by Ron Hamilton - LaGrange College

y Ron Hamilton
COLUMNS, Winter 2007 13

This year’s Homecoming theme, Great Expectations,
was literary in nature, a “tip of the hat”
to the library groundbreaking, which got the
weekend under way Friday morning. But, of course,
the theme referenced more than the library. It spoke
of the expectations of all who came back to their alma
mater: expectations of good times, good food and
good memories mixed in with voices saying, “Good to
see you.”
With the weekend built around Saturday’s football
game, the College’s south campus was once again
the hub of Homecoming activity. The gridiron competition,
which began at 6 p.m., was the Panther’s first
evening contest at Callaway Stadium, and according
to Senior Director of Development and College Relations
Martha Pirkle, the later kickoff was a nice excuse
for some extended tailgating.
“People came early and stayed late,” Pirkle said.
“We had tailgaters who arrived here at 8 o’clock that
morning and didn’t leave until 11 o’clock that night.”
And, Pirkle said, Homecoming attendees arrived
in big numbers as well.
“Last year, with the attraction of the first Homecoming
football game, we had great attendance,” she
said, “but this year was even better—and I heard so
many stories of alumni who made it back for the first
time in years.”
In addition to the groundbreaking and football
game, another Homecoming highlight was this year’s
Alumni Celebration, which took place Saturday morning.
The event offered a time to recognize the classes
in reunion as well as several alumni award winners.
Saturday morning also saw the Homecoming Parade
caravan weave its way though the south campus
for the second year in a row. This year’s parade float
winners were the sisters of Kappa Delta, who rode
atop a “Wish Upon a Star” themed float.
The Panthers came up short in the Saturday evening
football game against nearby rival Huntingdon,
but the atmosphere and attendance were impressive.
During halftime, Nicki Gosdin ’08 of Newnan was
crowned the Homecoming Queen, and the International
Club was announced as the Banner Winner.
After the game, a big crowd hung around to hear
Eagles tribute band Tequila Sunrise perform to
mark the final highlight of an event-filled day.
The weekend concluded Sunday with the
morning LaGrange
College Community
Memorial
Service in the
Chapel and the
afternoon Sports
Hall of Fame induction
in the Student
Center. n
Below, Doug Smith ’72, a cheerleader during his days on the Hill, waves the
team banner just before the football game’s kickoff. Smith was given the
honor of leading the team onto the field for the Panthers first evening contest
at Callaway Stadium. Though rival Huntingdon won the game, the attendance
and atmosphere were impressive.
Below right, Janice Johnson Hall ’84 holds her organization’s banner during the
Alumni Celebration held Oct. 27 at Callaway Auditorium. The event offered a
time to recognize classes in reunion as well as several alumni award winners.
Nicki Gosdin ’08 accepts a hug from
Demetris Render ’08 shortly after
being named Homecoming Queen
during halftime of the football game.
Kappa Delta won the parade float
contest, while the International Club
was the banner winner.
14 COLUMNS, Winter 2007

Wall of Outstanding Alumni
Dr. Arne Dietrich
Dr. Arne Dietrich graduated from LaGrange College with
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in 1990 and went
on to earn the Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from the
University of Georgia.
Dietrich is currently an associate professor of psychology
and chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral
Sciences at the American University of Beirut. His current
research interests are the cognitive neuroscience of
physical exercise and the neural basis of altered states of consciousness.
His research has been featured in CNN, Reuters, ABC News, Yahoo.com,
Runner’s World, Prevention and National Geographic Adventure.
Katrina Pittman Graham
Katrina Graham attended LaGrange College for two years
before transferring to the University of Georgia and earning
her bachelor’s degree in 1969.
For more than 30 years, Graham worked in the natural
gas industry, including serving as director of civic affairs of
AGL Resources, the parent company of Atlanta Gas Light Co.
Since 2000, she has held the position of Vice President
of the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges and is responsible for
the foundation’s fundraising strategies, proposals, grant requests and public
relations.
Over the years, Graham has served on the boards of Senior Connections,
Atlanta Downtown Partnership and Camp Best Friends.
Gertrude “Tut” Manly McFarland
Gertrude McFarland graduated from LaGrange College with
a Bachelor of Arts in Speech in 1947. For 22 years she taught
private speech lessons in public schools before joining the
Dalton (Ga.) Public School System as a third grade teacher in
1969, a position she continued in until her retirement in 1991.
McFarland, who has a passion for acting, spent three
summer seasons with The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Va.,
and one summer season with the Priscilla Beach Theatre in
Plymouth, Mass. Additionally, she has worked with The Dalton Little Theatre
for 60 years.
An active member of Dalton First United Methodist Church, McFarland also
has served as a member of the Pilot Club of Dalton for 56 years. She is an
energetic traveler and has visited all seven continents.
At top, Rick de Treville ’70 blows his horn during a Pep Band jam at the Homecoming
game. The Orlando resident was invited to sit in with the student band members,
who provide musical motivation during the game.
Above, from left, Assistant Professor Linda
Mason-Barber and Nursing Chair Dr. Celia Hay
talk with Lisa Frasier ’08,
Clinical Instructor
Ginger Truitt and
Lisa’s mom, Dorina
Frasier, who
were gathered
for the Nursing
Department
Reunion.
At right, Anne Shell
Watkins ’57,
left, shares a
moment with
Charlotte
Raum Dodson
’59.
James “Jay” Allen Montgomery
Jay Montgomery graduated from LaGrange College in
1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, Drawing
and Painting. He then attended the Portfolio Center in
Atlanta, graduating from that institution’s Illustration
Program in 1994.
Since 1995, Montgomery has worked as a freelance
illustrator with a client list that has included The New York
Times, Coca-Cola, Georgia Pacific, Kodak, Chick-Fil-A,
Owens Corning and The Cartoon Network.
In addition to his freelance work, Montgomery also teaches graduate
and undergraduate classes part-time at the Atlanta branch of the Savannah
College of Art and Design. Over the years, he has won a number awards and
contests, including placing first in last year’s ArtWanted.com’s Religious
Easter Art Contest.
Dr. Sonya Gaither Shepherd
Dr. Sonya Shepherd graduated from LaGrange College
in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer
Science. She went on to earn her Master of Science in
Library Service from Clark-Atlanta University and her Ed.D.
in Educational Administration from Georgia Southern
University.
Since 1995, Dr. Shepherd has worked at the Zach S.
Henderson Library at Georgia Southern University where
today she serves as a tenured associate professor and associate department
head of information services.
Dr. Shepherd is an active member of the Georgia Southern faculty and has
served on the Black Green Task Force, as a faculty senate representative,
on the Academic Standards Committee, the SACS Reaffirmation Team and
Governance Task Force.
Over the years, she has received numerous grants and recognitions,
including being named a Frye Leadership Fellow in 2005.
COLUMNS, Winter 2007 15

At right, members of the Class
of 1957 pause for a photo. They
are, from left, first row, Herb
Owen, Bobbie June Efurd Dean,
Julia Colvard Clary, Jeannine
Johnson Dawson, Peggy Jones
Yeadon, Winnie Langley Allen and
Fred Allen; second row, Carolyn
Morris, George Hurst, Barbie
Brown Hurst, Anne “Popie” Hill
Seay, Ann Shell Watkins and Phil
Watkins; third row, Marianne
Mitchell Adams, Dorothy O’Bryant
Sosebee, Jackie Linn Jones,
Shirley Hinton Jackson, Betty
Moss McGuirt, Virginia Turner
Clifton and Carolyn Bradley; fourth
row, Ralph Johnson, Judy Greer,
Carolyn Briscoe, Virginia Langford
Koester, Eugene Koester, Milton
McGuirt, Richard Clifton and Jim
Jackson.
Below right, the LaGrange College
Memorial Service was held Oct.
28 in the Chapel to remember
members of the LaGrange family
who have passed away since last
Homecoming.
Bottom right, the late Josh Fonner’s father, mother and sister
(Fred, Penny and Jessica) participate in a ceremony that
honored Josh just before the game. Josh, who played football
for the Panthers last year, died in a car accident on Oct. 21.
Below, Jessica Fonner grasps a handful of balloons. Fortythree
(Josh’s jersey number) were released before the game.
16 COLUMNS, Winter 2007