Books &Authors - Northwestern State University Alumni

AlumniColumnsMagazine Spring 2002Northwestern State University of LouisianaBooks & Authors

Chris Maggio, ‘85Director Alumni AffairsFellow Northwestern Graduates and Friends:Remembering….As we prepare in the Alumni Office for our Golden JubileeCelebration honoring the graduates of 1952, I’ve had theopportunity to visit with some of the honorees as theyrecollect their time at Northwestern. Suddenly, I found myselfreflecting on my first days at NSU in 1982.My goal was to become a teacher/coach so my dad brought me tothe Health and Physical Education building and introduced me toa silver haired gentleman named Buddy Bonnette. My dad told methat if I stuck with him and did as he said that I would succeed inthe program. Those words were true.That day began a 20-year admiration and friendship for a greatteacher. Coach Bonnette taught with enthusiasm and love. Hisclassroom was his playing field. He approached each class sessionwith the same vigor as if he were preparing for the Super Bowl. Heawarded only A’s or F’s in his class, as he often said “There is nomiddle ground, either you know the material or I don’t want youteaching my kids.”He was demanding, accepted no excuses and refused to feel sorryfor you. He taught discipline by locking the classroom door promptlyat 8 for an 8 o’clock class stating, “if you can’t be on time how do youexpect to teach others responsibility.” He was caring, often spendingearly mornings and late nights privately tutoring students withtheir swimming strokes if they lagged behind in the class. But henever brought attention to his extra work.And oh, how his classes were difficult. I will always remember theday in our swimming class when he tied our hands and feet together,pushed us into the deep end of the swimming pool and told us to“swim” to the shallow end. As fear and panic crept into my mind, Iremained calm knowing that he was there watching over me.On January 4, 2002, Coach Bonnette passed way after a valiantstruggle against cancer. On the same day, my wife and I gave birthto our third child, Emily Grace. It is my hope that I instill in hersome of the same virtues that Coach Bonnette taught me and, if so,she will be a better person for it. Coach Bonnette, you are greatlymissed…IIIAlumni ColumnsOfficial Publication of NorthwesternState UniversityNatchitoches, LouisianaOrganized in 1884A member of CASEVolume XII Number 1 Spring 2002The Alumni Columns (USPS 015480) is published4 times a year by Northwestern State University,Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71497-0002 PeriodicalsPostage Paid at Natchitoches, La., and at additionalmailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send addresschanges to the Alumni Columns NorthwesternState University, Natchitoches, La. 71497-0002.Alumni Office Phone: 318-357-4414and 888-799-6486FAX: 318-357-4225Email: nsualumni@northwesternalumni.comNSU ALUMNI OFFICERSPresident.........Ginger WigginsJackson, Miss. 1986Vice President.......Dr. B.L. ShawShreveport, 1955, 1960Secretary-Treasurer.........Jimmy WilliamsWinnfield, 1993Executive Director............Chris MaggioNatchitoches, 1985, 1991BOARD OF DIRECTORSDane Broussard.........Houston,Texas 1986Jerry Brungart....Natchitoches, 1969, 1971Tommy Chester.....................Arcadia, 1969Joe Cunningham, Jr. ...Natchitoches, 1984Leonard Endris......Shreveport, 1974, 1975F. Allen Horton Jr...New Iberia, 1957,1962Adrian Howard......Arlington, Texas, 1989Carlos Jones...........................Ruston, 1995Gail Jones...................Natchez, 1981, 1998Bryant Lewis..................Haynesville, 1958Carroll Long...................Tyler, Texas, 1970David Morgan..............Austin, Texas, 1973K. Michael Sawrie...........Alexandria, 1972Dr. B.L. Shaw.........Shreveport, 1955, 1960Glenn Talbert.................Shreveport, 1964Ginger Wiggins..........Jackson, Miss., 1986Jimmy Williams.................Winnfield, 1993STUDENT REPRESENTATIVERusty Broussard..........New IberiaSGA PresidentThe Alumni Columns is published inspring, summer, fall and winter.PublisherChris MaggioEditorJennifer Wilbanks Anderson, 1997ContributorsDoug Ireland, 1986Kristy McDanielDavid WestPhotographyGary HardamonArt Direction/Design/LayoutNSU Press Publications OfficeNorthwestern State University is accredited by the Commissionon Colleges of the Southern Association of Collegesand Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award Associate,Baccalaureate, Master’s, Specialist and Doctorate degrees.It is the policy of Northwestern State University of Louisiananot to discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex,national origin, age, or disability in its educational programs,activities or employment practices.

iOne of the best ways to see the world through someone else’s eyes is through their writing.Featured are five of the many Northwestern alumni who have written and illustrated a varietyof books to help people of all ages see what life is like outside their own space and time.Sandra Prud’homme Haynie ‘87Sandra Prud’homme Haynie, a descendent of the Creole founders of OaklandPlantation and a 1987 graduate of NSU, wrote the book “Legends of OaklandPlantation” which covers the plantation’s history. Oakland is one of only twoplantations west of the Mississippi River to be farmed by the same family for 200 years.The book tells stories about the people, enslaved and free, with whom the family sharedtheir lives for 10 generations.Haynie was raised on Oakland Plantation, which was sold to the Cane River CreoleNational Historic Park in 1997. Later when she went back to the house, she noticed thatit seemed empty, even though people were taking tours.“I spoke to the director and we thought it would be nice to have a book,” said Haynie.Haynie’s first interest in keeping a memorial to her family’s plantation prompted herto begin a scrapbook of heritage. After showing the Cane River Creole Center directorwhat she had collected,” she literally would not let me have it back,” said Haynie.The scrapbook that began as a family heirloom turned into a published book.“I decided to just write a book,” said Haynie. “It’s not just about the family, butincludes other important people on the plantation like the blacksmith, doctor and allthe people who went along with it.“I felt like I was possessed to finished it. Then I got an aunt to edit it and finallyI self-published it,” she said.Of all the people included in the book, Haynie is fascinated most by thecasquette girl, Catherine Picard Prud’homme, who at the age of 14, decidedto get on a boat to the Louisiana territory to become the wife of the Frenchfrontiersman Jean Pierre Philippe Prud’homme.“She is the person who most intrigued me because she was so young,” she said.After graduating from Northwestern in 1987 with a degree in nursing,Haynie decided to change career fields and graduated from law school in1992. She works for Roundtree, Cox, Guin and Achee law firm. Her trainingin nursing is not wasted, however. According to Haynie, she uses both hernursing and law degrees to represent health care professionals. She is marriedand has two sons, one of whom graduated from Northwestern in 1998.Alumni Columns Spring 2002 / 1

Campus NewsB o n n i e R i c h a r d s o n M u r p h y ‘ 6 2 a n d ShelleyRichardson‘62If you are looking for the perfect book for a young child, two sibling Northwesterngraduates wrote and illustrated the playful book, “Can a Rooster Drive a Tractor?”Bonnie Richardson Murphy, a 1962 NSU graduate, wrote the book and her brother,Shelley Richardson, also a 1962 graduate, provided the illustrations.Playtime with her grandson, Ben, inspired Murphy to write the colorfulbook.“While we were playing with a toy tractor, I would put different farmanimals into the driver’s seat, asking if they could drive the tractor,” saidMurphy. “He would say, ‘No!’ I had two grandchildren, and I wrote the bookfor them.“I started in elementary education, and I have always been interested inchildren’s books,” she said.After Murphy penned the words, there was just one thing left to finish, theillustrations. That’s when she solicited the help of her brother.“I’m not an artist,” said Richardson. “It was through trial and error that Iillustrated it. I know kids like animated people and characters, so I thoughtabout how I could get personality into this tractor. For kids who can’t read thewords I wanted enough depth to keep them interested.”After graduating from Northwestern, Murphy married a 1964 graduate,Steve Murphy. She taught elementary school before moving to Mississippi. She hasthree children, one of whom graduated from Northwestern, and four grandchildren.Richardson went into the service after graduating from college. Then heattended the seminary in Fort Worth. He became the Baptist Student Unioncampus minister at Tennessee Tech University and later served as the assistantstate director of the Baptist Student Union. Before retiring in 1997, he wentinto community education as a liaison between schools and the community.About the cover...Lisa Bostick, reads “Can a Rooster Drive a Tractor?” to her first grade studentsat the NSU Elementary Lab School. Enjoying the reading are Matt Hokky, son ofSteve and Lisa Hokky; Cain Hamous, son of Juddy and Star (’99) Hamous; KaitlynnBedgood, daughter of Sam and Melanie Bedgood (’01); Emilie King, daughter ofDavid and Dawn King; Ashley Hawkins, daughter of Mike (’79) and Jackie (’79)Hawkins; Jaelah Hoover, daughter of Katrina Hoover (’97); Ebo Pratt-Panford,son of Dr. Comfort Pratt-Panford; Gavin Colavito, son of Dr. Joseph and KatiaColavito and Joe McClung, son of Philip (’81) and Melinda (’81) McClung.Bostick, a 1982 and 1987 graduate of NSU, has been teaching for 20 years. Sheis married to 1978 alumnus Wayne Bostick. They have two children, Lindsey andDavid, a NSU freshman.Denise Patrick Lewis, a 1977 graduate and accomplished writer, haspublished many books for children and adolescents. The inspiration forher series about the character Midnight Son, came to her when her sonwas watching western movies.“Midnight Son came along because my son was asking about black cowboys,”said Lewis. “We went straight to the Schomburg Center for Research in BlackCulture in Manhattan where there is a ton of information, including personalnarratives.”In the first book of the series, “The Adventures of Midnight Son,” the maincharacter is born as a slave on a plantation. When he becomes a teenager, hisparents helped him escape to Mexico, where he took part in a hacienda, and learnedabout ranching. In the second book, “The Longest Ride,” the Civil War has endedand Midnight Son has decided to go back to Texas to find some of the members of hisfamily.Lewis went to New York soon after graduating from NSU with a degree injournalism. She has written books for children of all ages, including biographies ofMartin Luther King Jr. and John and Abigail Adams. One of her most acclaimed picture books is entitled “TheRed Dancing Shoes.”Lewis has been married for 18 years. She lives on Staten Island with her husband and four sons.Alumni Columns Spring 2002 / 2

Campus NewsBooks & AuthorsWillaim Myers ‘69Anyone interested in military history would enjoy “Honor the Warrior” by WillaimMyers, a 1969 graduate.“I was a U.S. Marine and spent four years in the Marine Corps,”said Myers. “I am fascinated by marines and their psyche.”Myers did not fight in the Vietnam War, but became interestedin compiling a metals list. In the process he found stories toinclude with the list and decided that they should be documentedin a book.“It’s not an anti-war book on the surface,” said Myers. “Iwanted people to see what a fantastic job those kids did under thecircumstances they were in.”Myers is now working on a second book about marines in theKorean War.“It is similar to the first book,” said Myers. “This one required me togo to Washington, D.C. and conduct some oral interviews.”Myers became a high school football coach in Opelousas and Sunsetfor 29 years until his retirement in 1999. Since then he has built hisown house and written. He has two children and three grandchildren.“Honor the Warrior”, “Can a Rooster Drive a Tractor?” and the Midnight Son series are availableat Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. If you would like to purchase a copy of “Legends ofOakland Plantation,” you can contact Haynie at (318) 227-9200 or via e-mail, samiam5225@aol.com.They are also available at several merchants in the northwest Louisiana region. IIINew book lets theatrefaculty member sharelove of ShakespeareDuring his career as an actor and teacherDr. Jack Wann has criss-crossed thecountry sharing his love of Shakespeare.Wann is hoping to spread his enthusiasm toa wider audience through a new book publishedby the Northwestern State University Press.The book, “Shakesperience!: An Approach to PerformingShakespeare,” uses Wann’s experience as an actor, director and teacherto help make the playwright’s work more accessible.“Having taught Shakespeare during most of my career as a teacher,I believe Shakespeare is the best our language has to offer,” said Wann,who has been at NSU since 1989. “Shakespeare is something I feel I aman expert in. If you are a musician, you study Mozart. An artist mightstudy Rembrandt. An actor should study Shakespeare. There is nogreater voice than Shakespeare.”Wann set out to write a book that “wasn’t ponderous at all” and thatwould help anyone read or play Shakespeare better.“I put some of my experiences down on paper and have written it in acasual enough style that it shouldappeal to someone embarkingon their first experience withShakespeare,” said Wann. “Thisbook would be appropriate for agood high school student, a collegestudent or someone active incommunity or professional theatre.”Before coming to NSU, Wannwas on the faculty at NorthernKentucky University. He is a30-year member of Actors Equityand has directed, stage managedor performed in more than 300plays in his professional and actingcareer.The book is available by writingto Shakesperience/Wann, P.O. Box602, Natchitoches, LA 71458, bycalling (318) 352-1653 or e-mailingwannjshakesperience@yahoo.com.Alumni Columns Spring 2002/ 3

Campus NewsTh e r e a r es e v e r a lmiles on theroad betweenthe idea of ap u b l i c a t i o nand getting iton bookstoreshelves. ThreeNSU alumnihelp educationagencies andn o n p r o f i torganizationst r a v e l t h a troad smoothly.C h a r l i eM a n n ( ’ 7 5& ’84), BethMcPherson Mann (’75) and Susie Storie (’86) (above) work as aprinting team at the Louisiana Technical College Printing Servicesin Natchitoches. Each work on a different stage in the printingprocess.Charlie Mann is the general manager of the printing service. Heworked his way up the ladder from being a printing press operator.He handles and approves orders, prices them and ensures the officehas adequate supplies.Beth Mann is the graphic designer. She helps their clients piecetogether their ideas onto paper.Storie is a graphic technician. After Beth Mann is finished withher designs, Storie readies the art for press.The group is currently working on a book being published throughthe NSU Press. “American Cemetery,” written by Payne Williams, isa genealogical list celebrating the lives of those buried in the oldestcemetery in the Louisiana Purchase. It is located on the second FortSt. Jean Baptiste site, in downtown Natchitoches.Noted alumni and contributors of Northwestern in the bookinclude Carmelite “Cammie” Garnett Henry, Judge Henry AdamsBullard, Dr. Mildred “Dede” Bailey, Leopole Caspari and BeverlyC. Caldwell.Class of 1952Golden Jubilee PlannedFifty years after graduating from Northwestern, the Class of 1952 willgather at their alma mater to reminisce about the good times andgood friendships bonded during their college career. They are gettingready to reunite with old friends and classmates for the Golden Jubilee tocommemorate the 50-year mark of receiving their diploma.Natchitoches alumni cannot wait to share the different environment ofthe school with their former classmates.“The school has changed, but the friendliness is still there,” said NelwynBoydstun Poole. “The people are all still connected to each other throughtheir connection to Northwestern.”“There have been so many changes,” said Firal Ryder. It would be eyeopeningfor anyone to come and look.”Like many alumni, Dollie Smith Petrus looks forward to seeing old friends.“There were 1600 people on campus when I was in school. “I am lookingforward to seeing the people who graduated with me.”The Golden Jubilee Celebration is held in conjunction with NorthwesternState University’s spring commencement exercises on May 10.Members of the class will enjoy lunch and a bus tour of the city and beforethe 3 p.m. commence exercises where each member of the class of 1952 willagain make the commencement walk to receive their 50-year diplomas.On Saturday, members of the Class of 1952 will be inducted in the “50-Plus Club”, as part of the group’s annual luncheon. The luncheon will beheld in the Friedman Student Union ballroom.For more information, contact theAlumni Center at (318) 357-4414 or(888) 799-6486 with the information,or by e-mail at maggioc@nsula.edu.NNorthwestern’s Alumni Associationis looking to update the addressesfor several member of the Classof 1952. Any alumnus who knowsthe contact information of anyoneappearing on the list below shouldcontact the Alumni Center at (318)357-4414 or (888) 799-6486 withthe information, or by e-mail atmaggioc@nsula.edu.Adams, LaurieAllen, GlynnArnolie, Bernice FrederickBentley, Ralph Waldo Jr.Boutte, Marie AntionetteBray, EdloBurchfield, LucilleCaldwell, Jasper D.Campbell, Emma BrownCherry, Katherine, BeardCourtney, Kirkland DavisCrump, Patricia ElaineDelehant, William J.Dells, Eugene L.Dodd, Lillard ThelbertDurham, Carlton M.Eason, Patsy JeanFisher, Ruth J.Garlington, ArtieGrice, Eunice DormanGriffin, Julia F.Haynes, John WillisIngles, Eunice Genevieve EdenJohnson, Charles LeonardJones, Francis A. Jr.Jones, Goldie FrenchJones, Roberta DurrJordan, Porter M.Koch, David GentryLaFleur, Katherine ThorpLeach, Oscar CecilLee, Ivy RigdonLuther, Edna RuthLyle, John E.Martin, GuinevereMassey, Lillian A.Mayeaux, Edwina SmithMcElveen, Ella MaeMoore, Jack DerrellNorsworthy, Ruby ArleneOwens, FanniePannell, Harry I.Prestridge, Hamilton B.Rainey, Barbara WestRains, Willis A.Ricks, Julian E.Schelette, EuniveScott, Edna LuckySlayter, Frances MargaretSmith, Ellis GeorgeSpeir, Janice L.Sykes, Harold AlberttThompson, Helen ClaireVines, Annie L.Walker, Robert AlvisWamsley, Wayne DewittWasson, Gladys KatherineWaters, Ruth ConerlyWeeks, Jacqueline DowdenWhitten, NellWilliams, Ceil HartAlumni Columns Spring 2002 / 4

Campus NewsDollar helping preserve storiesabout former U. S. presidentNorthwestern alumnus Susan Dollar (second from left) is among a group of historians andpolitical scientists working on the Clinton History Project at the University of Arkansas. Shown(from left) are Dr. Bill Schreckhise of the University of Arkansas, Dollar, former presidentBill Clinton, Dr. Janine Perry, Dr. Trish Starks and Dr. Micheal Pearce of the University ofArkansas. Dollar is a doctoral student in history at Arkansas.Susan Dollar is working to see that important living memories don’tfade away. Dollar, a Northwestern alumnus and former faculty member,is part of a team working on a major history project involving formerPresident Bill Clinton.Dollar is a doctoral student in history at the University of Arkansas.She earned a bachelor’s degree in history at NSU in 1983 and a master’sin history in 1994. The Clinton History Project is being done by the ArkansasCenter for Oral and Visual History along with the Miller Center ofPublic Affairs at the University of Virginia.The Arkansas Center is covering the years before and after Clinton’spresidency. Dollar is helping organize some of the 400 interviews beingdone with individuals familiar with Clinton. She is overseeing the copyingof interview tapes and editing the transcripts of interviews.The results of the project will be turned over to the Clinton PresidentialLibrary in Little Rock for use by researchers examining the life and careerof the 42nd president. Similar projects were done on former presidentsTruman, Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Carter and George H. W. Bush.“I had a great deal of experience with oral history from my time atNorthwestern,” said Dollar. “I am thankful for the opportunities I had atNorthwestern. It is one thing to sit in class and take notes and another toroll up your sleeves and do it.”Dollar worked on several grants carried out through a cooperativeagreement between NSU and the National Park Service. The agreementinvolved interpretive plans for the newly created Cane River Creole NationalHistoric Park and Heritage Area. That work included an oral anddocumentary historical study of Oakland Plantation and oral historiesdone in the Creole and African-American communities. She also helpedthe Louisiana National Guard develop a cultural resources managementplan that included an oral history on the role of Camp Beauregard in theLouisiana Maneuvers just before World War II.She is the author of “The Freedmen’s Bureau Schools of NatchitochesParish, 1865-1868,” published by the NSU Press.“As a scholar, I am concerned with how overlooked oral history is asdocumentation used in research,” said Dollar. “It is important to talk topeople who were there as events happened and gather stories that maynot have been done otherwise.”“When you visit someone with a memory of a certain time period, youask for an impression, for memories. People will open up and you get storiesfrom an interview that you would not get from documents.”Dollar has also been involved with a project on the final days of theArkansas Gazette which was the newspaper of record in Arkansas. Theproject was directed by Roy Reed, a former New York Times reporter whois professor emeritus of journalism at Arkansas. IIIScholarships tohonor twodistinguishedformer facultyAlumni and friends ofNorthwestern can makedonations to the NSU Foundationto honor two former Northwesternfaculty members who died inJanuary.Dr. Carroll D. Aby Jr. died Jan.2 in Baton Rouge. Bonnette diedJan. 4 in Natchitoches.Aby joined NSU’s faculty asa professor of finance in 1992and was dean of business from1998 until his retirement in2001. He served as the Noble B.Morrison Professor of AppliedBusiness at Northwestern andwas the recipient of the NSUAlumni Association’s OutstandingTeacher’s Award.A scholarship was set up in Aby’smemory at the NSU Foundation.Donations can be sent to PennyO’Bryan, College of Business,Northwestern State University,Russell Hall, Room 201E,Natchitoches, LA 71497. Checksshould be made payable to the NSUFoundation with a reference to theDr. Carroll D. Aby Jr. Scholarship.For more information, call (318)357-5162 or email pennyo@nsula.edu.Bonnette was a full-time facultymember in the Department ofHealth and Physical Educationfrom 1963 until 1986. After retiringas a full-time faculty member, hecontinued to teach water safetyclasses part-time for 12 more years.Last year, he was named to theNSU Hall of Distinction, the LongPurple Line. Bonnette was given thetitle of “professor emeritus” in 1995.Many of Bonnette’s formerstudents established The Dr.A.R. “Buddy” Bonnette EndowedScholarship in his honor severalyears ago to benefit students in theDepartment of Health and HumanPerformance. For more informationor to contribute to the BonnetteScholarship, contact the NSUFoundation at (318) 357-4414. IIIAlumni Columns Spring 2002 / 5

Campus NewsPledge createsThe Northwestern State University Foundation has received a pledge tocreate NSU’s first $1,000,000 endowed chair. The pledge was made bya private foundation that does not wish to be named.Once $400,000 is received, the NSU Foundation will receive $600,000 inmatching funds from the Board of Regents Support Fund.Interest from the endowment will be used to attract or retain a nationallyrecognized scholar in the field of educational technology, one of the university’sdesignated Areas of Excellence.Northwestern President Dr. Randall J. Webb credited Melba L. Steeg,president of the NSU Foundation, with playing a major role in obtainingthe pledge.“This donation is a major eventfor Northwestern and the College ofEducation,” said Webb. “It is appropriatethat the first endowed chairbe created in the College of Educationconsidering Northwestern’slong history of preparing teachers.In order for the university to continueimproving its academic programs,it is critical that we continueto attract the best available faculty.This gift will help us do that.”Northwestern was founded in1884 as the State Normal Schoolwith a mission of preparing teachers.The College of Education atNSU is accredited by the NationalCouncil for Accreditation of TeacherEducation (NCATE) and has producedmany of the top educators inthe South.Over the past decade, the Collegeof Education has taken a leadershiprole in developing and implementingtechnology in the classroom.NSU’s master’s program in educationaltechnology is one of theregion’s most innovative.“This will take the College ofEducation to the next level andplace us alongside major institutions,”said NSU Dean of EducationDr. John Tollett. “We will seek torecruit a nationally recognizedexpert in the field of educational technology. This will enable us to attracta faculty member that we may not have been able to recruit otherwise.”Currently, NSU has 20 endowed professorships worth $100,000 eachspread throughout the university.“There is a great deal of prestige in academic circles associated withholding an endowed chair,” said Tollett. “The expert we recruit will be ableto validate what we are doing in the field of educational technology. Theywill also facilitate the learning of technology throughout our service region.”Tollett said the holder of the endowed chair will share their expertise withstudents and will also be active in national educational circles.Webb said the NSU Foundation is working to attract additional privatefunds to the university to be used for additional endowed chairs and professorshipsas well as scholarships. IIIAlumni Columns Spring 2002 / 6firstendowed chairSteeg to lead NSU FoundationMelba L. Steeg of NewOrleans has been selected aspresident of the NSU Foundation.The Northwestern StateUniversity Foundation is a nonprofitcorporation responsible forassisting areas of the universitynot supported by state dollars. Itwas established to serve NSU, itsstudents and faculty by raisingfunds for endowed scholarships,professorships and chairs.Steeg, an education graduateof Northwestern, has been anactive supporter of the universityand has served on the FoundationBoard. In 1994, she was namedto the NSU Hall of Distinction,the Long Purple Line. Steeg wasnamed to the NSU College ofBusiness Hall of Distinction in1998.She is president of Investinga n d D e v e l o p i n g , I n c . , acommercial and residential realestate developing and financingcorporation.NNormal graduatesbecome centenariansTwo NSU alumni who graduated nearly80 years ago have marked a majormilestone in their lives. Adele ErwinByrd and Mary Braddock Metzgercelebrated their 100 th birthdays thisyear.Byrd was born near Starkville, Miss.on January 20, 1902. She graduatedfrom Louisiana Normal College on May29, 1922 and went on to teach in Floraand Kilbourne from 1922-1924.Adele Erwin Byrd is pictured on the left as a Normalstudent in 1922, and appears on the right celebratingher 100th birthay.Mary Braddock Metzgercelebrated her 100 thbirthday this year.Byrd then became a homemakerand now has a large family includingtwo daughters, seven grandchildren,11 great grandchildren and six greatgreatgrandchildren. She lives with herdaughter in Longview, Texas.Byrd celebrated her 100 th birthdaywith an open house at her church.Metzger celebratedher 100 th birthdayon January 31with a reception atthe First PresbyterianChurch inLake Charles.Metzger is originallyfrom Grayson.After graduated fromLouisiana Normal,she worked towardher master’s degree at Peabody Collegeand Columbia University. She taughthome economics and nutrition inDeQuincy, Cinton and Jennings.She was also active in the LakeCharles Memorial Hospital Auxiliaryand the Leaf and Petal Garden Club.In January 1970, Metzger became thefirst woman elder at First PresbyterianChurch. She served as a deacon as wellas a member of the Women’s Circle. III

Campus NewsNScott Stokertremendous groundswellA of support eruptedin early January whenScott Stoker was namedhead football coachat Northwestern. Thepassionate 33-year-old wasa record-setting quarterbackfor the Demons from 1986-89,helping NSU win the 1988New Demonfootball coachexcited aboutgetting hisdream jobSouthland Conference championship for Coach Sam Goodwin. Afterhis playing days ended, he worked on Goodwin’s coaching stafffor four years, then joined the McNeese State staff and helped theCowboys make six playoff appearances in eight seasons.Stoker’s burning passion for Northwestern and for coachingfootball enthralled a crowd of nearly 200 supporters in the Steveand Lori Stroud Room of the athletic fieldhouse when NSUPresident Dr. Randall Webb and director of athletics Greg Burkeintroduced him to the media on Jan. 8. Since then, the new coachhas burned plenty of midnight oil. Finally, four weeks afterarriving, he had time to begin his day with an old favorite, a stopby Shipley’s Donuts just down Second Street from the house helived in after his playing days ended. That afternoon, he was ableto sit down for this interview:Q. Who is Scott Stoker?“A guy who’s been very fortunate in his life. He’s made a lotof breaks for himself, no question about it, but a lot of peoplehave helped me get to this point. You don’t get anywhere in thisworld without someone’s help. Coach (Sam) Goodwin, outsideof my parents, comes first to mind for giving me an opportunityto play here, and then an opportunity to coach here. Then I wasvery fortunate to have the opportunity to move to another majorprogram in Division I-AA football, where I got to coach a lot ofdifferent positions, and that ultimately gave me the chance tocome back home and take this job.”Q. As you returned to NSU, you knew the territory — andplenty of the athletic staff as well. Talk about seeing allthe familiar faces.“That’s what has made this transition so much easier thannormal. I didn’t have to learn many names and faces. (Baseballcoach) Mitch Gaspard and I left at the same time and now we’reback at the same time. We’re kind of a package deal, I guess. It’sgreat to have Donnie Cox, a coach I playedfor and worked with, and Ed Evans, whocarried me off the field so many times. Iknow how good they are. Then there’s LeonJohnson, who’s just rock solid. He’s asmuch a part of the football program as heis the track and field program, because wehave so many of our guys who are his guystoo. Always have. I hope I’m considered asmuch a part of the track program as I amthe football program. James Smith has beenhere since I stepped on campus. Coach (Mike)McConathy hasn’t been here that long, butyou look at what he’s accomplished and meetthe man and you see why it’s happened.Greg Burke was the athletic fundraiserwhen I played here, and all of us knewthen how much he cared and how hard heworked. That hasn’t changed one iota. Theseare people you can hang your hat on. I cancall these guys and ask them questions, nomatter how stupid the questions may seem,and I know there are no hidden agendas inwhat I’m going to be told.We all pull for each other, we all pullfor Northwestern. It’s bigger than anyone coach or any one program. Theserelationships are a huge benefit to me asa young coach. I’d be a fool not to rely ontheir help and advice.”Q. Do you have a message for yourfellow Northwestern alumni?“Alumni are going to have a huge say-soin our program. If we’re going to get to thenational championship level, we’ve got tohave their support — not necessarily withtheir wallets, just with their hearts, atleast. We all need to support our universityany way we can, if in no other way thanto have pride in NSU. Whether theycompeted in athletics or were in the band,the theatre, a fraternity or sorority, or theBSU, or they just went to school and gottheir degrees, I hope they’re excited havingone of their own as the head football coach.I know I feel an obligation to all of themto make them very proud of their footballteam. But however we do it, we all haveto support Northwestern. I know I used toget kidded at McNeese because the AlumniColumns came to my office, and when I gotit, I sat and read it cover to cover. I’d spotsomebody’s name I knew, and that wasgreat to see.I left that magazine on my desk. I wasproud of my school and I still am.Like I said, I bleed purple.” IIIAlumni Columns Spring 2002 / 7

Campus News1956 Demon TennisLooking BackNorthwestern State University’syearbook, the Potpourri hasprovided opportunities for leadershipsince its inception in 1909. Manyeditors, photographers and writershave continued using their skillsPicture from the title page of the 1943 yearbook.learned while working on the yearbookin their chosen career fields.E.P Dobson, Jr., the editor of the 1943 Potpourri, obtained asecond degree in architecture after graduating from NSU in 1947.He then lived in Houston for a while and came back to Natchitochesto work on several projects including Williamson Hall, RussellHall, and apartments located on Chaplin Lake. He worked on theconstruction of Prather Coliseum. Dobson also designed severalhotels in Louisiana and Texas before his retirement in 1965.Dobson now lives in the small community of Sun City West, Ariz.,but still has a residence on Black Lake. He volunteers for the SunCity West Foundation.Curtis Guillet, the 1943 Potporri photographer, has been aphotographer in Natchitoches since he left Northwestern in 1947.He continued to work with the Potpourri yearbook for several years.His work has been featured in “Cane River Cuisine” and “Cane RiverLiving” cookbooks as well as sports and field magazines. Guillethas his own studio and also freelances. He continues his educationtoday by attending art classes at NSU.The two people featured on the title page, shown above, of the1943 Potpourri are G.F. “Sonny” Thomas, vice-president of thestudent body and Mary Jean Swift Thomas, senior class secretary,both 1943 graduates. Sonny Thomas practiced law from 1948 untilhis retirement in the early 90’s. He is a member of the LouisianaTrial Lawyers Association, the American College of Trial Lawyers,International College of Trial lawyers and the Louisiana andAmerican Bar Associations.Mary Jean Thomas has been a homemaker. She and SonnyThomas had seven children, three of which are NSU graduates.She is the past president of both the Natchitoches Service Leagueand the Natchitoches/NSU Symphony Society. She writes a columnfor the Natchitoches Times, which is also titled “Looking Back.” IIIGuess Who ?Can you guess the names of these 1952graduates shown in the picture? If so,please contact the Office of Alumni Affairsat (318) 357-4414 or (888) 799-6486. Thefirst five people to call with the correctanswers will win a prize!Looking BackGood job to Linden Claybrook (’56) of Baton Rouge,Willard Booty (’57) of DeQuincy, Peggy Guess (’59)of Natchitoches and O’Deal Pharris of Shreveportwho guessed that the 1956 Demon tennis teammembers are (front) Bill Chamberlain, WillardRachal, Wade Parsons, (back) Jerry May, DelbertVines, “Monk” Calendar and Coach Jack Fisher.Northwestern State’s Demon tennis teambegan in 1956. With only a few racquetsand tennis shoes provided by their overseerand coach, Jack Fisher, they prepared forcompetition.According to Delbert Vines, a former player,the university assisted in providing practiceballs, however there were no scholarshipsavailable. The team had to manage on ashoe string budget during the entire season.Luckily, team member Wayne Reid’s father,J.G. Reid and Concrete Construction, designedthe original courts for practicing.The team traveled by station wagon andindividual cars to compete in numeroustournaments at Louisiana Tech, Centenary,McNeese, and Southwestern. During theseason, they defeated nearly all the schoolsin Louisiana.We were able to catch up with a few of theplayers who now look back on Demon tennisknowing they were among the first men torepresent Northwestern State in tennis.William Parsons lives in Bullard, Texaswhere he has retired after 30 years withAmoco Product Company as a districtmanager. He is a chairman at Emerald BayCommunity Church.Willard Rachal resides in Mooringsportand has retired. He now is active in theMooringsport Baptist Church where heteaches children.Wayne Reid lives in Bossier and is anelectric contractor in Shreveport, Bossierand the surrounding areas.Vines resides in Calhoun. He coachedfour winning tennis teams before servingas Dean of Business at Northeast LouisianaUniversity, now known as the Universityof Louisiana at Monroe. From 1976 to hisretirement in 1991 he served as universitypresident. IIIAlumni Columns Spring 2002 / 8

Alumni EventsBasketball ReunionLarry Skinner (’61 & 68), Dan Poole (’52), Dr.Bob Pender (’55) and Frank Lampkin (’48)were among the over 150 former basketballplayers who attended the BasketballHomecoming in February.NSU’s all-time leader in average points-per-game, Vernon Wilson, had hisjersey retired during this year’s Basketball Homecoming.Charles “Red” Thomas, NSU’s first All-American basketball player, hadhis jersey retired during Basketball Homecoming.John McConathy, a record setting Demon Basketball player, poses byhis retired jersey.Don Ashworth (’70), Randy Veuleman(’72) and Venton Coburn (’59) enjoythe programming at the 3rd annualBasketball Homecoming.Dudley Fulton (’35) and Ocie Richie(’47) enjoyed being updated on thesuccess of NSU Demon basketball atthe Basketball Homecoming.Donna Crawford Shield (’71) andJackie Smith (’71 & 73) visit witheach other at the 3rd annualBasketball Homecoming.NSan AntonioreceptionNSU faculty member Darilyn Manring,Kay Hubbard, alumnus Dwaine Hubbard(’78) and NSU Director of Choral ActivitiesDr. Burt Allen visit at the reception held inconjunction with the Texas Music EducatorsAssociation conference in SanAntonio.M i c h a e l ( ’ 9 5 ) a n dV i c t o r i a S i m o n e a u xa t t e n d e d t h e a l u m n ireception in San Antonio.Former and current NSU musicstudents reunited at the receptionheld in conjunction with the TexasMusic Educators Associationconference in San Antonio. Theyare NSU student Heather Whorton,Jimmy Butler (’96), Rachel Thomas,Gavin Vitter (’96), Adam Bird (’94),Tamesa McClellan and Chris Conway(’97).Alumni Columns Spring 2002 / 9

Alumni EventsDan (’57) and Lilly Chase, along with theirdaughter Marty, enjoyed visiting with otherBaton Rouge alumni during a reception at MikeAnderson’s Restaurant.Gayle Hatch was recognized for hiscontributions to Northwestern and thecommunity by receiving the honor of theNth Degree from Dr. Randall Webb duringthe reception in Baton Rouge.ReceptionsTony Gustwick, director of institutionaladvancement and Lela Mae Lea Wilkes (’68)had a chance to visit during a reception forthe Baton Rouge area College of BusinessAlumni.Corrie Lea Leatherman Enright(’41) and Lola McGinnis, formerroommates at NSU visited witheach other at the Baton Rougealumni gathering.Virginia Dixon Monceret (’01), A.J. Kennedy (’98),Camille Nunez (’01) and Lauren Brown Kennedy(’98) catch up during the Baton Rouge alumnigathering at Mike Anderson’s Restaurant.Robert (’69) and Sherry Capps(’70) Cannon were amongthe Baton Rouge alumni toattend the reception at MikeAnderson’s Restaurant.Alumni Columns Spring 2002 / 10

Class Notes/ProfilesNAll photographs appearing in class notes were taken from the senior section of their respective yearbook, the Potpourri.1925Marie E. Toups retired as a principal from District 7in 1965. She lives in Lockport.1935Kathryn Gates Duett is retired and lives in Oakdale.1940Marion Frances See Harris lives in Franklin.1942Hattie Louise Bennett Peacock is a retired teacherand lives in Hammond.1944Irma Rita Mayeux Bryan is retired and lives in LaHabra, Calif.1950Betsy Nina Smith Morris lives in Green Bay, Wis.1952Donna E. Wilson Stevens is a retired nurseanesthetist residing in Hattiesburg, Miss.1953John Gremillion is married. He and his wife live inRoswell, N.M.1964Wayne Edward Summers is retired and lives inNew Orleans.1965Lynn Corbell Lowry is retired from the MemphisCity schools. She lives in Cordova, Tenn.1968John R. Ramsey is vice president ofretail operations at Tesoro Refining,Mktg. & Supply Co. in Auburn, Wash.He is married to Patricia Nolan Ramsey(’68).Harriet Elaine Koetter Bridges isemployed with LSU CooperativeExtension Services as an extensionagent. She is married and lives in LakeProvidence.1969Judy Dianne Veuleman Manasco is theadministrator at Integrated HealthServices of Many. She is married andhas five children.1955Ida Annie Torrans retired from LSU-Shreveport as aprofessor in the communications department.1956Ann Louise Fitzpatrick Graham retired fromthe Caddo Parish School Board as the nursingsupervisor. She is married and lives in Bossier City.Mickey Margaret Hansen Walker isemployed with the Grant Parish SchoolBoard as a teacher.1957Hester Irene Brown is a retired publicrelations writer. She is currently aplaywright writer and actor. She resides in NewYork City.1959Jerry H. Roy is retired from Traveler Ins. Companyas a manager. He is married and lives in SanAntonio, Texas.Betty Orgeron Holley is a retired schoolteacher. Sheis currently a state external assessor and summeradult art instructor. She is married and lives in BelleChasse.1970Carolyn Flanagan Talton retired from LouisianaTech University as a Professor Emeritus in June2001. She is married to Billy Jack Talton (’72).They have two children and live in Dubach.Martha Jarvis Smith is a caseworker at KemmererVillage in Assumption, Ill. She is also a secretaryat Stonington Baptist Church.1971Susan Ehlers Duhon is an English and debateteacher at T.H. Rogers School in Houston. She hastwo children and lives in Katy, Texas.1972Billy Jack Talton retired from Louisiana TechUniversity as Professor Emeritus in May 2001. Heis married to Carolyn Flanagan Talton (’72).Marilyn Paulette Dufrene Brantley isa record coordinator for the school ofnursing at Mississippi College. She ismarried and has one child. They live inClinton, Miss.Alumni Columns Spring 2002 / 11

Class Notes/ProfilesAll photographs appearing in class notes were taken from the senior section of their respective yearbook, the Potpourri.Bessie Louise Brock Barrick is a seniorcommunications specialist at AFLAC inColumbus, Ga. She is married and hastwo children. She resides in Phenix City,Ala.Henry Hank Jefferson Atwood retiredfrom the U.S. Army as a colonel on June1, 2000. He is currently working asa senior engineer with the NavigatorDevelopment Corporation in Huntsville,Ala.1973Marsha Adams Cunningham works for the GarlandIndependent School District as a fourth gradeEnglish and language arts teacher. She is married,has three children and lives in Rowlett, Texas.Callie Jean Freeman Barnard is employed byMedquist in Metairie as a medical transcriptionist.She is married and lives in Pleasant Hill. They havethree children.1976Marsha Ann Knight Lohmeyer is the owner ofAdventures in Learning. She is married and hasfour children. They live in Tyler, Texas.Jane D. Hammers is a lawyer. She lives in Guffey,Colo.Deborah Ann Whitney Cloud is a socialservices analyst supervisor for the stateof Louisiana. She is married and lives inBenton.1979Gary D. Lehr works as a chief financial officer andpartner at HealthMark Partners in The Woodlands,Texas. He is married and has one child.1980Walter Murrell Walker Jr. is a retired US Armylieutenant colonel. He is currently a senior armyinstructor at Grant High School and Junior ROTCinstructor at Dry Prong. He is also the head girl’sbasketball and track coach at Grant High School. Heis married and has two sons.Ginger E. Gates is a senior consultant with RegionIV Education Service Center. She was recentlyawarded the Outstanding Service to the Professor ofSchool Psychology Award by the Texas association ofschool psychologists.1981Eva Margaret Lang is a chief operating officer ofthe Financial Consulting Group. She is active atChrist United Methodist Church and is the assistantWebmaster. She is married and lives in Memphis,Tenn.1982Gwenda J. Thaxton Sepulvado is the child supportadministrator at the district attorney’s office in Many.She also owns Sabine Raceway. She is married andhas two children.1983Virginia Ann Roberson Jordan is a seventh gradeteacher and technology coordinator at Florien HighSchool. She is married to Mark Jordan (’83). Theyhave two children and live in Florien.John Mark Jordan is employed with ExpressIndustries as a salesman. He is married to VirginiaAnn Roberson Jordan (’83).Robby Medlin is a regional manager at NationalPanel Systems. He lives in Corinth, Texas with hiswife and children.1984Glema Calhoun Brandemihl works for Henry FordHealth System as an ambulatory surgery nurse II.She lives in Flat Rock, Mich. with her husband anddaughter.1988Dan Medlin is employed with AppliedSystems as the director of recruiting. He ismarried and they live in Austin, Texas.Kimberly S. Berry McGuire is the programcoordinator at Northwest Cancer Center in Houston.She lives in Tomball, Texas with her husband andtwo children.Kenneth Wayne Campbell is the music minister atGonzalez Baptist Church in Cantonment, Fla. He ismarried and has three children.1989Vickie Lynn Gentiles Waters is employed by theWinn Parish School Board as a fourth and fifth gradereading and music teacher. She is married and hasthree children.Thelma Cook Walker is the clinical services managerat Animas Corporation. She is married and they havethree children.Alumni Columns Spring 2002 / 12

Class Notes/Profiles1990Tim GeneWard isemployedby theVernonParish School Boardas the assistantbusiness manager.She is married toJessica Diaz Ward(’99) and they havetwo children. Theyreside in Leesville.1992David W. Clarkis employed bythe University ofFlorida College ofLaw in Gainesville,Fla. as a professorof law. He ismarried and hasone child.Kirk Bradly Vinesis the productionmanager at Cargillin Glenwood,Ark. He lives inNashville, Ark. withhis wife and twochildren.Kimberly AnnMcKinney Willey isa human resourcegeneralist atCingular Wirelessin New Orleans.She lives in LaPlacewith her husbandand son.1993Roland JamesLaComb isemployed with theJefferson DavisParish School Boardas a basketballcoach at EltonHigh School. He ismarried to AmandaRidley LaComb(’92). They haveNicki WalkerClass of 2000Upon graduation many students make plans to move home or to a bigger city tobegin their careers. Few think they will end up halfway around the world. To hersurprise, this is where Nicki Walker, a 2000 NSU graduate, was led.Walker is a journeyman, also known as a missionary, with the International MissionBoard and was sent to Swaziland, Africa, a small kingdom surrounded by South Africaand Mozambique on her 23 rd birthday. Her term as a journeyman is short, only two years.“I think my heart for missions developed when I went to the Yucatan Peninsulain Mexico with the Baptist Student Union at NSU,” said Walker. “On this mission trip,I realized there was something different about me since I didn’t mind sleeping in ahammock, taking cold showers and not having modern day conveniences. I saw theirsimple way of life and how much they loved their Savior and their families.”Walker traveled back to Mexico for two more mission trips. She heard of thejourneyman program through the BSU and other NSU alumni who had served on theprogram.At the time, Walker volunteered at the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Natchitochesteaching an abstinence-based sex education program in schools and churches. She beganto notice that every time she turned on the radio or television, she was hearing aboutthe AIDS crisis or refugees in Africa. She attended a revival service at which the pastorspoke on missions in Africa. Later a child at the YMCA where Walker was handed her abook entitled “Images of Southern Africa.”“I was surrounded. It was obviously where the Lord wanted me,” said Walker. “Ofcourse, He had to work a lot on my mother to assure her I would be okay. Her first wordswhen I told her I was thinking of the journeyman program were, ‘You are not goingto Africa or China.’ Well, here I am in Southern Africa and both of my parents are sosupportive. They are even coming to visit next year.”Though she is working on a foreign continent, Walker is sometimes reminded of herlife at NSU. One day she noticed a huge fence being repainted along a road that shetravels daily. The larger posts were painted purple first. The next day the smaller postswere painted orange.“I could hardly believe my eyes,” said Walker. “I laughed and laughed. I thought ‘It’sNSU, Go Demons!’ It was just another way God had comforted me with a little bit ofhome.”Walker loves seeing the excitement and joy on the faces of those who are discovering God.“I have seen God provide through people back home raising money for a child whocould not go to school, sending storying scarves so that people who cannot read canhave a picture Bible to study and praying earnestly for the Swazi people,” said Walker.“I could go on and on with stories such as picking up children to give them a lift homeleading to a Bible study at a church, giving a lift to another to town leading to salvationand seeing the magnificence of God’s creation in the mountains, in a rainbow, in thebright starry sky and in the face of a child.” IIIAlumni Columns Spring 2002 / 13

Class Notes/ProfilesAll photographs appearing in class notes were taken from the senior section of their respective yearbook, the Potpourri.Ntwo children and live in Jennings.Jennifer Sue Lee Kelly is a dyslexia teacher forOuachita Parish in Monroe. She is due to graduatewith a master’s degree in community counselingwith certification in school counseling and specialistcertification in reading in December. She lives inWest Monroe with her two sons.Marcus Marion Crider is an attorney with the lawfirm of King and Ballow in Nashville, Tenn. He ismarried, has a son and is expecting a daughter.Wendy Michelle Luebbers Schuller is the headwomen’s basketball coach at Eastern WashingtonUniversity in Cheny, Wash. She lives in Spokane,Wash. with her husband and son.Kari Alison Belvin is a budget analyst forthe Louisiana Senate. She is married andresides in Baton Rouge.Jessica Thomley Bellina is a stay-at-homemom. She and her family were recently transferredfrom Lake Charles to Brights Grove, Ontario for atemporary job assignment.1994Michael Thom received a MBA from TulaneUniversity’s A.B. Freeman School of Business inDecember 2001.Robin Edward Freeman works for Tembec in St.Francisville. He lives in Jonesville with his wife.Margaret Martin Muse is a fourth grade teacher atDodson High School. She lives in Winnfield.Lauren Landry Vaughn works as a salesmanager for Contractors Source Inc.in Baton Rouge. She is also involvedin Associated General Contractors ofLouisiana. Lauren lives in Prairieville withher husband.1995Charidy Dawn Williamson Melder is theyouth programs coordinator at CentralLouisiana Area Health Education Center inAlexandria. She is married to ChristopherMelder (’96) and they have one child.Shannon Youngblood Cox is employed with theCaddo Parish School Board as a special educationnurse. She is married and has two daughters.Debi Cost is an industry relations managerat Adams Project Management in LosAngeles. She lives in Manhattan Beach,Calif.Lisa Martin Pickering is the financial aid coordinatorfor the college of nursing at NSU-Shreveport. Sheis married to Paul D. Pickering (’95) and has onedaughter.1996Jason Daniel Waters is employed with WPS Industriesas an electrician. He is married and has one child.Shannon Kathleen Collins is a reservist at BAFBwhere she works on The Observer, The Gator Gazetteand the Reserve Command Citizen Airman Video as areporter.Bryan Kevin Box is a financial advisor for MerrillLynch. He lives in Montgomery, Texas with his wifeand daughter.Jeffrey Todd Cryer is the branch manager forEnterprise in Marshall, Texas. He is married toEmily Wise Cryer (’99). She is a fourth grade teacherat Summerfield Elementary School in Shreveport.They live in Bossier City.Kristin Kendrick Gilbert Gordon is the KCCUProduction director at Cameron University in Lawton,Okla. She is married to Shaun Michael Gordon (’00).1997Stephen Fleury is a controller at Turning PointSolutions Group, Inc. He is married and resides inPineville.Barbara Darlene Sepulvado is a registeredrepresentative for New York Life in Many. She livesin Noble with her husband and three children.Jamie Marie Harris Cochran is a certified athletictrainer at Christus Louisiana Sport Medicine. She ismarried and lives in Pineville. They have one son.Angela Robinson Ross is working at ValenciaCommunity College as an assessment specialist. Sheis married and lives in Orlando, Fla.Michael Cervantes is the food service director for theUniversity of the Ozarks. He is married and they livein Clarksville, Ark.Alumni Columns Spring 2002 / 14

Class Notes/ProfilesPaul AndrewMartin is currentlyworking forGoody Productsin Columbus, Ga.as an inventorycontrol supervisor.He is married andhas one child.Allen Eubanksis the head coachof the Oak RidgeJuniors and theboat house managerof the Oak RowingAssociation. Heresides in OakRidge, Tenn.Eric JasonDutile is a claimsrepresentative atState Farm. He ismarried to TatumLyles Dutile (’99)and they live inAlexandria.Derek DonnavonMackey is currentlyattending graduateschool He ismarried and lives inFort Worth, Texas.1998EdwinPaul Wiseis a historyteacher,headvolleyball coach andassistant baseballcoach at H. GradySpruce High Schoolin Dallas. He hastwo daughters.1999Suzi Lee Krucenskiis an accountant atApache Corporationin Houston.Grover DavisClass of 1976After a year in his current position, Grover Davis is starting to settle in but he neverwants to get comfortable. Davis, a 1976 graduate in business, is president and CEOof Crawford & Company in Atlanta.Crawford & Company is the world’s largest independent provider of diversified servicesto insurance companies, self-insured corporations and governmental entities. Crawfordhas 10,000 employees and more than 700 offices in 65 countries.Davis joined Crawford & Company as an insurance adjuster in May, 1976, the Mondayafter he received his degree from NSU.“I wish I had an impressive story to tell you, but a big factor in taking a job with themwas that they had a company car program,” said Davis from his Atlanta office. “I reallydidn’t have a clue what an insurance adjuster did.”Davis obviously learned what he had to do quickly. Over 20 years, he moved up in thecompany and was named national sales manger for claims services in 1996, then seniorvice president and managing director the next year. He was named president and chiefoperating officer in 1999 and earned his current position in April, 2001.“I really don’t know how anyone can prepare for the role of CEO,” said Davis. “Theexperience you garner certainly has an effect on how well you do. It’s something unlikeanything I have ever done before. You go from having responsibility from a restrictedarea to responsibility for the entire area. It kind of hits you in the face.”Crawford & Company was founded in the 1940’s and has grown tenfold since Davisjoined the company, bringing in annual revenues of $750 million.“One of the major responsibilities I have is to the people within the organization, over10,000 of them,” said Davis. “I have to keep this a viable, profitable growing organizationfor the welfare of the people who work here.”Davis admits that one of his challenges is to prioritize his work.“There are so many things to do and not enough time to get them done,” he said. “Thisis one of the most rewarding and satisfying jobs I’ve had. I don’t know where the timegoes. At the end of the day, I am tired, but it is a good kind of tired.”The challenges of continuing to grow the company are such that Davis can never allowhimself to feel comfortable.“If I ever get comfortable, they need to get someone else.”Davis finished his degree at Northwestern after serving in the Air Force. Hebegan taking classes at England Air Force Base then commuted from Alexandria toNatchitoches over his final two years.“One thing I missed out on is the camaraderie because I drove up for classes, wenthome, went to work and drove back the next day,” said Davis. “My wife Brenda got herteaching degree at Northwestern and through her I saw the joy of being a student atNorthwestern.”The faculty at Northwestern immediately impressed him with their willingness towork with students. The involvement of faculty with students was a major reason hisnephew Jacob chose to attend NSU. IIIAlumni Columns Spring 2002 / 15

Class Notes/ProfilesNAll photographs appearing in class notes were taken from the senior section of their respective yearbook, the Potpourri.Stephen R. Couvillion Jr. is employed by Our Ladyof the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge as a physicaltherapist. He is married to Ginger Cox Couvillion(’00).Gylles Maree Landry is an admissions counselor andrecruiter at NSU.Jessica R. Diaz Ward is a registered nurse at BayneJones Army Community Hospital in Fort Polk.She is married to Tim Ward (’90). They have twochildren and live in Leesville.Erica Tatum Lyles Dutile is employed by the stateof Louisiana. She is married to Eric Dutile (’97) andlives in Alexandria.Jennifer Ann McCrory Fontenot is a registered nurseat Lompoc District Hospital in Lompoc, Calif. She ismarried and resides at Vandenberg AFB.2000Brandon Wesley Melder is a sales representativeat Lashley Supply Inc. and a deputy at the RapidesSheriff Office. He is married and lives in Alexandria.Jennifer Taylor-Tenae Pilcher Curtis is employedwith Christus Schumpert Medical Center inShreveport as an exercise specialist and personaltrainer. She is married and lives in Stonewall.Laura Christine Bucker Lewis worksat Brammer Engineering, Inc. as ajoint interest billing analyst. She ismarried and lives in Haughton.Stephen Taylor Stroud is a historyteacher and coach at Mansfield High School. He ismarried to Shelly Baswell Stroud (’01) and they haveone son. They reside in Elm Grove.Sharona F. Griffin Jurek is a first grade teacher atWinnfield Primary School. She is married and hastwo children.Shaun Michael Gordon is a second lieutenant in theArmy, stationed at Fort Sill as a finance officer. Heis married to Kristin K. Gilbert Gordon (’96) and theylive in Lawton, Okla.Harvey Dee McIntyre IV is the assistant baseballcoach at Blinn Jr. College in Brenham, Texas.2001Edwin Lagarde is employed in the financial aid officeat NSU as a counselor.Nicole Leanne Ponthieux is a claims representative atthe social security office in Leesville.Wendy Sue Panchalk Phillips is employed withSouthwest Airlines as a flight attendant. She is livesin Ft. Bliss with her husband and two children.Ken “Todd” DeMoss is employed by Mann, Frankfort,Stein & Lipp, Advisors in Houston. He is married andlives in Houston.Brad Allen Skinner is employed by LeanderIndependent School District as a teacher and coach.He is married to Hayley Remedies Skinner (’01) andthey live in Cedar Park, Texas.Ashley Marie Smitherman Hatcher is working atBroMenn Healthcare as a RN in labor and delivery.She is married and lives in Normal, Ill.In Memory‘20 Mae Pitchford Courtney, Bossier City,‘24 Helen Singleton, Kentwood,‘32 Opal Jacobs, New Orleans, January, 17, 2001‘33 Mary Dorothy Berry, Minden, October 4, 2001‘36 Nadine Foster, Baton Rouge, February, 2001‘36 Woodrow Wilson Turner, Shreveport, February 6, 2002‘39 Ms. Jo Alice McKinney Ballard, Marshall, Texas,September 5, 2001‘41 Mrs. Joyce F. Caillet, Whitecastle, January 10, 2002‘42 Mr. John Lowrey, Shreveport, June 23, 2001‘42 Gus Malcolm Boucher, Mansfield, June 20, 2001‘43 Mrs. Verdie G. Couvillion, Simmesport, November17, 2001‘43 Mr. Don Plunkett, August 6, 2001‘45 Mrs. John M. Wellheuser, Sherman, Texas‘50 Parks William “Bill” Sansing, Forest Hill,December 24, 2001‘51 Dr. Allen R. “Buddy” Bonnette, January 4, 2002‘51 Marjorie Pennington Rambin, Monroe, November14, 2001Vera Ortolon Barnhart, Shreveport, January 15, 2002Ms. Johnnie Fore, July 21, 2001Alumni Columns Spring 2002 / 16

Alumni Information UpdatePlease fill this page out as completely as possible. We are constantly revising our records and your informationupdates are vital to making the system work. The information from this form is also used for entries in the“Class Notes” section. Please make a copy of this page and give it to any NSU graduate who may not be on ourlist. We can’t keep in touch with you if we can’t find you! Thank you.Date_____________________SSN:_________________________________Name_______________________________________________________________________________________________Last First Middle MaidenCurrent address:_____________________________________________________________________________________City:________________________________________________________State:_____________ Zip:__________________Phone number:_________________________________E-Mail:_______________________________________________NSU undergraduate degree(s):__________________________________________Year of graduation:_____________NSU graduate degree(s):_______________________________________________ Year of graduation:_____________Durring which years did you attended NSU?____________________________________________________________Which organizations were you involved in while a student at NSU?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Place of employment _________________________________________________________________________________Job title:____________________________________________________________________________________________Spouse’s name:_______________________________________________________________________________________Is your spouse an NSU graduate? ____Yes ____ NoIf yes, what degree(s) did he / she earn?Spouse’s undergraduate degree (s) ____________________________________Year of graduation________________Spouse’s graduate degree (s) __________________________________________Year of graduation_______________Do you have children who are potential Northwestern students? Please give their names and contactinformation.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Please return to: Alumni Center • Northwestern State University • Natchitoches, LA 71497If you would like information from Admissions, Financial Aid or the NSU Athletic Association,you can contact them at the following address:Director of AdmissionsNorthwesternState UniversityRoom 103, Roy HallNatchitoches, LA 71497(318) 357-4503800-426-3754 (Louisiana)800-327-1903 (out of state)Director of Financial AidNorthwesternState UniversityRoom 109, Roy HallNatchitoches, LA 71497(318) 357-5961Athletic DirectorNorthwesternState UniversityRoom 101CAthletic FieldhouseNatchitoches, LA 71497(318) 357-5251

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