach
along with
her husband,
Scott, for the
Northwestern
State Lady Demon basketball team.
This will be the Stoehrs’ first head
coaching post from a combined
career that included coaching stops at
North Texas, Texas Tech, Arkansas-
Little Rock, Southern Mississippi and
Louisiana Tech.
2003
Christopher Ellender, aviation
management, has been appointed as
a senior regional sales manager for
Product Support Sales at Gulfstream
in Luton, United Kingdom. He is
responsible for maintenance sales to
Gulfstream operators in Denmark,
Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, the
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Bradley R. Pullin, marketing,
has been selected as a 2011 PING
Regional Club Fitter of the Year for
his commitment to helping golfers
of all skill levels improve their games
through custom fitting. He is Director
of Golf and Head Golf Pro at Squire
Creek Country Club in Choudrant.
2004
Valerie S. Fields, curriculum and
instruction, has been appointed
interim vice president for student
affairs at South Carolina State
University. She has previously served
SC State University as an associate
professor of education and as the
assistant vice president for student
affairs, and currently serves as a
member of the faculty preparing for
reaffirmation of teacher education
programs by NCATE.
2005
Heather
Dixon Bush,
elementary
education,
has received
an award for
Teacher of the
Year for the
Texas Arlington
Independent School District in the
elementary school division. She is in
her seventh year and teaching first
grade in a Title I School.
Giselle M. Chatelain, speech, had a
successful run in the inaugural Times
Square International Theatre Festival
with Woyzeck Musical Deathmetal –
a new musical in which she originated
the role of Carny/Ensemble. It was
extended at the Roy Arias Studios &
Theatre Off-Broadway Theatre.
Megan E. Davenport, French, has
appeared on the television show
“Jeopardy!” She ultimately placed
second in the episode which aired
April 12. She has always wanted to be
on “Jeopardy!,” so she took an online
test, then received an email asking her
to compete in games in Kentucky, and
two months later received a call from
the show.
2006
Ryan C. Collins, accounting, has
joined French Creative Group,
Monroe-based advertising, marketing
and public relations firm, as an
accountant in the accounting
department. He is a first lieutenant
in the Army National Guard and
has served in Afghanistan and in
operations for Hurricane Katrina,
Hurricane Gustav and the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.
Travis G.
Napper,
marketing,
has been
named as the
Ruston-Lincoln
Convention and
Visitors Bureau
president and
CEO. He was previously director
of orientation at Louisiana Tech
University for the past six years.
John Corey Whaley, English (master’s
secondary education 2009), author
of “Where Things Come Back,”
published by Atheneum Books for
Young Readers, a division of Simon &
Schuster, received the 2012 Michael L.
Printz Award for Excellence in Young
Adult Literature. In addition, he
received the William C. Morris Debut
Award, the first time an author has
won both awards. Also, Publishers
Weekly chose the novel as one of the
best books of 2011, and the National
Book Foundation named him a 2011
“5 Under 35” Author.
2007
Monica M. Bennett, mathematics,
received her Ph.D. in statistics from
Baylor University in May 2011.
2008
Leigh Anne Forehand Chambers,
speech, has been named the 2012
Alumna of the Year in Theatre
by Louisiana Tech’s School of the
stAnley nelson (’77)
Performing Arts. She is the Executive
Director of the North Central
Louisiana Arts Council and is
instrumental in the artistic growth
within Lincoln Parish and the entire
North Central Louisiana geographic
area.
2009
Jeffery Ray Anderson, nanosystems
engineering and biomedical
engineering, has been appointed the
director of public utilities for Bossier
City. He joined the public utilities
staff in June 2009 as an engineering
aide and was promoted to assistant
public utilities in September. He
assumed his new position in February
2012.
news neWs about ABout you
A finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2011, Stanley Nelson was honored in the
“local reporting” category for the stories he wrote about the unsolved
murder of Frank Morris. On December 10, 1964, Morris' shoe repair shop
in Ferriday was burned. Morris was still in the building and injuries he
received killed him four days later. It was widely believed that Morris was
killed by the Ku Klux Klan. Nelson has written about 150 stories about the
murder, including one that identified a suspect.
title: Editor, Concordia Sentinel
Hometown: Sicily Island
now resides in: (Cash Bayou) Catahoula Parish
degree: Journalism
wHy did you CHoose tHis Career: I knew I wanted to write and on a lot of days as a freshman on my way to the
post office at Keeny Hall I’d pass The Tech Talk offices and look in through the window at people my age
sitting in front of typewriters writing. I wanted to get on the other side of that glass.
your best memories of teCH: Wiley Hilburn. Plus, his creative writing class and all of the written comments
he made when grading my journal (which I still have). Keeny Hall and the post office (all the girls
walked by The Tech Talk sports office, which is why I started out in sports). All of the great journalism
faculty, advisors and students there (we had great parties). Great concerts, all kinds of sports, outstanding
professors, a creative environment. When I think about it, I miss those days, and the great friendships.
tell us How tHe series of pieCes began tHat led to your pulitzer reCognition: In February 2007, the FBI released
its list of 100-plus unsolved Civil Rights-era murders that it was considering reopening. The name of Frank
Morris (murdered in the arson of his shoe shop in Ferriday in 1964) was on the list. I wrote my first story
about him two hours later.
talk a little if you would about How your interest/passion for tHe story grew, and How your life migHt Have
CHanged just a little, or not, sinCe your investigation and storytelling of tHis issue began: Frank Morris’
granddaughter (Rosa Williams) called and said “thank you for writing about my grandfather.” She said
she’d learned more in my first article than she had in 43 years – that no one in law enforcement or anyone
in authority had ever talked to her about his murder and that for all of her life she had been in the dark.
She thought the truth was important, and I soon came to understand that Ferriday and Concordia Parish
needed to know the truth, too.
I contacted families of other murder victims from the region and I began to realize how deep the limbo
of anguish is for victims of unsolved homicides, especially those that occurred during the hate-filled days
when the Klan terrorized communities. I promised them all two things: To write and investigate until the
crimes were solved or until there was nothing else to be done and secondly, to keep them informed and
stay in touch.
The lesson for me is that justice is precious and that we all share responsibility for what happens in our
communities. I have a better appreciation today of the Golden Rule.
For more on Stanley, go to LaTech.edu/TechTriumphs
Laura Hogan Katzenmeyer, English,
graduated with a juris doctorate
from Mississippi College in Jackson,
Miss. She was the recipient of several
awards, including multiple American
jurisprudence awards and the
Litigation Section of the Mississippi
Bar Award. She served as casenote/
comment editor of the Law Review,
member of the Moot Court Board
and member of the Order of the
Barristers.
Cheylon K. Woods, history, is one
of seven archival fellows currently
participating in Increasing African
American Diversity in Archives:
The HistoryMakers’ Fellowship,
Mentoring, Training and Placement
Institute. She is an archival fellow
WWW.LATECH.EDu | 31

neWs ABout you
in residence at The Alabama
Department of Archives & History.
The archive’s collections include
records of those of enslaved men
and women within estate files,
manumission records, court
documents, the Alabama 1867 voter
registration records database, and the
governor’s papers dating back to 1819.
WeDDeD Bliss
1997
Katherine Elizabeth Palmieri,
consumer affairs (master's secondary
education 2010), and Chad Lowery
Beach, Feb. 19, 2012, West Monroe
1998
Jamie Nicole Gibson, psychology
(master’s industrial/organizational
psychology 2001), and James
Matthew Pipes Land, Dec. 17, 2011,
Choudrant
Patrick James Thibodeaux,
educational psychology, and Shirley
Mae Bee, Feb. 25, 2012, Eunice
2001
Jonathan Michael Tynes, political
science, and Carey Norman Rushing,
March 10, 2012, Shreveport
2003
Lindsey Ann Daugherty, marketing,
and Clay Sawyer Costello,
agricultural business 2004, March 10,
2012, Bastrop
Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris,
kinesiology and health promotion,
and Jacqueline Marie Gulla, Feb. 18,
2012, Simsboro
2004
Courtney Denise Buffington,
marketing, and Benjamin Martin
Worley, Feb. 2012, Atlanta, Ga.
Joan Robison Grafton, marketing,
and Ryan Keith McMaster, May 19,
2012, Shreveport
Gregory Wayne Smith, biology, and
Lillian Elaine Haik, March 17, 2012,
Ruston
Jennifer Denise Watson, journalism,
and William Edmiston, March 31,
2012, Shreveport
2005
Elizabeth Irene Chisolm, civil
engineering (master's engineering
2007), and John Clifton Matthews,
construction engineering technology
2004 (master's engineering 2006),
April 14, 2012, Ragley
Michael Wayne Eddy, chemical
engineering, and Ashley Adair
32 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
Lindsey, May 21, 2012, Texarkana,
Ark.
Leslie Diane Highfill, biology
(master's biology 2007), and Nicholas
Emmanuel Oglesby, April 14, 2012,
Monroe
Austin Thomas Lash, biology, and
Aubrey J. Johnson, Feb. 4, 2012,
Shreveport
Margaret Baughman Roane,
nutrition and dietetics, and Preston
Rabun Smith, sociology 2007
(marketing 2009), April 6, 2012,
Shreveport
2006
Amanda Ruth Davis, interior design,
and Robert Brown Haynie, computer
information systems 2004, May 26,
2012, Shreveport
Mary Katherine Radcliff, general
studies, and John Michael Sour,
May 5, 2012, Minden
2007
Megan B. Hayes, social studies, and
Joseph Hutchinson Johnson, May 20,
2012, Shreveport
Claudia Elizabeth Thomas, family
and child studies, and Carlton Brock
Haggard, business management and
entrepreneurship 2009, March 10,
2012, Shreveport
2008
David Thomas Atkins, biology, and
Heather Elizabeth Lancaster,
March 10, 2012, Shreveport
Joseph Thomas Bowman,
construction engineering technology,
and Sarah Michelle Nichols, Feb. 25,
2012, Shreveport
Anna Katherine Coates, nursing,
and Robert Casey Plummer, April 28,
2012, Dallas
Lindsey Ann Graham, sociology, and
Patrick Spencer Avinger, March 3,
2012, Dubach
Michelle Lee Jones, kinesiology and
health promotion, and Jacob Daniel
Landry, Feb. 4, 2012, Ruston
Holly E. McKay, preprofessional
speech language pathology (master's
speech pathology 2011), and Klein
Matthew Swannie, professional
aviation 2007, March 24, 2012,
Grapevine, Texas
Adam R. Tidwell, business
administration, and Kathryn Marie
Locantro, Oct. 1, 2011, Baton Rouge
Kyle Daniel White, finance, and
Erica Leigh Combs, April 13, 2012,
Lafayette
Jonathan Donald Willard, civil
engineering, and Emily Cooper
Anders, May 5, 2012, Baton Rouge
2009
Stacey B. Brown, math education,
and Coy Brotherton, March 24, 2012,
Greenwood
K’Anne Marie Cash, biology, and
Caleb Michael Arthur, biology 2006,
May 12, 2012, Shreveport
Lane Matthew White, health and
physical education, and Sara Janee’
Griffin, May 26, 2012, Berwick
2010
Megan Elizabeth Boggs, family and
child studies, and James Ryan Faler,
May 5, 2012, Shreveport
Lee Alan Gilley, mechanical
engineering, and Leigh Ann Simpson,
April 14, 2012, West Monroe
Emily Diane Gullatt, interior design,
and Taylor Caraway Byrd, March 24,
2012, Jackson, Miss.
Caitlin Denise McAlpin, accounting
(master's accounting 2012), and
Paul Harlan LeMaire, construction
engineering technology 2011,
March 10, 2012, Robeline
Kelsey Suzanne Nash, nursing, and
Jeremy Jerome Redden, May 5, 2012,
Arcadia
Candace Nicole Payne, counseling
and guidance, and Matthew Cole
Guice, March 3, 2012, Bossier City
Amber Faith Ryals, nursing, and Clay
Dean Bryant, nursing, April 14, 2012,
Ruston
Peter Gaines Scurlock, mechanical
engineering, and Holly Ann Gaines,
March 10, 2012, Stuttgart, Ark.
Rodney Alan Smith, photography,
and Jessica Ashley Forsse, Feb. 25,
2012, Ruston
Quandrea Tobin, accounting, and
Phillip Allen, May 19, 2012, Ruston
2011
Lauren Michelle Abshier, pyschology,
and Robert Erich Cathey, April 2012,
Monroe
Alyssa Marie Chelette, accounting,
and Jacob Ben Allen, April 21, 2012,
West Monroe
Christy Lynn Duncan,
merchandising and consumer studies,
and Justin Warren Post, business
management and entrepreneurship
2010, March 10, 2012, Ruston
Joseph Grant Ford, sociology, and
Lauren Kate Simmons, March 10,
2012, Bossier City
Meghan Elizabeth Jordan, biology,
and Adam Dwain Bryan, electrical
engineering technology 2010, May
12, 2012, Simsboro
Christopher H. Rathburn, business
management and entrepreneurship,
and Megan Reichert, May 26, 2012,
Ruston
Ashley Marie Townsend, biology,
and Kaleb Micah Hamby, mechanical
engineering 2009, May 5, 2012,
Haughton
Jon Michael Wages, speech, and
Reagan Bess Robinette, May 26, 2012,
Jonesboro
Corey Daniel Wells, general studies,
and Celena Frances Chandler,
April 21, 2012, Bossier City
2012
Jodie Ann Bimle, speech, and Reece
Aaron Morphew, marketing 2009,
April 14, 2012, Ruston
stork rePort
1993
Robyn White St. Andre, psychology,
and Dustin St. Andre, daughter,
Graceanna Glynn, Jan. 13, 2012,
Ruston
1996
Leigh McCready Gass, accounting,
and David Gass, daughter, Nola
Katherine, Jan. 23, 2012, Phoenix,
Ariz.
Carlos Antonio Torres, finance, and
Alicia Celaya Torres, son, Sebastian,
Feb. 28, 2012, Avondale, Ariz.
1997
Melanie O’Quin Rice, civil
engineering, and Andrew Rice,
daughter, Tierney Paige, June 1, 2011,
Tucson, Ariz.
1999
Kristy Culpepper Powell, early
childhood education, and Scott
Powell, son, Colton Scott, Oct. 13,
2011, Quitman
Julie Berry Shirley, merchandising
and consumer affairs, and Matthew
Randolph Shirley, health and physical
education/fitness wellness 1998, son,
Levi Thomas, March 16, 2012, Ruston
2000
Amanda Russell Brown, elementary
education, and Nicholson Brown,
son, Brett Andrew, March 10, 2012,
Ruston
2001
Kimberly Hood Audi, family infancy
and early childhood education, and
Daniel James Audi, daughter, Abigail
Elizabeth, Feb. 15, 2012, Arlington,
Texas
Amanda Arnold Cauley, psychology,
and Nicholas James Cauley, general
studies 2004, daughter, Josephine Joy
“Josie,” Jan. 31, 2012, Ruston
Johanna Brown Moak, speech, and
Michael Moak, daughter, Emerson
Kate, Jan. 22, 2012, Conroe, Texas
Barbara Noles Tims, elementary
education, and Heath Eric Tims,
mechanical engineering, son, Graham
David, Feb. 10, 2012, Ruston
Gerrud Alexander Wallaert,
electrical engineering, and Kelly
Davenport Wallaert, son, Jack
Alexander, May 2, 2012, Chicago
Lauren Thurmon Wiley, biology, and
Jimmy Wayne Wiley, history 1996,
daughter, Sydney Josephine, Jan. 27,
2012, Baton Rouge
2002
Craig Michael Bryan, human
resources management, and Lori
Waddell Bryan, son, Dylan Michael,
April 2, 2012, Overland Park, Kan.
Ryan Reeves Kilpatrick, history, and
Sarah Grigsby Kilpatrick, son, Rhodes
Benson, March 25, 2012, Ruston
DeAnna Carter Morrow, family
infancy and early childhood
education, and Daniel Shane
Morrow, computer information
systems 1999 (master's business
administration 2011), son, Mayson
Carter, March 21, 2012, Ruston
Jean Dailey Sanders, environmental
science, and William Pearson
Sanders, biology, son, William Dailey,
April 25, 2012, Ruston
James Blakely Smith, electrical
engineering technology, and
Dominique Smith, son, Austin Ripley,
June 27, 2011, Baton Rouge
2003
Rachael Guagliardo Beck, family and
child studies, and Denis Paul Beck,
elementary education 2002, daughter,
Camille Elizabeth, Feb. 27, 2012,
Covington
Magan Foster Causey, economics,
and Maxie Timothy Causey,
marketing 2002 (master's business
administration 2003), son, Barnes
Clinton, March 8, 2012, Shreveport
Brandon P. Jordan, political science,
and Whitney Jordan, son, Rivers Lee,
March 13, 2012, Deridder
Marie McCarthy Myers,
marketing, and James Edward
Myers, professional aviation, son,
Christopher Allen, April 27, 2012,
Thibodaux
Kristen McCartney Telford,
elementary education (master's
curriculum and instruction 2010),
and Jeremy Lane Telford, business
management and entrepreneurship
1999, daughter, Emma Kate, Jan. 22,
2012, Dubach
Melissa Clark Whitworth, sociology
(master's industrial/organizational
psychology 2005), and Andrew James
Whitworth, son, Michael Lee, April 3,
2012, Fort Thomas, Ky.
2004
John Robert Bolton, business
administration, and Tiffany Bolton,
daughter, Sloane Emerson, Jan. 12,
2012, Fort Worth
William Martin Cantrell, secondary
education, and Sheila Colvin Cantrell,
son, Thomas Drew, April 26, 2012,
Ruston
Lauren Zachry Carter, general
studies (elementary education 2006),
and Jared W. Carter, daughter, Carley
Rae, April 4, 2012, Ruston
Valerie Gashel Costanza, nutrition
and dietetics (master's nutrition and
dietetics 2005), and Samuel Thomas
Costanza, industrial engineering
2003, son, Thomas Anderson, May 9,
2012, Ruston
Nicole Broussard Napoli, journalism,
and Matthew C. Napoli, mechanical
engineering, daughter, Eleanor Marie,
June 15, 2011, Alexandria, Va.
Lindsey Thurmon Norris, biology,
and Bradley Heath Norris, business
management and entrepreneurship,
daughter, Emma Elizabeth, March 7,
2012, Madison, Miss.
Jamie Michael Roberts, finance
(nursing 2012), and Tammy Owen
Roberts, son, Cale Ryan, Jan. 26,
2012, Ruston
Jana House Thomas, merchandising
and consumer studies, and
Christopher Scott Thomas, son,
Porter Alexander, March 28, 2012,
Dubach
Rebecca Neal Williams, mathematics
(master's mathematics 2006), and
Gereme Lea Williams, elementary
education 2000, son, Charles Neal,
May 3, 2012, Ruston
2005
Amy Grifka Crittenden, elementary
education, and Kelly Blayne Crittenden,
biomedical engineering 1996
(doctorate engineering 2001), son,
David Bradley, Feb. 23, 2012, Ruston
C. Allan Martin IV, marketing, and
Amanda Maxwell Martin, son, Avery
Stone, Sept, 2, 2011, Monroe
Kristin Kilpatrick Stuart, elementary
education, and Robert Franklin
Stuart, daughter, Pearce Elizabeth,
May 2, 2012, Orlando
2006
Kasy Robinson Black, accounting
(master's accounting 2007), and Matt
Black, son, William Matthew “Liam,”
March 13, 2012, Ruston
Nicole Power Brossett, accounting,
and Kenneth Paul Brossett, graphic
design, son, Sawyer Paul, April 1,
2012, Alexandria
Allison Burns Dixon, animal science,
son, Brannon Levi Burns Dixon,
Dec. 6, 2011, Ruston
Benjamin R. Lemoine, construction
engineering technology, and Susie
Barr Lemoine, daughter, Clara Faith,
Dec. 2, 2011, Moreauville
Lida Millman Mathews, family and
child studies, and Kenneth Lynn
Mathews, aviation management,
daughter, Kenley Olivia, March 7,
2012, Spring, Texas
James Windsor Pipes, mechanical
engineering, and Naomi
Chrissoverges Pipes, daughter, Bailey
Ann, Feb. 14, 2012, Katy, Texas
Tiphanie Warren Sumrall,
elementary education, and Jerry
Dustin Sumrall, computer
information systems, daughter, Molly
Kate, March 14, 2012, Pineville
Christal Beach Workman,
architecture, and Stephen Anthony
Workman, business management
and entrepreneurship 2007,
daughter, Reagan Leigh, May 8, 2012,
Alexandria
2007
Carrifrances DiCarlo Alexander,
biology (master's secondary education
2009), and Michael Jason Alexander,
son, Grant Robert, March 29, 2012,
Ruston
Crystal Robinson Ehrhard,
merchandising and consumer studies
(master's secondary education 2011),
and Steven Lloyd Ehrhard, social
studies 2006, son, Nolan Barnett,
May 6, 2012, Ruston
Lisa Bradley McGehee,
merchandising and consumer studies,
and Robert Paxton McGehee,
agricultural business 2008, son,
Paxton Andrew, April 10, 2012,
Monroe
Cydni Hightower Scroggs, family
and child studies, and Matthew
Christopher Scroggs, business
neWs ABout you
administration, son, Sidney Maxwell,
Dec. 22, 2011, Ruston
Jena Stubblefield Shockley,
photography, and Daniel Wayde
Shockley, English 1998 (sociology
1999, speech 2000), daughter,
Kennedy Isabelle, Dec. 7, 2011,
Ruston
Shantrell Moore Williams, sociology,
and Tramon Vernell Williams,
sociology 2005, daughter, Trinity
Lynette, March 14, 2012, Richmond,
Texas
2008
Rebekah Ann Bethke, family and
child studies, and Thomas L. Bethke,
general studies 2007, son, Dean
Matthew, April 23, 2012, Longville
Mattieu T. Bissell, nursing, and
Kristen Ledet Bissell, daughters,
Emma Kate and Lily Grace, Nov. 13,
2011, Ruston
Millie Carroll Haymon, family
and child studies (master's early
childhood education 2010), and
Jacob Daniel Haymon, construction
engineering technology 2007,
daughter, Birdie Claire, May 8, 2012,
Ruston
2009
Joseph Andrew Hearington, social
studies education, and Laura Gardner
Hearington, son, Joseph Andrew II,
May 16, 2012, West Monroe
Jessica Copes Williams, family
and child studies, and Brandon
Wade Williams, accounting 2006,
daughter, Sadee Grace, Sept. 28, 2011,
Choudrant
2010
Tara Kaufman Stone, family and
child studies, and Matt Stone,
daughter, Audrey Grace, May 10,
2012, Ruston
2011
Emily Thomas Kozar, early
childhood education, and Graham
Edward Kozar, computer information
systems 2004, daughter, Catherine
Claire, May 22, 2012, Ruston
in memoriAm
1922
Mary Mount Puddy, 108, education,
March 15, 2012, Peachtree City, Ga.
1933
Elena Rodgers Leblanc, 99, arts
and sciences, March 19, 2012,
Williamston, Mich.
WWW.LATECH.EDu | 33

neWs ABout you
1936
Christine Hardin Driggers, 96,
education, Feb. 13, 2012, Las Cruces,
N.M.
1938
Helen Hollis Colvin, 94, business
administration, Feb. 26, 2012, Bernice
1939
Clement Scott Yeager Jr., 93,
mechanical engineering, Feb. 27,
2012, Ball
1940
Lucile Davis Ashby, 92, business
administration, April 7, 2012,
Downsville
Carolyn Null Butler, 91, arts and
sciences, Feb. 24, 2012, Shreveport
1941
Eleanor Stout Philippi, 91, office
administration, May 8, 2012,
Opelousas
Ira Dean Reeves, 92, agricultural
education, May 18, 2012, Jonesboro
1942
Helen Price Rutledge, 91, arts and
sciences, June 4, 2012, West Monroe
1943
Mary Alice O’Neal Campell, 91,
home economics, May 31, 2012,
Monroe
Dorothy Wood Glover, 89, education,
Jan. 9, 2012, Loudon, Tenn.
John Dale Holland, 89, accounting,
May 11, 2012, Jackson, Miss.
James R. Phillips, 88, business
administration, May 31, 2011,
Richardson, Texas
1944
Euline Blackmon Hollis, 89, home
economics, Dec. 29, 2011, Plano,
Texas
Nettie White Robinson, 88, arts and
sciences, March 5, 2012, Sheffield,
Ala.
1945
Mary Talbot Busbee, 85, arts and
sciences, March 3, 2012, Stone
Mountain, Ga.
Mary Cole Colvin, 86, home
economics education, April 23, 2012,
Ruston
Albert John Ehlert, 90, arts and
sciences, Jan. 20, 2012, Coral Gables,
Fla.
1946
Allie Ingram Brooks, 87, arts and
sciences, May 9, 2012, West Monroe
1947
Madge Risinger Chandler, 84,
education (master’s education 1970),
March 5, 2012, Ruston
1948
Samuel Sentell Cappel, 86, speech,
Jan. 2, 2012, Covington
John Denmon Garner Sr., 90,
education, May 17, 2012, Ruston
Ruth Killgore Tolson, 88, arts and
sciences, Jan. 30, 2012, Monroe
1949
Clarence Edward DePingre, 90,
electrical engineering, Feb. 3, 2012,
Galveston, Texas
Judith Clinton Yarberry Holland, 83,
art (master’s art education 1964),
May 11, 2012, Ruston
Audna Acklen Young, 83, home
economics, Jan. 21, 2012, Shreveport
1950
Carl Davis Bonner, 84, electrical
engineering, Jan. 9, 2012, Lake
Providence
Robert Uriah Brasher, 90, education,
May 17, 2012, Ruston
Alvin Truett Conn, 89, life sciences,
Feb. 12, 2012, El Dorado, Ark.
Myra Cummings Deaton, 84, home
economics, May 3, 2012, Kentwood
Bruce Elton Facundus, 82, chemistry,
May 16, 2012, Clancy, Mont.
Charles Davis Golson, 85, electrical
engineering, May 1, 2012, Sterling,
Va.
Norman H. Martien Jr., 85, chemical
engineering, Feb. 1, 2012, Denham
Springs
Benjamin E. Means, 86, civil
engineering, Oct. 21, 2011, Hot
Springs, Ark.
Doyle Rehfeldt Parker, 86, English,
March 18, 2012, Monroe
Bennie Liner Thompson, 85, home
economics, April 5, 2012, Ruston
1951
James Wilson Beck Sr., 87,
accounting, May 13, 2012, Dubach
Marvin E. Bryant, 82, mechanical
engineering, April 13, 2012,
Beavercreek, Ohio
Mary Lynch Foil, 82, education,
Jan. 29, 2012, Alexandria
John R. Humble Jr., 84, chemical
engineering, May 16, 2012,
Bellingham, Wash.
1952
Oreatha Saterfiel Bond, 81, education
(master’s education 1964), Jan. 19,
2012, West Monroe
George William Byrnside, 81,
marketing, April 28, 2012, Ruston
M. L. Kilpatrick Jr., 82, music
(master’s music education 1970),
April 6, 2012, Arcadia
Otis L. Pratt, 82, civil engineering,
May 11, 2012, Theodore, Ala.
William Earl Sears Jr., 87, civil
engineering, May 2, 2012, Ruston
1953
Reber C. Dillard, 81, business
administration, Oct. 15, 2011, Beaver
Dam, Wis.
Patsy Scogin Holloway, 79, office
administration, March 26, 2012,
Dallas
Fred Byron Hudgens Jr., 79, business
administration, March 30, 2011,
Crossett, Ark.
Cleo Clark Matkins Jr., 82,
agricultural engineering (master’s
counseling and guidance 1978),
May 6, 2012, Shreveport
Thomas Rutledge Post, 80, business
administration, May 16, 2012,
Winston Salem, N.C.
1954
James E. Davis, 82, business
administration, Oct. 12, 2011,
Richmond, Ky.
Bobby Ray Parker, 79, health and
physical education, March 8, 2012,
Minden
1955
George Wayne Byram, 79, pre-med,
March 12, 2012, Minden
1956
Peggy Mitchell Lewis, 77, art, Feb. 23,
2012, Irving, Texas
Roe Kinson McCasland, 78, forestry,
Oct. 25, 2011, San Antonio
Hilda Manchester Randall, 77,
education, April 10, 2012, Youngsville
Charles Landry Wiley, 77, chemistry,
Jan. 11, 2012, Blanchard
1957
Ralph Donald Cross, 76, business
administration, May 26, 2012,
Shreveport
1958
Betty Kelly Whitaker, 75, education,
April 1, 2012, Tyler, Texas
1959
Louis Sanford Harp, 89, life sciences,
Jan. 25, 2012, Sherwood, Ark.
Elzie Efton Rockett, 79, math
education, Feb. 2012, Spearsville
1960
Vernon Thomas Baldwin, 85, premed,
May 9, 2012, Winnsboro
Joy Kennedy Cathey, 72, education,
May 23, 2012, Clarksville, Tenn.
1961
Jimmy Harvey Head, 82, education
(master’s education), March 24, 2012,
Monroe
1962
Monroe L. Ingram Jr., 75, education,
Dec. 19, 2011, Longview, Texas
Jerry Vance Rockett, 71, forestry,
April 15, 2012, Heathsville, Va.
1963
John Michael Fitzsimons, 71, arts
and sciences, May 20, 2012, Baton
Rouge
James O. Ricks Jr., 72, forestry/
wildlife, May 4, 2012, Shreveport
1964
James Patrick Shows, 69, business
administration, March 21, 2012,
Shreveport
1965
Marion Charles Battenfield, 72,
electrical engineering, April 4, 2012,
Barboursville, Va.
1966
Tommy Wilson McKinney, 67,
accounting, Jan. 20, 2012, Harvey
John Randall Tabor, 72, education,
Jan. 17, 2012, Bethany
1967
Judith Telford Crawford, 66,
elementary education (master’s
elementary education 1984), May 15,
2012, Dubach
1968
Sondra McCrary Clark, 65,
journalism, April 21, 2012, Ruston
Sally Hewitt Daniel, 65, education,
Feb. 6, 2012, Greenwood Village, Colo.
Jack Dalton Hatcher, 67, general
studies, Jan. 30, 2012, Shreveport
Sandra Beaty Moors, 65, education,
Feb. 13, 2012, Dennis, Texas
1969
Lee Arron Montet, 66, mathematics,
March 20, 2012, Erath
Bruce Frazier Robinson, 65,
mechanical engineering, April 10,
2012, Kingwood, Texas
1970
Madelyn Newman Haynes, 64,
education, April 16, 2012, West
Monroe
Howard Clinton Shaw Jr., 64, civil
engineering, Feb. 23, 2012, Navasota,
Texas
Corinne Sills Strickland, 91, home
economics, Feb. 27, 2012, Shreveport
1971
Larry D. Martin, 64, accounting, May
17, 2012, Irmo, S.C.
1972
Gregory L. Farque, 61, industrial
engineering, May 20, 2012, Little
Rock, Ark.
Nancy Dennard Kilbourne, 60, fine
arts, May 22, 2012, Ethel
Gregory A. Luetkemeyer, 64,
business data processing (master’s
business administration 1982), May
14, 2012, Freeburg, Mo.
Tommie Baird Pepper, 84, science
education, April 4, 2012, Haughton
David Michael Waller, 65, general
studies, March 12, 2012, Monroe
1973
Raymond Richard Giska Jr., 64,
business administration, March 4,
2012, Monroe
Carlton Harvey Hall, 63, professional
aviation, March 24, 2012, Shreveport
Charles W. McCreary, 60, business
administration, May 24, 2012,
Shreveport
Sally Elisa Seeliger, 60, education,
May 16, 2012, Shreveport
1974
Joel Gaylon Chandler, 68, economics,
May 7, 2012, Shreveport
Charles M. Robertson III, 60,
psychology, March 9, 2012, Lake
Charles
1975
Charles Thomas C. Rutledge, 65,
forestry, May 26, 2012, Benton
1976
Robert Henry Lotz, 64, electrical
engineering, April 4, 2012, Luling
Alice Springer Warren, 73, education,
Jan. 7, 2012, San Antonio
1977
Ned Richard Duffey, 60, electrical
engineering, Jan. 12, 2012, Crossett,
Ark.
1978
Gregg Howe II, 56, plant science,
March 8, 2012, Gloster
1979
Walter Green Fornea Jr., 53, land
survey technology (civil engineering
1984), Jan. 25, 2012, Madisonville
1981
Harvey Lorin Skraback, USAF
(Ret.), 82, general studies (master’s
industrial/organizational psychology
1984, master’s counseling 1988), Feb.
23, 2012, Bossier City
1982
Teresa Purdy Bush, 63, special
education, April 27, 2012, Kenner
John Harold Pepper, 53, architecture,
Feb. 15, 2012, Townsend, Del.
Robert Lawrence Sanders, 59, art,
April 20, 2012, Glen Allen, Va.
1983
Danny Joe Fuller, 69, industrial/
organizational psychology (master’s
business management and
entrepreneurship 1987), April 28,
2012, Springfield, Mo.
1985
Stephen Joseph Davitt Jr., 59, finance,
April 8, 2012, Mobile, Ala.
1987
Christopher Chibuzo Ibeh,
58, engineering, Feb. 6, 2012,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Richard Lee Rodgers, 60, general
studies, Jan. 8, 2012, Fayetteville, Ark.
1989
Susan Griffith Donald, 55, nutrition
and dietetics, April 12, 2012, West
Monroe
Kay Godfrey Ellender, 69, English
education, March 27, 2012, Columbia
Darlene Williams Knight, 57,
nursing, April 23, 2012, Downsville
1990
Paul Langenbeck Jr., 45, mechanical
engineering, Feb. 21, 2012, Metairie
Tracy Sean Robinson, 43, general
studies, Feb. 7, 2012, Dubberly
1994
Jason Matthew McKean, 40,
professional aviation, Jan. 19, 2012,
Amite
1998
Kasey T. Kramer, 39, nursing,
Dec. 21, 2011, New Iberia
2002
Kourtney Martin Morgan, 34,
nutrition and dietetics, March 6,
2012, Slidell
GEORGE BYRNSIDE, VICE PRESIDENT EMERITUS
news neWs about ABout you you
2005
Catherine Elizabeth Hickman,
30, animal science, April 12, 2012,
Shreveport
2007
Nagesh Babu Idupulapati,
29, molecular sciences and
nanotechnology (doctorate
engineering 2009), March 2012,
Richland, Wash.
in memoriAm
(FRiENDS oR RETiRED
FACuLTY/STAFF)
Abraham M. Attrep, 79, April 29,
2012, Ruston
Eugene Cottrell, 85, April 26, 2012,
Shreveport
Maxine Stephenson Davis, 85,
April 17, 2012, Ruston
Patricia Carmichael Edmiston, 74,
April 29, 2012, Ruston
C. Lloyd Halliburton, 77, April 15,
2012, Natchitoches
Lola Barnes Harris, 88, March 18,
2012, Springhill
Benjamin Pat Kincannon, 87,
April 16, 2012, Ruston
Alfred L. Miller, 87, May 2, 2012, San
Antonio
William John Raggio Jr., 85, Feb. 24,
2012, Reno, Nev.
James A. Webb Jr., 87, April 1, 2012,
Ruidoso, N.M.
Emmett Craig Wroten, 87, Feb. 7,
2012, Metairie
He was a “rock” for Louisiana Tech, sure and steady, wise and loyal. When George Byrnside passed away in April at
age 81, Tech lost a true friend and a person that made all those around him better.
A native of Lafayette, Byrnside was a Ruston resident for more than 60 years. He was a member of both the football
and track teams while a student at Tech, as well as Kappa Sigma and Delta Sigma Pi. After graduation from the
College of Administration and Business in 1952, he served three years in the United States Army and returned to
Tech in 1960 as Assistant Business Manager. In 1972, he was named Vice President for Administrative Affairs, a
position he held for 25 years until his 1997 retirement. He was recognized as Alumnus of the Year by Tech’s College
of Administration and Business in 1993.
34 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE WWW.LATECH.EDu | 35

BuilDinG trADition |
campus central
tolliver today is the den at your house when
all your friends come over. In the old days, it was only
the dining room. Set in a high-student-traffic area just off
Centennial Plaza, Tolliver is an all-hours campus hot spot
and has been since re-opening in 2003 after an extensive
makeover.
Upstairs at Tolliver is “where it’s at.” Chain sandwich and
pizza shops. Convenience store. Coffee. Big-screen TV. Lots of
room to mingle, eat and work, and away from the dining area,
couches and a quieter atmosphere for relaxing or studying.
Plus the Student Government Association, Union Board and Greek Life offices are
in Tolliver. Nice setup.
Below is the campus post office, as it has been since the early ’80s.
For years the favorite Food Service site of Tech students with cafeterias both
upstairs and downstairs, Tolliver was completed in 1939 and is named after Irene
Tolliver (inset), the University’s chief dietitian, who died in 1955. For a while the
Union Board Coffee House was in the basement; the cozy atmosphere was special for
twice-a-week movies and the occasional small concert.
Keeny Hall’s renovation in the early ’80s necessitated Union Board’s move to the
Student Center as campus police and the post office moved from Keeny to Tolliver’s
basement. Except for the post office, Tolliver was closed around ’88; the Student
Center had just been renovated and Tolliver needed significant repairs to remain
open. Food Service used it for storage for more than a decade until its modern, most functional rebirth.
Special thanks to Archives and Special Collections, Prescott Memorial Library, to Sam Wallace, and to Joshua Williams and Thomas Soto,
authors, “Louisiana Tech University Building History.”
36 | LouiSiANA TECH MAGAZiNE
Each issue, we look back at Louisiana Tech’s history
through its buildings and their namesakes.
Time ouT for Tech
Saturday, Oct. 20
Bring your high school student to
visit your alma mater!
Cost: $10 a person, includes a meal and
ticket to Tech vs. Idaho
Call or visit us online:
318.257.3036 or 1.800.LATeCH1
latech.edu/admissions/toft
v
Top 10 Reasons to Love Ruston
10. Quality housing
9. Strong sense of community
8. Easy to access
7. Regional hub for healthcare
services
6. Diverse business base and strong
entrepreneurial spirit
5. Downtown - the heart of Ruston
4. Quality education system
3. Flourishing arts and entertainment
2. Thriving quality of life
1. Louisiana Tech University - A Top Tier
National University
Remember Ruston
For more information, visit www.ruston.org or
contact Kristi Lumpkin, City of Ruston’s Economic
Development Administrator, at (318) 251-8643.

Louisiana Tech Alumni Association
900 Tech Drive
P.O. Box 3183
Ruston, LA 71272-0001
LOUISIANA TECH
VS
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
F O O T B A L L G A M E T R I P
sponsored by the
LA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION and LTAC
SEPTEMBER 27-30
AVAILABLE TOURS
UVA Rotunda and Academic Village
Montpelier (Home of James Madison)
Monticello (Home of Thomas Jefferson)
Michie Tavern
Ash Lawn-Highland (Home of James Monroe)
PRE-GAME PARTY
GAME TICKETS
ALL GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Register today at www.LaTechAlumni.org/UVATrip
or call the Marbury Alumni Center at 318-255-7950.
Starting at $205 per person
(airfare and accommodations not included)
F O O T B A L L T W O T H O U S A N D T W E L V E
nOnPROfiT ORg.
u.s. POsTAge
PAiD
knOxviLLe, Tn
PeRmiT nO. 1