January 2012 Chatterbox - Ruston High School

Bearcat NewsChatterboxRuston High School January 19, 2012 Page 2Distinguished Alumni: Zane Skinnerinformation provided by RHS Alumni Associationby Elena TillAssistant News EditorZane Skinner was born November 14, 1925, to Charlie and Gertrude Trussell Skinner: the youngest of twelve children. Zanegrew up in the Antioch Community in Lincoln Parish, northwest of Ruston. His senior year at Ruston High School in 1941, heproudly played on the State Championship Football Team and graduated that following spring in 1942. After graduating fromRHS, Skinner continued his athletic career at Notre Dame on an athletic scholarship. Once again, he proudly played with a championshipteam as The Fighting Irish were National Football Champions in 1943. However, his athletics were put to a temporary stopas he was called into active duty for World War II. He served honorably with Army Transport in the Pacific Theatre and for hisservice he was awarded APO, ETO, ATO and Victory Ribbons.After returning from the war Zane continued his athletic career by playing in the minor baseball league for five years. He alsoserved as manager of American Legion Baseball, Post 52, Houston. To provide for his four children and wife, Zane Skinner beganhis career as a mariner by serving for the Lykes Steamship Company, West Indies Division for several years. He continued in hisrole as a ship pilot at the port of Houston where he served as Master Mariner for thirty-four years and then was Presiding Officer ofthe Houston Pilots Association.Zane Skinner has a great love for the community and his heart for service is seen in his membership in the Texas City and OklahomaCity Lodges as a 32 nd Degree Mason for over fifty years. Another way of showing his appreciation is by actively participatingin the Scottish Rite Body and Shriners; he can be found on Sundays at his Methodist church. Zane Skinner and his wife, LindaLivingston Skinner, have made a most gracious decision to give back to the community and what it has done for them. They havefounded the Zane and Linda Skinner Family Charitable Fund. This fund was established to benefit Ruston High School studentswho have excelled both athletically and academically. The award recipient is a student who wants to achieve their goals of a collegeeducation and is chosen by the RHS principal, Athletic Director, and Guidance Counselor. So far, two one-thousand dollar scholarships have been awarded. As the fundgrows and continues, more and larger awards will be given to future students. Captain Zane Skinner has been a great benefactor to his community and is a worthy recipient ofthis Distinguished Alumni Award.Teacher of the Year 2012-2013:Mr. Faltingby Whitney DurrettEditor in ChiefEvery year the faculty of RustonHigh votes for teacher of the year forthe next school year. Ruston High hasa reputation of having amazing teachersand great teacher of the year selections.For the 2012-2013 school yearalgebra teacher, Kyle Falting, wasselected as the teacher of the year.Mr. Falting has been a FreshmanAcademy teacher for 4 years at RustonHigh. He teaches Algebra 1 and does agreat job of it! He loves teachingfreshman classes. Mr. Falting graduatedfrom Louisiana Tech. RustonHigh loves Mr. Falting and is honoredto have him as the 2012-2013 Teacherof the Year.Saluting OutstandingStudent AchievementThroughout the Bearcat Nation