Louisiana Tech Alumni Magazine - Spring 2016

N O. 3 5

|

SPRING 2016

Louisiana Tech M AG A Z I N E

ArchiTECHs Tim Brandon among alums shaping campus landscape

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

from the

OFFICERS

Brennan Easley, President Dave Matthiesen, Vice President Cathi Cox-Boniol, Treasurer Phillip Parker, Member-at-Large Caroline Wilkerson Reaves, Past President Leslie K. Guice, Ex-Officio

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Paula Hampton Aultman, Ed Chavanne, Philip Cole, Tony Corley, Casey Covington, Melissa Campbell Dawson, Will Dearmon, Remerson Edwards, Ben Erwin, Eric Johnson, John Malone, Rodney Manning, Kimberly Mire McDaniel, Troy O’Laughlin, Paige Baughman Oliver, Brent Parker, Phillip Parker, Cynthia Aillet Pettiette, Greg Ross, Mit Scott, Mark Shoffner, Stuart Snook, Jeff Thompson, Linda Simonetti Turner, Ray Weaver, Chris Weego, Anita Lyon West, James Wilkerson, Becky Turner Wilson, Jason Zavala

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF Brooks Hull – Vice President for University Advancement BHull@LaTechAlumni.org Frank Bennett – Director of Communications Frank@LaTechAlumni.org Wes Cavin – Director of Alumni Relations Wes@LaTechAlumni.org Jimmy Washington – Coordinator of Advancement Programs Jimmy@LaTechAlumni.org Barbara Britt Swart – Administrative Coordinator Barbara@LaTechAlumni.org

UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Dave Guerin – Executive Director Teddy Allen – Writer/Editor Mark Coleman – Designer Donny Crowe – Photographer Tom Morris – Contributing Photographer Louisiana Tech Magazine is published semiannually by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association.

We welcome your comments or suggestions.

President People often ask me if I like my job, and I never hesitate to answer that I love what I do. One of the great joys of my job is to see firsthand how so many people demonstrate their passion for our University in very special ways.

For example, Justin and Phillip are a couple of our alumni who quietly show their passion by unselfishly giving of their time and resources to do special things around campus.

I found Justin one Saturday morning pruning trees around the Quad and pulling weeds out of flower beds. He has taken it on himself to do things that are relatively low-profile yet are highly important to his University, such as buying trash cans for the library and marble countertops for the Admissions Office. He recently contributed generously to a Poinsettia Auction for scholarships, then gave the poinsettias to offices around campus – all with the goal of making the campus more beautiful for those who visit or work here.

Phillip has made street signs with special Tech logos and installed those at intersections around campus, and he helped acquire enough asphalt to repave one of our large parking lots. And these two have done so many other wonderful things, without any desire for recognition…as have so many others.

Jeremy and Kimberly are parents of two and, like many other alumni, enjoy bringing their children to campus events. Their family lives in Baton Rouge, but they don’t let the distance keep them from making it to Ruston frequently. And the children wear Tech Blue to school, and they know the Tech fight song and our alma mater word-for-word. Loyal, passionate alumni ensuring future generations of loyal alums.

I have seen faculty and staff contribute many extra hours to help our students, I have seen many students dedicate extra hours of service to others, and I have seen many alumni give major gifts to the University. Each contribution of time or money adds up to what make this institution special…a lot of people with a deep passion for their alma mater pulling together to help make their institution better and better. I am overwhelmed each day by what I see.

Follow Dr. Guice on Twitter @LKGuice and on his blog at GuiceBlog.LaTech.edu.

Leslie K. Guice

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 3 Tower Medallion Ray Wallace 5 Young Alums of the Year Justin Bounds, Joshua Gidlow 6 In Tier One Together Big price, bigger payoff 13 Faculty and Staff We Love Jack Painter 14 It’s Fun to be an Alum 20 @LATechSports Roundup Spring sports, Hall of Famers and more.

(Don’t forget the 2016 Techspys!)

8

30 News Around Campus The Colleges 40 Foundation Spotlight A special legacy 42 News About You

Who are those guys?

The brains behind the buildings

4

Alumnus of the Year George Baldwin

16

They’re Playing Our Song ’Dogs hit all the right notes in New Orleans

   

PARTNERED FOR INNOVATION BUILT FOR BUSINESS RESEARCH-READY TALENT-RICH

“Through our involvement with the Innovation Enterprise at Louisiana Tech, we have been able to invest in the next generation of talent, allowing us to grow our business and our industry.”

MARTIN SANTORA President, Fenway Group

TECH POINTE

2 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

Along with developing world-class IT talent, Fenway Group selected Louisiana Tech for its robust talent pool, forward-thinking leadership and business-centric facility, Tech Pointe, to develop innovative global IT solutions for their clients.

How can we do business?

Find out how at latechinnovation.org.

President Guice presents the Tower Medallion to Ray Wallace at his home in Dallas. Mr. Wallace is the 75th inductee into the University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

Hall of Distinguished Alumni

W. Ray Wallace is Louisiana Tech’s newest Tower Medallion recipient and inductee into the University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

Ray Wallace went to high school in Shreveport, graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1944 with a degree in civil engineering and, in 1946, became the 17th employee of Trinity Steel, a Dallas manufacturer of tanks used to store and transport butane and liquefied petroleum gas. Twelve years later, Trinity Steel merged with Dallas Tank and became a publicly-traded company, and Wallace was named President and CEO. Such an early and quick rise in responsibility proved no fluke.

Throughout the course of his career, Ray Wallace has led dozens of acquisitions to expand Trinity’s product line. At the time of his retirement, Trinity Industries reported $2.4 billion in annual revenue, had increased from 17 employees to several thousand employees, and the company was the nation’s leading manufacturer of railcars, highway products and inland barges.

Wallace has served as a director for a number of businesses and charitable organizations. In 1990, he was awarded the Civil Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award by Tech’s Department of Civil Engineering and was named to the C.E. Byrd

(Shreveport) High School Alumni Hall of Fame. He was named one of Tech’s 100 Distinguished Alumni during the University’s Centennial celebration in 1994. Wallace also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1999.

“Ray Wallace is a great example of one who truly lives the tenets of Louisiana Tech,” said Tech president Les Guice. “We are proud to induct him into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni.”

Wallace is the 75th inductee into the Hall, established by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association in 1976. The Hall is housed in the Marbury Alumni Center, with plaques commemorating each inductee’s achievements.

The Tower Medallion Award recognizes Louisiana Tech alumni who have distinguished themselves by exceptional achievement, community service and humanitarian activities.

LATECH.EDU | 3

George Baldwin ’78 ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

With the promise of a $300 scholarship and the confidence-building observation from his high school’s guidance counselor – “You know, you’re pretty good in math and science … you should go to Louisiana Tech and be an engineer,” – young George Baldwin loaded up the hand-me-down Volkswagen Beetle that late summer of 1974 and left south Shreveport for Ruston and a date with his academic – and social and professional – destiny.

He picked up some things in the next few years: a T-square from his freshman engineering drafting class; late-night snacks at Griff ’s from money made off Coke-bottle deposit refunds; the opportunity to take Calculus 231 (twice); and Jean, who he took on their first date to a free Sunday night movie in Howard Auditorium and who he’s now been married to for almost as long as he’s had his petroleum engineering degree.

Funny to think of now, but Tech’s 2015 Alumnus of the Year was once thrown out of physics class as an undergrad because he and his friend “were laughing too hard at how low we scored on our first test.”

But it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. Baldwin and the former Jean Anne Murphy have become a hard-to-top team since leaving Ruston.

Baldwin began his career in the oil and gas business as a petroleum engineer with Arkla Exploration Company and today is CEO of EnSight IV Energy Partners in Shreveport. He is a lifetime member of the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association, a director of 4 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

“Everywhere I go, whenever I can, with anyone who will listen, I make reference to the prestigious national recognition the University has earned in the past few years, and then I share my own personal experience with Louisiana Tech. Even when I’m not talking about it, I just try to practice my profession and live my life in a way that reflects positively on Tech. And hey, maybe it’s finally working…my great nephew is enrolling there in the Fall!”

– George Baldwin

the University Foundation and a past director and officer of the Engineering and Science Foundation.

Just as he’s done with that old T-square, Baldwin plans to hold tight to his relationship with his University.

“I am astonished, overwhelmed, humbled and deeply grateful, and I will cherish this award and this moment forever,” he told the Homecoming Weekend crowd gathered for the Alumni Awards Luncheon in November. “I truly don’t understand what I did to merit this recognition, but I promise to keep doing it as long as I can.”

Justin Bounds and Josh Gidlow ’11 YOUNG ALUMNI OF THE YEAR They work in different parts of the world now, but something they created, unprecedented in Tech history, works in Ruston for the University and its students today.

Just one year removed from their mechanical engineering degrees back in 2012, Justin Bounds and Josh Gidlow (inset) established two endowed scholarships.

“It’s my sincere hope that these scholarships will allow other students to attain the same education and opportunities that were afforded to me in college,” said Josh, who, like his good friend Justin, began his career with ExxonMobil. Josh is now a construction engineer and system owner for Banyu Urip Project, Mobil Cepu Limited. Much of his work is in the Middle East.

The youngest creators of endowed scholarships in the University’s history, Justin and Josh were able to leverage their private gifts with matching funds from the ExxonMobil matching gifts program to endow two scholarships: The Bounds and Gidlow Endowed Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering and The Bounds and Gidlow Endowed Scholarship for International Students.

“The value I got out of my time at Tech stems from the people at the University, the dedication, time and effort they put toward seeing me as a student grow, learn and succeed,” said Justin, who this fall was promoted to his current position with ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge as an engineering and inspection section supervisor.

“I’m glad to see every time I’m back in Ruston that this dedication to the students is still strong.”

Both young rising-in-the-industry engineers were happy to hear of plans for Tech’s new engineering building and both keep up with Tech. Since Justin is in Baton Rouge, he gets the opportunity for more my-school’s-better-than-your-school “trash talk” with colleagues.

“All those high rankings the academic side of the University has earned in the past several years have given me quite a few talking points about return on investment, low debt, salary values and all that sort of thing,” Justin said. “I make sure that both the LSU folks and the Baylor/K-State/Illinois/MIT/Michigan/SEC grads in my circle hear about these stats so much that they could probably quote them by now. The success that the football and basketball teams have had during the past several seasons has also made it easy for me to talk up Tech – and win a few lunch bets along the way.”

“I’m measuring ‘a quality education’ through my experiences so far in the workforce; I’m able not just to compete, but also to excel over engineers from ‘bigger-name’ schools.”

– Josh Gidlow

LATECH.EDU | 5

In Tier One Together In short, Tier One means that a university is giving its students and its region their best shots at success, for themselves and for all. Such an elite status comes with a high price – but the payoff is bigger.

A “Tier One” designation describes a university operating at its highest level, but striving for more. It’s a reflection of the university’s many resources – supporters, faculty, students, facilities and the like – working together to accomplish the highest goals of education which, ultimately, focus on a better quality of life for everyone, everywhere.

For the fifth consecutive year, Louisiana Tech has earned a Tier One ranking among “National Universities,” according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best Colleges list. Tier One is an elite designation, earned through a combination of research dollars attained, prominent faculty retained, quality freshmen recruited, and a variety of meaningful college rankings achieved. The only Tier One research university in the region, Tech reached the special status in 2011 and has maintained it since. Today’s promising doctoral students are a direct reflection of the quality a Tier One university can produce.

But to remain the region’s only Tier One research university in the region – an elite designation hard-earned and deserved – the University can’t sit still. A world of rapid technological advances – and the area’s critical need for Tech as both an intellectual and economic engine – won’t allow either idleness or a lack of preparation or planning. To capitalize on the momentum the University has gathered, financial support is a necessity for facilities, for faculty, and for practical incentive among graduate school students who want to pursue their degrees at Tech.

TH

EYS

EV

AN

The Tier One Tango

Without research and development, Tech would not be a Tier One school. Support for the graduate programs comes through not only federal and state money, but also through private gifts from supporters and industry, each investing about one-third of the total. To continue to be among the best, Tech can’t overlook the crucial importance of its support from alumni and the Tech Foundation.

Currently, Tech offers nine different doctoral degrees and awards roughly 50 doctorates a year. The next goal is to award 100 doctorates in 10 different categories annually.

Also, the graduate school makes up 14 percent of Tech’s student body; that number needs to grow to 20-25 percent, and it will if Tech continues to grow more programs.

It’s the Tier One Tango: to grow more programs, a university needs more money for faculty, facilities and recruitment; and more programs will lead to more money through grants, research, students and private investment.

NI

N

The Faces of Tier One

6 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

A

KR

EY

Ultimately, Tier One is what happens in the labs and halls and library at Tech. Tier One is the structure that produces the changes that make the world better, and those changes come from both faculty and from students such as these: • Evan Theys of Howell, Mich., came to Louisiana Tech to earn his doctorate because the College of Education’s industrial and organizational psychology program’s vision matched his career goals and aspirations, because of a graduate assistantship, and because of Applied Research for Organizational Solutions (AROS), the student-run, faculty-governed consulting firm on campus.

• Nina Krey (College of Business) did her undergrad work at an in-state school but will complete the doctorate in marketing at Tech, a relationship that began when she

Haughton native Hunter Collins earned his undergrad elsewhere, then ‘came back home’ for the opportunities offered in Tech’s grad school. A teaching assistant throughout his time at Tech, he’ll earn his Ph.D. in molecular sciences and nanotechnology later this year.

met one of Tech’s top faculty members at a conference.

• Doctoral candidate Louis Reis of Tallahassee, Fla., came to Tech for his undergrad studies because of a full scholarship offer and the reputation of the biomedical and chemical engineering programs; he stayed to pursue his doctorate because of an assistantship, because of relationships he’d developed, and because of the opportunities for both teaching and research in the field of biomed devices.

Theys is now on Google’s Hiring Innovation team in San Jose.

Krey will complete her doctorate in August and be an assistant professor at Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., in the fall. Reis, already a lecturer in the College of Engineering and Science, will complete his doctorate by winter and continue toward his goal of becoming an expert – “or even a pioneer” he said – within the biomed device field.

Without the structure of Tech, these students and many others would find a college home elsewhere. But because of what has been created on Tech’s campus, more and more of tomorrow’s elite difference makers are getting their difference-making start at Louisiana Tech.

Then and Now

Tech has grown from a regional, mostly engineering, mostly undergraduate school to a national, doctoral research university, one of the nation’s leading producers of innovators and new technology. Tech is No. 1 in Louisiana among all public and private institutions in overall return on investment (ROI) for both in-state and out-of-state students. The University stands toe-to-toe and often exceeds other schools its size in the number of patents produced and start-up companies fostered, innovations that lead to direct economic impact.

Support of Tech means support of the only school in the region with these accomplishments, among others: A new communication-based Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) designed to impact each student;

Growth in workforce-designated degree programs; Unique project-based curriculum like Living with the Lab and Living with Cyber; Dramatic growth in research and doctoral programs during the most recent 30 years, and equally dramatic growth in both innovation and economic development during the past 10 years.

Another thing that makes Tech unique to the region is a growing Enterprise Campus that can support the recruitment, retention and expansion of high-growth, technology-based businesses that can have a dynamic positive economic impact on the region. Already, Tech is doing much to leverage investments by encouraging more interdisciplinary collaborations.

And several service programs – such as the Sport and Movement Science Lab and the Autism and Behavior Analysis Research Institute – wouldn’t exist without the graduate school. Simply, the professors need grad students in key areas, and grad students need to be there.

The graduate school continues to grow through online offerings; industrial Scholarships and hard work have him within months of his Ph.D., but already Reis, shown here in Tech’s Biomedical Engineering Center, is on his way to making key contributions in the field of biomed devices.

engineering and engineering management technology, which has grown more than 200 percent in the past four years, are examples.

But while many schools have master’s programs, not as many offer doctorates, and more research along that level is always the goal.

The University continues to try to identify and address, within its means, the needs of the area; its recent partnerships along the I-20 Innovation Corridor are a testament to that. Plus, the school’s progress during the past eight years, during the most difficult financial time ever for higher education in Louisiana, is a testament to the leadership’s ability to plan and the alumni’s willingness to recruit and support. Even in crunch time, the University has endeavored to persevere.

The same recipe applies here. Good things require constant care, attention and support from many areas, with all working toward a common, attainable and worthy goal. It’s how Tech has become a Tier One university, and it’s how Tech aims to continue moving up the ladder for the good of everyone.

Go to LaTech.edu/TechTriumphs to read more about Theys, Krey, Reis and Hunter Collins (College of Applied and Natural Sciences) and their journeys into and through graduate school, and their post-graduation plans. Also, go to News.LaTech.edu and see the March 29, 2016, post about College of Liberal Arts graduate school star Caroline Hymel in a story titled “History student wins Louisiana Historical Association Rankin Prize.”

LATECH.EDU | 7

THE DREAM HE DREW: Brandon stands in the shadow of the DAC, his firm’s “flagship project” and current architectural jewel of the campus and community.

Who are those guys?

Your campus is getting an updated look from some old friends 8 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

Three decades in the making, the Davison Athletics Complex in Joe Aillet Stadium became a reality this fall, a dream realized for football student-athletes, for coaches, for fans and for Ruston.

It was a “dream come true” for West Monroe-based architect Tim Brandon too, but in a different kind of way.

“To win a project where you went to school, especially that project, there’s no other way to describe it,” said Brandon, Class of ’94 and owner of TBA Studio. “It was one of the most challenging and most fulfilling projects we’ve done.”

A lot of campus expansion that’s been given the “go” sign is taking shape from the minds and hands of other architects who learned the craft at Tech.

Brandon and his crew of Tech graduates designed the DAC, built by Lincoln Builders.

Ben Bledsoe (’84, ’85) and Bryan Yeates (’86) of Bledsoe Architects in Shreveport have designed the Integrated

Engineering and Science Building (IESB); construction is to begin this year.

Mike Walpole of Ruston (’79), the architect for Tech Pointe’s inception and updates to both Hale Hall and University Hall, is teaming with a New Orleans firm to design the new University Center, the tentative name for the facility that will replace Wyly Tower and Prescott Memorial Library. The design of the new building is underway; removal of Wyly could begin as early as 2017, and the new facility could be open by 2019-2020.

Perry Watson (’79) of Yeager, Watson and Associates in Ruston and Alexandria designed both the new Business Building and the under-construction wing that should be ready for students by 2017.

“For our students to see the work our alumni are doing on campus today has got to be a bit of an inspiration,” said Karl Puljak, director of Tech’s School of Design. “Our architecture students are seeing folks who’ve been recognized for doing good

work in our profession, and all of them have come from and through the same places today’s architecture student are in right now.”

It’s a different School of Art and Architecture, even by name – School of Design. Much of yesterday’s hand drawing has been replaced by computers, model building with laser cutters and 3D printers, and digital fly-throughs.

“The profession is still about making places,” Puljak said. “There are just more ways to go about it now.”

Visions for the campus (all online at LaTech.edu/MasterPlan) include a continuous strip of green space from Tech Drive to Research Park and an extension of the Quad as the heart of a more pedestrian campus. Housing, academic, recreational and athletic avenues – they’ve all been researched. And inevitably, a capital investment will have to be considered sooner rather than later for multilevel parking that doesn’t really educate anyone but is a necessity. (continued) LATECH.EDU | 9

Kevin Taylor:

Another Tech star in Dallas The Dallas Cowboys have struggled on the field lately. They can’t blame it on their stadium.

AT&T Stadium, “The Palace in Dallas,” opened in 2009 as Cowboys Stadium and has established itself as one of the premier stadiums in the world.

Architecture grad Kevin Taylor, Class of ’90, was the stadium’s project architect for HKS Inc., the Dallas-based global firm for which Taylor is a principal and senior vice president. A sports architect with the firm, Taylor was and remains the proud son of Don and Martha Taylor of Shreveport: “They provided me with the opportunity to attend college and instilled the values that I carry with me every day,” he said.

Here’s more of our visit with Kevin, a Northwood High (in Shreveport) alum, who last year celebrated his silver anniversary with HKS. “I’m currently working as the managing architect/signing the architectural drawings for the new Vikings Stadium in Minnesota…

“I am one of five architects that lead our HKS Sports Practice…

“I chose Tech because it had an accredited architectural program with a fifth-year program, so I could get licensed in any state in the U.S. through NCARB (the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards). I am licensed in Louisiana…

“After Louisiana Tech, I worked on the LSU stadium, AT&T Stadium and U.S. Bank Stadium (in Minneapolis). HKS Sports has a different approach than traditional architectural firms in that we spend a lot of time understanding the client’s

While the plan continues to unfold, Tech architects will be heavily involved. (Worth noting: Many of the architects and engineers involved in planning and constructing these muchneeded additions and upgrades were once students of former civil engineering professor and College of Engineering and Science dean Les Guice, now Tech’s president.) Their work today is tangible evidence of a vision being realized.

“These architects will be a part of the new and emerging campus fabric. These kinds of projects are probably some of the best possible opportunities for them, both personally and professionally,” Puljak said. “You’re giving back to the place where you’ve spent a lot of time and rooted yourself so you’d one day be able to move out into the profession and flourish. That’s what they’ve done.”

“The project has brought our firm to another level; it’s our flagship project,” Brandon said of the DAC. “We’re competing on a higher level now. My alma mater has given me the ability to step up, and that’s what’s happened for my firm.”

The buildings are the most current realities to burst onto the scene, each a part of the campus master plan, an evolving and living document that’s becoming physical as circumstances, resources and needs make changes prudent. Just as the DAC and 10 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

HEY, UH, NICE STADIUM: Taylor (second from right) stands with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (fourth from left) and others inside the under-construction Cowboys Stadium in 2008.

business (understanding the brand, history of the area, demographics, possible events and their business goals) so that we can advise our client through management, construction advice, schedules and costs, with all this information getting back to the master architect. That’s all before we start talking about architecture: that’s why the stadiums for the Indianapolis Colts, the Cowboys and Vikings are all such different expressions and look like they belong in the city where they’re located…

“Most recently, HKS was the firm selected to design the new Rams’ stadium in Los Angeles…

“I started on large projects right out of college, so my transition has been to assume more and more responsibility, as I develop my craft, as the architect for several high-rise building designs in Dallas, corporate campuses, arenas and multiple NFL stadiums.”

video board have ramped up the game-day experience at Aillet Stadium, expect improving facilities – and the gradual shaping of an updated campus look and feel – to do the same for the daily experience of the student body on campus.

The most recent big splash is the DAC, a three-story facility featuring locker rooms, coaches’ offices, a weight room, and luxury seating and social area. It’s a game-changer, a beacon on what used to be the south end zone hill, tying the east and west side stands together and offering a cozy new perspective on game day.

“We wanted a very forward-thinking, modern design, and we made every effort for it to be timeless architecture,” Brandon said.

“The design actually came together very quickly; I think we ended up with a very modern, creative, iconic design that has pleased everyone. As a designer, there are so many elements about that facility that are rewarding and creative.”

The two-story glass facade facing the field is especially striking at night, with the large blue “LOUISIANA TECH” sign visible in the weight room. The cypress ceiling treatment on the third level is actually in the shape of a half football, and the columns represent the ball’s seams. Each coach’s office has a view of the field; a recruit visiting the head coach’s office can view both the field and look down from the second-story office into the weight room. The

traditional “Tech bricks,” a semi-red color used when Tech built its first buildings, was used, just as they were used on the video board’s base and on the base of the Spirit of ’88, the Bulldog that was once on the hill and now looks at the end zone from the weight room, still accessible for that “pregame pet.”

The most difficult part of the project was “getting into the side of that hill,” Brandon said, because with no “true drawings” to go by, no one really knew what was under there. Plus a drainage issue needed to be solved. Once that was settled, it was just a matter of putting up temporary fencing and working all day every day, beginning in earnest with the end of the 2015 season, to be ready for the 2016 opener.

“More people thought it wouldn’t happen than those of us who knew it would,” Brandon said. “And it did. Design only goes so far; so many key people were involved.”

The coordination and leadership team of Tech administration, the bid-winning contractor – Lincoln Builders, who created and enforced a stringent time schedule – the coaches and players in Joe Aillet Field House who often went without phones, electricity or running water, “everyone rose to the occasion,” Brandon said. It started with Brandon’s team – “all Tech grads,” he said – who worked day and night in long shifts for three months to conceptualize and finalize the design. Once ground broke, Tech grad Clint Whittington was project manager, and Keith Mayo was TBA’s boots-on-the-ground pro working with Lincoln Builders, especially Wes Bain and Nat Nixon.

“Tougher timeline than any project we’ve ever been on,” Brandon said. “If it wasn’t for Clint Graham’s team at Lincoln

Builders – their total commitment to quality and success – this timeline would have never been made.”

The result is an iconic athletic facility, at present the bell cow building of Tech in the new millennium.

“I think the campus is advancing in an architectural style – bringing in modern elements but with a common thread of tradition – that really pleases me as both an alum and a designer,” Brandon said.

BEN BLEDSOE AND BRYAN YEATES are two of the 21 Tech grads to work on the IESB design details. “I think 24 or 25 degrees are involved,” said Bledsoe, including but not limited to civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers. Even with that crew, they had their hands full: the IESB is being built due east of Tech Pointe and will be two-and-a-half times its size, taking up most of the parking lot on the site now.

“We tried to take the ‘Old Tech’ – the red brick, some stone, slate roof – and combine it with some of the look of Tech Pointe, the ‘Emerging Tech,’” Bledsoe said. “We wanted it to be sort of a bridge.”

The bridge began with a blank sheet of paper, many meetings with staff and students, and much observation.

The result is a facility (continued)

Integrated Engineering and Science Building • Square feet: 127,000 (Bogard Hall 109,000; Carson-Taylor Hall 91,000; Tech Pointe 42,000) • Floor highlights: 1st – 7 labs, 2 classrooms; conference room for 200+; after-hours HELP desk; maker space.

2nd – 8 classrooms, 2 labs; cyber engineering space.

3rd – 14 chemistry and physics labs with support spaces; large tiered lecture room for 150.

• Each floor: Some faculty offices, small conference spaces • Atrium dome: 95-foot diameter, wide enough for Wyly Tower to pass through.

• “Tech Blend” bricks: approximately 264,000.

• Exterior glass: 28,000 square feet • Tons of steel: 675

LATECH.EDU | 11

for today that can adjust to how engineering is taught and learned in the future.

“We’ve designed this with the flexibility it needs to change,” Bledsoe said. “Basically, we learned off a whiteboard. Now we have screens and monitors and still whiteboards, but labs are much more hands-on than they used to be.

“A lot of the building will have spaces in between labs and rooms for coffee spots and nooks and crannies so a half-dozen students can gather with their laptops and a whiteboard,” Bledsoe said. “A lot of ‘soft space’ is in mind here. That’s what will set it apart. You see this happening in Bogard Hall all the time: they pull tables into a hallway and block traffic; we even saw that when we went through school. Our survey of students and faculty insists that a lot of learning takes place with students together outside the classroom.”

It’s hard to argue with MIKE WALPOLE and the selfassessment of his firm’s work on campus – the reconstruction of Hale, the restoration of University Hall and the conception of Tech Pointe: “I thought,” he said, “they all turned out pretty good.”

The newest challenge involves the question of just what a modern university library should be. The campus plan dictates that new buildings be no more than six stories high and will “reflect the historic character of the campus.” It will take Walpole and his crew about a year to figure out the rest.

“Today’s library is not really a place of stacks and racks as it used to be,” Walpole said. “It’s more about access to electronic media. This building will be highly innovative in use of space, individual and group spots to plug in or set up a laptop. It’s important to have hardcopy prints, especially of the arts and some other disciplines, but for research purposes, students can obtain a vast amount, and more efficiently, through the Internet.”

LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE | 12

The Business Building in two phases was part of the original Research Park master plan; Phase I was a hit and Phase II, the west wing, remains in progress. PERRY WATSON, maybe the most rabid fan of Tech sports in the University’s architecture fold, was given the constraint of making the style “more in keeping with some of the older architecture on campus, a style that was more ‘academic’ than Tech Pointe, which was designated as being a more ‘modern’ building,” he said.

“Still, the common thread is the use of materials that are consistent with the Tech language,” Watson said, like the red mix of brick, the slate-colored shingle roofs, the incorporation of dormers, the structural element that protrudes from the roof.

It’s the biggest but only the latest of Watson’s work on campus.

His firm has done several smaller projects, including the renovation of Wyly Auditorium, the retrofit of the bowling alley in Lambright Sports & Wellness Center, renovations in Madison Hall and Woodard Hall, and updates to dressing and training rooms in Thomas Assembly Center and in the pressbox at Pat Patterson Park at J.C. Love Field.

In Watson’s undergrad days, the program was beginning in earnest. Watson and his classmates graduated right after “going through three sets of faculty,” he said. “There were seven of us; we were the first (in 1979) to graduate from Tech with an accredited five-year degree. The class that followed us had about 30.”

With the changes in the program and the changes on campus evolving, one thing remains constant.

“Architecture is still a melding of form and function,” Watson said. “I see some exciting stuff coming out of Tech.”

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 okay, 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.

Jack Painter

Mr. Painter was a great professor, certainly my most influential. He exemplified excellence in all phases of his life and led by example. During his 46 years at Louisiana Tech, he touched many lives. Here are a few ways he touched mine.

You knew he wanted you to succeed and was there to make sure you did. He demonstrated this to me early on while I was a student in his freshman statics class. When I slept though the alarm and did not show up, he gave me a call. As I hurriedly stumbled into class late, he reassured me to relax and gave me the required time to take the test.

He cared.

Mr. Painter’s ability to touch you was not by accident. His preparation was meticulous. He always went the extra mile, both inside and outside of class, to make sure you got it.

His door was always open.

The circus was near and dear to “The Great Timberlake.” Again, both inside and outside of class, he would use circus props to get specific points across.

He made learning fun.

Teaching me to walk the tight wire was one of the ways he invested in me outside of class. When I made it across the wire the first time, he was as excited as I was.

He invested.

Stapling Green Stamps to graded tests was one of Mr. Painter’s trademarks.

For every test point above a 90, you would get a Green Stamp. This motivated his students. A few years back I received a card from Mr. Painter congratulating me on an award; and yes there were 10 Green Stamps included.

Always and forever encouraging.

Upon being asked how he was doing, Mr. Painter’s response was always, “Feeling great, looking for greater,” and often followed by, “And here you are!”

Mr. Painter was not only a great professor, but a great man.

Well done, good and faithful servant!

STAMP OF APPROVAL: Painter with one of his former Morehouse Parish students, Les Guice; S&H Green Stamps initialed by Painter and sent to the author years ago to congratulate his former student on a recent success.

About Jack Painter: A West Virginia native and civil engineering graduate of West Virginia University, Jack Timberlake Painter taught at Louisiana Tech from 1955 to 2001. In addition to his teaching and student-advising duties, he was a faculty advisor to several student organizations and spent 23 summers in Italy as a faculty member of Tech Rome. He served in the U.S. Navy, was a speaker and entertainer for many organizations and clubs, and was a consummate fan of the circus; while not a professional, “The Great Timberlake” was, his friends, family, fans and students attest, a wonderful performer of many circus stunts. He was the first recipient of both the Tech Alumni Foundation Professorship and the James M. Robbins National Award for Excellence in Teaching Civil Engineering. A scholarship and professorship in his name has been established at Tech by former students and friends. He passed away in New Bern, N.C, on July 25, 2015.

About the author: Jay Guillot (civil engineering ’76, master’s civil engineering ’78) is a partner with Hunt, Guillot & Associates, LLC, in Ruston.

LATECH.EDU | 13

1 2

5

6

7

9

Make the Difference: Join Your Alumni Association • Online at LaTechAlumni.org/dues, or; •B y calling the Louisiana Tech Marbury Alumni Center at 318.255.7950 or 800.738.7950.

Membership dues are $35 annually for an individual and $50 for a couple; a lifetime membership is $750 for an individual and $1,000 for a couple.

Director: Wes Cavin (Wes@LaTechAlumni.org) Coordinator of Alumni Programs: Jimmy Washington (Jimmy@LaTechAlumni.org) Administrative Coordinator: Barbara Swart (Barbara@LaTechAlumni.org)

14 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

10

It’s Fun to be an

ALUM

1. Les Guice visited the CenturyLink office of former Tower Medallion recipient and College of Business Distinguished Alumnus Glen Post, to present the company’s CEO and president with a special presidential medallion. Post also holds an honorary doctorate from the University.

2. Fans were painted to a “T” in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for the Bulldogs’ 47-28 victory over Arkansas State in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

3

3. Rooting on the ’Dogs in the Dome were three Tech alums – and Saints: (from left) Saints and New Orleans Pelicans senior director of community and governmental affairs Stephen Pate (’03, ’05), executive assistant to the president of the Saints and Pelicans Jeanne Brown (’01), and corporate sales account exec Chris Cordaro II (’01) do their part daily to make Saints Land Bulldog Country.

4. Amanda Cauley (psychology, ’01) presents to a dapper Champ a copy of her book, “Born to be a Bulldog,” which Champ, of course, was.

4

5. Kathy and Les Guice with Kenneth Dixon immediately after the senior capped his prolific college career with an MVP performance in New Orleans.

6. The Vicksburg Alumni Luncheon.

7. The Happening, 2015.

8. Elaine Melton Burns (left), John Gallemore and Sue McFadden during Homecoming ’15.

9. Tech associate athletics director/communication Malcolm Butler (left) with Tommy and Sue Ledford at The Happening 2015.

10. Champ shows the Victory Belles some puppy love after their three-part-harmony rendition of “The National Anthem” before the New Orleans Bowl.

8

A E C N O G O D L L U BALWAYS A BULLDOG

Show your Bulldog Pride and join the Alumni Association today! visit

LATechAlumni.org or call

318-255-7950

LATECH.EDU | 15

They’re playing our song The Band of Pride jammed and so did the Bulldogs, who capped a bowl gig in New Orleans with a high-notehitting second half, the final stamp on their third ninewin season in four years.

16 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

A

All in all, it was quite the swan song.

There were times during the 2015 football season when things seemed a bit off-step and out of key. That’ll happen over the course of a long, grind-it-out autumn.

But the week before Christmas, when the curtain finally came down on the Saturday-night stage that’s the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, this edition of Louisiana Tech Bulldogs had slammed an exclamation point on a 9-4 season and their reputation as a record-setting, blue-collar bunch determined to hoist a trophy.

Tech’s opponent in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl was Arkansas State, Sun Belt champions and authors of an NCAA-best 48.6 points-per-game average over their 8-0 league run. The Bulldogs won 48-27; they led by 24 in the fourth quarter and outscored the Red Wolves 30-11 in the second half.

Some sights and sounds sealed into memory: Kenneth Dixon’s reviewed and confirmed end-zone catch that started the scoring; Dixon, whose No. 28 jersey has been a sight to excite Tech fans for four years, rushing for two touchdowns, first in a ripped jersey and later a new one, a symbolically appropriate No. 1; Hometown receiver Carlos Henderson cradling a 53-yard fly to the 5 from quarterback Jeff Driskel to set up the opening score, and Conner Smith, sidelined with a bad ankle most of the season, making a mid-air catch of a pass behind him – thrown by his roommate, Driskel – to keep the go-ahead drive alive; Jonathan Barnes nailing a 50-yard field goal that would have been good from 55; A stifling defense that was on the field just eight minutes in the second half, holding the high-scoring Red Wolves to 125 yards below their per-game season average; And finally Skip Holtz and the signature ear-to-ear, he-can’t-help-it grin that comes with these kinds of convincing wins, the only Tech coach to ever hold a bowl trophy over his head two seasons in a row.

Add it all up and you’ve got the 2015 Bulldogs’ greatest hits: Nine wins in consecutive seasons and three of the past four; Back-to-back bowl wins; 17 New Orleans Bowl records either set or tied; The fifth-most offensive yards (687) in NCAA bowl history and the fifthmost for a single game in Tech history; The 31st win for the senior class, the most since the program’s move to Division 1-A/FBS nearly 30 years ago; (continued) LATECH.EDU | 17

A convincing victory over a conference champ (and long-ago league rival) that also finished with nine wins; And, maybe most importantly, a pre-Christmas celebration in one of the world’s most inviting towns and stadiums. Considerably more than half the 32,847 who attended – the third-largest crowd in Tech bowl history – were Bulldog fans, and who knows how many future Tech students or student-athletes were impressed by Tech’s time in town.

All in all, a nice encore to a season that began with Tech losing two of its first three games, then winning eight of its final 10.

In the shadow of nine wins, it’s easy to forget that this team, though picked to finish first in the C-USA West, had plenty of questions early. One involved Driskel, at one time the nation’s No.1-rated recruit, the fifth-year graduate transfer who’d suffered through a leg injury and constant coaching changes and injuries to his skill position teammates while at Florida. Blake Baker was a rookie as defensive coordinator. Offensive line coach Robert McFarland, defensive line coach Rick Petri and safeties coach Karl Scott were new to the staff. By the time Tech had won its opener,

62-15 over Southern University with 27,905 watching in Aillet Stadium, the first- and second-string centers were lost for the season, causing a major reshuffle. All three linebackers were firsttime starters.

Still, things turned out about as expected: mostly feast and, now and then, famine. If there was a surprise, it was the extremes of each.

Five of Tech’s wins were by an average of 34 points. The most painful non-conference loss was a triple-overtime 39-33 setback at Kansas State. The most painful Conference USA loss is a question mark: either 41-38 at eventual league champ Western Kentucky, or 58-24 at home to Southern Mississippi in the final game of the regular season.

Surely the nod goes to USM. Tech got behind early at Western Kentucky on a Thursday night in the second game of the season but rallied back. A win at home against Southern Miss on a damp day at Joe Aillet Stadium would have earned the Bulldogs a Western Division title and a rematch at Bowling Green with the Hilltoppers for the C-USA title.

For No. 28, what a run At different times during his career, Kenneth Dixon was first-team All-Louisiana, All-Western Athletic Conference, All-CUSA, Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America. A few times – mostly during his sophomore season when he missed two games and carried the ball less than five times in three others – he was too hurt to play.

And a very few times he was too intense on the football field for his own – or for the team’s – good.

But all the time during his four years, the 5-10, 213-pounder gave everything he had. He worked fanatically in the weight room. He remained academically eligible. The only trouble he got into concerned some frustrating 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. All the time, he was charismatic off the field and an angry runner on it. And all the time, he gave credit to his teammates, who seemed to play that much harder for a back and brother so passionate about winning.

He is second in the NCAA all-time in touchdowns (87) and points scored (522) and in games with at least two TDs (24, including 14 times in his final 17 games; he scored six TDs against North Texas in November). He’s tied for first in NCAA history for most games with a touchdown scored (38).

Besides points and touchdowns scored, his Tech records include career rushing yards (4,462), seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards (three), games

18 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

OFFICIAL POSSE: The same group that escorted Dixon (pictured with ball) into the end zone for his final TD -- a right-side four-yard slant – was the same group that escorted him to the sideline afterward, and all year: junior center David Mahaffey (55), senior fullback Ricky Jones (33), freshman All-America guard O’Shea Dugas (74), seniors Josh Robinson (68) and all-league tackle Jens Danielsen (77), and (not pictured) senior tight end Josh Gaston and All-Louisiana junior tackle Darrell Brown.

with at least 100 rushing yards (22), and longest run from scrimmage (99 yards).

He also caught 88 passes, 15 for touchdowns.

Dixon always made it fun – because you never knew. You never knew if he’d fly past the cornerback on a pass pattern, if he’d catch a swing pass and bruise his way for half-a-field or so, if he’d carry the ball around the edge or up the middle and just how many people he might knock down or carry along with him. On probably at least a quarter of his scores,

defenders were locked on him while he fought his way to the end zone. His goal was always to “finish.”

That he scored two receiving and two rushing touchdowns in his final game – the last TD coming in a borrowed No. 1 jersey – is some sort of football poetic justice. And the fact that he was hardly touched on his final touchdown run speaks to something too, because in a Bulldog uniform, few can touch what Dixon did.

Instead, Tech played its worst game of the year, turned the ball over seven times and played itself out of the game midway through the third quarter. Rain. Cold. At home. No energy. Only two days removed from Thanksgiving. And against the muchdespised Golden Eagles, of all people, a hot team infused with junior-college transfers and hungry for a watershed win after three seasons of losing.

So although assured of a bowl game, the Bulldogs had left a legitimate question hanging in the air: after such a performance, by the time a bowl game rolled around, could the Bulldogs take advantage of the extra game they’d earned, maybe wash away the taste of that dark, near-apocalyptic day?

Could the ’Dogs get the old band back together again?

Turns out, they could and they did. Took a while to get warmed up though. In a town known for music, the Bulldogs couldn’t find much rhythm in the first half in the Superdome. The game was 17-17 at the half, mainly because everybody kept penalizing everybody. After 30 minutes, the two teams and officiating crew had combined for 16 penalties and had, in just one half, shattered the bowl record for penalty yards in a game with 178; Tech was flagged nine times for 104 yards.

What caused a bigger gameplan adjustment was the loss of Henderson on the first series. The speedster hobbled off with a foot injury, erasing the plan of Tech’s coaches to send him deep early, as they did, and often, as they now couldn’t.

But 10 minutes into the second half, everything before turned out to be nothing more than bad background music. That’s when a play that looked as if it had been drawn up in the dirt went for 59 yards and a touchdown, the first of 24 unanswered points Tech would score. Fittingly, it involved the two biggest stories of the 2015 team, Dixon and Driskel.

The play was designed as a pass downfield and over the middle, but it turned into improv. Dixon went in motion right on a sort of safety valve swing route. But when Driskel was forced to scramble right, Dixon took off down the sideline and Driskel motioned “go long” with his left arm toward the middle of the field. That was only a decoy; Driskel immediately lofted the pass to Dixon, who caught it in stride at the 40 and housed it down the sideline for a 27-20 lead.

Dixon’s next TD was an 8-yard run with no numbers on the front of his “28” jersey; they’d been ripped off during the drive.

The equipment staff glued his name onto the back of a “1” jersey and, as if the football gods had planned it, he scored the 87th and final touchdown of his career, from four yards out, wearing that.

Driskel, the fifth-year graduate transfer from Florida, finished the night 26-of-38 for a career-best 458 yards and three TDs. It was the eighth time he’d passed for 300 yards-plus in a game at Tech; he had no 300-yard-passing games in 21 career starts for the Gators.

TRENT TAYLOR

JEFF DRISKEL His 4,033 passing yards ranks third for a single season in program history.

Driskel brought a mature and workmanlike attitude to the team when he arrived on campus in March, was elected as one of its captains, and after a perplexing career in Gainesville, finally got to get in on the fun. He was also named the Newcomer of the Year in the conference and, by the Louisiana Sportswriters Association, the Newcomer of the Year in the state. Football gods again?...

In the end, the game had lots of heroes. All-league receiver Trent Taylor had a New Orleans Bowl-record 10 catches – one for a score – for 149 yards, Taylor’s career high. Barnes tied a Tech bowl record with five PATs and was 60-for-60 on the season.

Senior Paul Turner had a career-best 71-yard reception, former walk-on Boston Scott a bowl record 77-yard run – tops in Tech bowl history – and the defense picked off two passes and recovered a fumble while Tech’s offense turned it over zero times against a defense that had forced 34 turnovers.

Team effort. Team win. The end.

Except for this quick footnote: Eight Bulldog teammates were true seniors and four-year lettermen: running backs Dixon and Blake Martin, and defensive starters Bryson Abraham, Adarius Barnes, Kentrell Brice, Vernon Butler, Vontarrius Dora and Beau Fitte. Freshmen on a 9-3 team that was shorted a bowl in 2012, they were the leaders of a 2015 team that saved the best for last.

VERNON BUTLER

LATECH.EDU | 19

There’s a new turf in town The only fully turf baseball and softball fields in Conference USA are on the Tech campus, at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park and across Tech Drive at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

The $1.2 million project was 100 percent privately funded. GeoSurfaces, a professional engineering firm based in Baton Rouge, designed both fields and installed the turf in late autumn. Texas, Vanderbilt and Louisville are among the NCAA’s other programs that have turf playing surfaces.

“It allows our coaches to invest more time in our studentathletes and less time on manicuring our playing surfaces,” said Tech athletics director Tommy McClelland. “It’s a win-win.”

The turf will also help beat the rain. The Bulldogs alone had 14 games altered by weather last season and were forced to play multiple doubleheaders.

The softball field is turf completely. The baseball turf covers every part of the field except the pitchers’ mound, which will remain dirt. The basepaths that look like dirt? That’s “brown” turf,

20 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

even around the bases and home plate.

Twitter: @LATechBSB

Bulldog Baseball: Entirely new surface, lots of new players The inaugural season of the Greg Goff era ended with Tech posting a 25-27 overall record, 10 more wins than the Bulldogs racked up the previous year and the second-highest winning percentage of any first-year head baseball coach in Tech history.

The 10-win improvement from 2014 to 2015 was the seventh best in Tech history, while the 12-game non-conference winning streak the Bulldogs put together tied a program record.

With those positives to reflect on, Tech and Goff plow into the 2016 spring with challenges and a lot of new faces.

The biggest addition is the turf field. Also, Christian Ostrander is the Bulldogs’ new pitching coach. Ostrander spent the past seven seasons as the head coach at Jones County Junior College

in Ellisville, Miss. The Monroe native has a history with Goff: he was a player and later a graduate assistant at Delta State in the late 1990s when Goff coached there.

Also new to the Tech team: the possibility of 23 first-time Bulldogs. That’s how many new faces were on the fall roster. The Bulldogs return 19 players who saw action last season; the roster will be cut to 35 for the spring season.

The scheduled is a balanced one: 28 of Tech’s 56 scheduled games are set to be played on Tech’s new turf.

Lady Techsters got a good thing going

There are solid reasons for the optimism brewing around the softball program: the Lady Techsters are competing for a consecutive 30-win season for the first time in 15 years.

Mark Montgomery returns for his fourth season at the helm, bringing back all but two starters off last year’s 31-win squad, including three-year letterwinner Kristen Miles (pictured). Their winning ways carried over into the fall as the Lady Techsters posted a 6-2 record and outscored opponents 98-42 during those games.

Besides the new all-turf playing surface at the complex, a

talented slate of opponents adds to the excitement.

Six newcomers should provide an immediate impact for the Lady Techsters.

“We are extremely impressed with the freshmen and their level of play coming in,” Montgomery said. “None of them have seemed overwhelmed. They had moments where they struggled, but they all worked through that very quickly. I think all of them are ready to contribute.”

Twitter: @LATechSB

LATECH.EDU | 21

Bulldog Golf

Victor Lange is C-USA’s Golfer of the Year and will shoot for his third straight NCAA Regionals bid this spring. But the hope is that the Bulldogs will bloom into a contender as a team, both in the conference and then in the postseason.

Returnees include three-year letterman Ben Robinson and redshirt junior Brandon Newton of Ruston’s Cedar Creek. Expected to make some helpful noise are Baylor transfer Charles Neel White and true freshman Hunter Glenn of Southlake, Texas, who recorded the team’s second-best scoring average in the fall.

Competitions this spring will take the Bulldogs to San Diego, Little Rock and West Point, Miss., among other stops. Although Tech doesn’t host a tournament this spring at its home course, Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, the C-USA Championship is close by: April 24-27 in Texarkana, Ark.

BRANDON NEWTON Lady Techster Tennis

MARTA SRAMKOVA 22 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

ALEXANDRA STARKOVA

They have family names that aren’t very common in north Louisiana, but Alexandra Starkova and Marta Sramkova have made a name for themselves nonetheless with their performances as part of Lady Techster tennis.

The pair figure to be the leaders this spring of a program quickly improving, one that hopes to peak when the C-USA Tournament starts on April 21 at Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro.

Starkova, a native of Madrid, is the first Lady Techster in program history to be a three-time all-conference selection. As a freshman, she was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference in doubles. In C-USA, she was selected first-team singles, both as a sophomore and as a junior. This fall she earned victories over players from both nationally ranked South Alabama and LSU. Sramkova, a junior from Bratislava, Slovakia, was 9-4 in singles this fall, when her most impressive accomplishment might have been reaching the semifinals in the garnet singles flight of the USTA Clay Court Invitational at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. That included a quarterfinals victory for Sramkova over Laura Patterson of Georgia, who finished last season ranked fifth in the country after reaching the NCAA Final Four. The Lady Techsters finished the national tournament with nine singles wins and two doubles wins.

Lady Techster Soccer Despite graduating seven impact players, the soccer team will still return a wealth of experience, especially at the two most critical positions on the pitch – forward and goalkeeper. At striker, the Lady Techsters are anchored by two-time all-conference honoree Kathryn Sloan.

In net, Kylee Seto holds down the last line of defense; she’s made 41 career starts. Those two will lead a program aiming to make its fourth appearance in the league tournament in the past five years.

In the meantime, forgive the Lady Techsters if they take longer than usual to remember last year. The team played itself into the league tournament for a second straight season after pulling off a home upset in the

regular season finale. This time, it was a 1-0 victory over regular season champion North Texas that put the Lady Techsters into the league tourney.

Sophomore Haley Laque had not scored a single goal all season, but that changed when she converted a penalty kick in the second half to give Tech the 1-0 upset win.

“The enormity of this win cannot be underestimated,” head coach Kevin Sherry said. “It is the greatest result in the program’s 11-year history.

The application and focus of the team was immense and the atmosphere was electric. I am so happy for the seniors. What a memory to take with you on your last game on your home field.”

KATHRYN SLOAN

J.Q. sprints to a world title in Qatar Jaquvis “J.Q.” Hart was born without the lower half of his left arm. What he was born with was some speed and a desire to compete.

In October in Qatar, the Tech junior sprinter shattered the championship record and won gold in the 400m finals at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships.

J.Q.’s record time of 48.17 was more than a half-second better than the runner-up’s time and nearly a full second better than the previous record of 49.04, set in 2002.

The winner of the Courage Award at the TECHSPY’s in May, Hart entered the competition with a personal best time of 47.76 in the open 400m in regular competition, which he set at the Conference USA Championships in 2014 in Houston.

“J.Q. obviously inspires and motivates all who come in contact with him,” said future Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame track and field coach Gary Stanley. “He is an humble young man and we are very fortunate to have him in our program.”

In the biennial IPC World Championships, athletes with a physical disability compete – although J.Q. often claims he doesn’t have a disability. A product of Bossier City’s Airline High, Hart lettered in football, was all-state in both track and wrestling, was a state champion in track and a two-time city champ in wrestling.

Hart became the first Tech student-athlete to represent Team USA since Chelsea Hayes competed in the long jump at the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012.

J.Q. HART LATECH.EDU | 23

Classroom marks for student-athletes at all-time highs for eighth straight year

‘Three stripes and yer IN!’: Tech partners with adidas

Effective July 1, Tech Athletics will partner with adidas America, Inc., to establish a five-year exclusive agreement that will outfit Louisiana Tech’s 16 NCAA men’s and women’s programs in adidas uniforms, apparel, footwear and equipment through the 2020-21 athletics season.

The exception is the Lady Techster basketball program, which will join the partnership in 2017.

The pluses for the University through this transformational development are many: • Tech’s brand will solidify. All teams will now more closely resemble each other, making the brand more easily recognizable – not only in America but internationally; • adidas will provide a normalized recurring source of self-generated revenue for athletics; • adidas will also outfit athletic support and program personnel, bringing literal uniformity to all levels of every program; • Factor in the cost savings to the overall athletic budget, and what Tech has is one of the best apparel deals of any mid-major program. adidas is the athletic gear provider for more than 100 collegiate programs, including Kansas, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Texas A&M and UCLA. Also, adidas has marketing agreements with the National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer.

24 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

Tech’s student-athletes continue to reach academic progress superlatives in the most recent Federal Graduation Rate Report released by the NCAA. Tech’s student-athletes recorded a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 83 percent and a Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) of 62 percent; both were improvements over last year’s numbers.

Louisiana Tech’s 83 percent GSR ranks as the second highest in the state among Division I football-playing public institutions, one point behind LSU’s. Tech’s GSR is two percentage points higher than last year’s and easily outdistances the state average of 70 percent among the other nine Division I football-playing public institutions in the state of Louisiana.

Tech also recorded the second highest FGR of any Division I football-playing public institution in the state at 62 percent, which also bests last year’s mark of 60 percent.

COMPLETED PASS: The Stole Ceremony honors each academic quarter’s student-athlete graduates.

Tech’s student-athletes continue to rank among the top in the state and conference in Graduation Success Rate and Academic Progress Rate.

Fans, it’s your turn to SCORE! Don’t miss THE 2016 TECHSPYS

Tuesday night, May 3, at 6:30, the University will roll out the blue carpet for all its student-athletes and will especially honor the best plays, players and performances from the past year.

The event is free and one you won’t want to miss. Watch videos, cheer your dressed-up Bulldogs and Lady Techsters, and help celebrate a night of 14 awards – including male and female athletes of the year, comeback of the year, and more – plus entertainment and comments from the big night’s honorees.

Show up early – doors open at 5:30 – to walk the blue carpet, to snack, and to take photos with Champ and your favorite teams, players and coaches, and to help make the second annual Techspys a memorable one.

P.J. Brown

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Inductee In the body of a gangly high schooler, P.J. Brown was a basketball all star waiting to blossom. He did, and for a long time.

The Winnfield High star helped Louisiana Tech to three postseason appearances, played 15 years in the NBA and won a world championship with the Boston Celtics in 1998. On the final Saturday of June, he’ll join the rest of the Class of 2016 for his well-deserved induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches.

Brown averaged 10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and two blocks per game during his four-year career as a Bulldog. He left Tech as the Bulldogs’ second all-time leader in blocks with 241; his 1,017 rebounds are fifth-most in program history.

Brown went 87-33 in his Tech career (1988-92) and lead Tech to two America South Conference Tournament Championships, one America South Conference Regular Season Co-Championship and a Sun Belt Conference Championship. His teams made the postseason every year, the NCAA Tournament twice and the NIT twice.

Brown is one of only two Bulldogs to ever record a triple-double; he did it against Centenary on Dec. 14, 1991 with 10 points, 16 boards and a program-single-gamerecord 10 blocks.

Brown was a second round pick (29th overall) of the New Jersey Nets in the 1992 NBA Draft and enjoyed a 15-year career with five different teams – including four with the New Orleans Hornets. Three times he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team; he won the league’s Sportsmanship Award in 2004.

He averaged 9.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 1,089 career games with 990 starts. He averaged double digits in per-game-average scoring five times, with a high of 11.4 points in 1998-99 with the Miami Heat. His top rebounding season came when he averaged 9.8 per game for the Charlotte Hornets in 2001-02.

As he was at Tech, Brown was about durability and consistency in the NBA. He averaged at least eight points in 12 of his NBA seasons and at least seven rebounds in nine. For his career, he shot 46 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line. In 106 career playoff games, he averaged 7.1 points and 6.6 rebounds.

Celebrate P.J.’s Induction!

The 2016 Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, June 23, with a press conference and reception. It includes three receptions, a youth sports clinic, and a Friday, June 24, golf scramble at Oak Wing Golf Course in Alexandria. Tickets for the Induction Dinner and Ceremony, and golf entries, along with congratulatory advertising and sponsorship opportunities, will be available through the LaSportsHall.com website.

LATECH.EDU | 25

Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2015

The Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame increased to 93 members with the addition of the five-person Class of 2015 in October. “We couldn’t be more proud of this group collectively and as individuals,” said athletics director Tommy McClelland, and with good reason: this class stands toe-to-toe with any other in Tech’s storied athletics history.

ROBERT BRUNET

Brunet lettered for the Bulldogs from 1964 through 1967 after playing only a handful of high school games for Larose-Cut Off High School. During his time at Tech, he earned four letters and earned all-conference honors in 1965 and 1967. He set the single game rushing record of 224 yards against Lamar in 1967, a record that stood for 23 years. He played 10 years for the Washington Redskins and was inducted into the Redskins Special Teams Hall of Fame.

Poorly timed injuries and illnesses kept him from even lettering in football in high school. He was the team’s equipment manager his senior year and played through the playoffs – all the way to the state championship game – because the team’s top two running backs were injured in the final game of the regular season. That late-fall performance in Lacrose-Cut Off ’s 28-21 loss to Minden for the state title caught the eye of Tech assistant coach George Doherty and earned the equipment manager a football scholarship to Tech, where he rushed for 1.222 yards – eighth-best in Tech history at that point. He was chosen in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Redskins and was named the No. 1 Special Teams Player in the NFL after his rookie season.

TROY EDWARDS

Out of Huntington High in Shreveport, Edwards played just three seasons at Tech – but that was plenty of time for him to shatter the program’s career, season and single-game receiving records.

The two-time All-America won the 1998 Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. He set two NCAA Division I records in 1998 that still stand: He caught 27 touchdown passes that year, and in the season-opening loss at Nebraska, he had 405 yards receiving, all on 21 receptions from current Tech assistant Tim Rattay.

“Nebraska had three or four defensive backs on that team who went on to play in the NFL,” Rattay said. “Troy shredded every one of them, whether it was deep, short or even running the ball.”

Edwards was selected in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions.

“I always wanted to be in the Tech Hall of Fame, but you never really think that it’s going to happen,” Edwards said, “It’s so special for me.”

26 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

MIKE GREEN

A four-year letterman from 1970 through 1973, Green is still the program’s all-time career leader in points (2,340, without today’s three-point shot) and rebounds (1,575) and is considered by most longtime Tech fans as the best allaround and most versatile Bulldog ever. The four-time all-conference selection was selected to numerous all-American teams during his playing career, including the United Press International Small College team, the Associated Press team, the Basketball News and U.S. Basketball Coaches Association team. In 1972-73 he was both the AP Player of the Year and the Southland Conference Player of the Year. His 30.9 points-per-game average was the nation’s second best per-game average that season.

Green’s teams spent 36 consecutive weeks ranked in the Top 10 – from Dec. 1971 through March 1973 – before Tech moved to Major College status the next season; that streak ranks ninth in Division II history.

“All the way through life, you’ll have good things and bad things; it’s all about learning,” Green said on the eve of his induction, “but it sure seems like this has turned out pretty good.”

Green played three seasons in the American Basketball Association, was named to the 1974 ABA All-Rookie team and appeared in the 1975 ABA All-Star Game. From 1976 to 1980, Green played in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs and Kansas City Kings.

NORA LEWIS

Her No. 40 jersey hangs in the rafters of the Thomas Assembly Center, and now a plaque honoring her hangs in the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

Lewis led Tech to a 123-14 record from 1985 through 1989, including three Final Fours and the 1988 national championship title.

She was a two-time All-American South selection, the 1989 American South Tournament MVP and a 1989 Kodak All-American. Her career individual stats reflect versatility and consistency: 1,760 points, 1,071 rebounds, 49 double doubles.

“To me, it was all about team,” Lewis said. “It wasn’t about my stats. It was just about trying to be the best team player I could and trying to do whatever I could to help the team win.”

CHARLIE MONTOYA

He came to Louisiana from a California college, just one year removed from his home country of Puerto Rico. He was just learning to speak English. Baseball, he already knew. “One of the finest infielders,” said his coach, Pat Patterson, “that Tech’s ever had.”

A three-year letterman from 1985 through 1987, Montoya was also a threetime all-conference selection and a 1987 All-American. He won the George Kell Hitting Award in 1986 and 1987 as the top hitter in the Southland Conference.

He still ranks No. 4 in career batting average (.380), No. 5 in home runs (38) and No. 7 in total bases (337), and he holds the single-season record for runs scored with 76 in 1987.

“The whole Tech experience was a dream,” Montoya said. “When you are there, you’re just doing your thing. Looking back at it, I thank God I made the decision to come to Tech, and I thank God for what they are doing for me now.”

Montoya was drafted in the sixth round of the 1987 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers and played 10 seasons with the Brewers, Montreal and Philadelphia organizations. He has managed at every level in the Tampa Bay Rays organization since 1996 and has collected almost a dozen Manager of the Year awards. Last year was his first as third base coach for the Tampa Bay Rays.

LATECH.EDU | 27

BULLDOGS THEN, BULLDOGS STILL: (front, left to right): J. R. Boyett, A.L. Williams, Bobby Stone, Curtis Allen, Bud Frye, Sonny Sumlin, J.W. Slack, Robert Dunbar; (back, left to right): O.C. Allbritton, Ray Germany, Tom Hinton, Gary Richardson, Jim Tullos, Wade Scott, Wayne Bourgeois, Allen Stough, Charles Hodges, Jap Gullatt, Lamar McInnis

1955 Bulldogs Reunite at Homecoming 2015 Just about everyone enjoys reviving memories from their college days.

And without a doubt, it is tons of fun if those days were at Louisiana Tech in 1955. That’s exactly 60 years ago and it was right in the middle of Rock N’ Roll’s first decade, the first big dose of television with Milton Berle and Red Skelton, and featured a togetherness that isn’t quite the same on any campus anymore.

All of these recollections and a lot more came out on Oct. 23, 2015, when a group of Tech’s 1955 athletes came back to see each other and to see their shining bright star that is Tech today.

The irrepressible Bill Cox, Ruston’s own version of Will Rogers (he never met a man he wouldn’t feed), put this reunion together and he left no stone unturned. Maybe it was because these guys were his guys. Bill, 80, was a junior at Tech in 1955 and knew every athlete on campus (and probably every student).

Not only did Cox locate and persuade approximately 25 of those athletes to return – just about all of them nearly at or exceeding 80 years of age – he made sure they wouldn’t forget this evening.

First, he cooked up one of his best meals ever – fried fish, fried shrimp, jambalaya, bean soup, cole slaw, French fries, potato salad, hush puppies and a humongous 28 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

amount of his famous banana pudding.

And, eventually he took to the stage with microphone in hand and memories in mind.

Recalling that time 60 years ago, Cox said, “It was a different world. We really were like a family, maybe because there was less than 3,000 students here (then a new record), there were not many cars on campus, we had Saturday classes and we just all enjoyed being here. In a way, you might say we were captives on campus – and we loved it.”

While taking the group down memory lane with facts from a 1955 Lagniappe, Bill had them laughing and maybe even crying a little as he (and they) recalled the time and place (Tech) that helped them all get ready for the real world, where virtually all of them eventually produced success stories in a variety of professions.

He recalled that there were almost 2,000 female students and just under 800 males attending that year, that one of coach Jim Mize’s best track athletes ever (Bruce Lenoir) went on to become president of Exxon and that the football Bulldogs went 9-1 and won the Gulf States Conference at 6-0. That Joe Aillet team scored 250 points and gave up just 97 and had seven all-GSC picks with Tommy Hinton, Pat Hinton, Charles Anderson, Russell Rainbolt,

Milford Andrews, Bobby Stone and Charles Glover. (Tommy Hinton, Bobby Stone and Charles Glover were here for the reunion.)

Talking about the Bulldog basketball team of the 1955 era, Cox said, “In my opinion, it featured the most talented player in Tech basketball history – guard Billy Wiggins. Again, that is my opinion, but he was really an exceptional player.”

Tech’s old-timers also got to visit with one of their own favorite 1955 professors, former Tech vice president Dr. Virgil Orr, who was on hand as was a member of the 1955 Homecoming Court, Sara Sneed Williams, wife of one of that year’s football stars, A.L. Williams (also present), who later had a fabulous coaching career that included leading the 1984 Tech Bulldogs to the Division 1AA national championship game.

The next day, Tech’s old warriors got to see this year’s version of the Bulldogs whip Middle Tennessee in a Conference USA battle – and they did so from the confines of Tech’s brand spanking new Davison Athletics Complex, which left them all shaking their heads in awe.

It was great to have this group back home, even if for just a little while.

– Keith Prince, Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer and former Tech sports information director

LATECH.EDU | 19

NEWS AROUND CAMPUS

APPLIED AND NATURAL SCIENCES Gary Kennedy, Dean

Goodbye Party for ECEC: May 5, 3-6 p.m. at current ECEC. A fundraising activity is planned as part of the party. For more information, email Julie Rutledge, Rutledge@ LaTech.edu School of Human Ecology Fashion Show and Scholarship Dinner: May 12, 6 p.m., Tonk. Silent auction will include desks, chairs, playground equipment, swings, slides and other items that supporters can sponsor for the new school. For more information, email Kathleen Heiden, HeidenK@LaTech.edu

ECEC: New location, same 5-star reputation

A

fter more than a half-century of dependable service, the little building and playground that has launched the academic education of thousands is finding a new home.

The Early Childhood Education Center, a preschool learning laboratory for 3- and 4-year-olds and an integral component of instructional programming in Tech’s School of Human Ecology, will have a new home, August 1, currently set for 401 W. Louisiana Ave. “We are being relocated to accommodate the planned construction of additional student apartments behind Carson Taylor Hall,” said Amy Yates, director of Tech’s School of Human Ecology. “The new location will be approximately twice the size of the current location, and we plan to add an additional classroom for 3-4 year olds. We will also have a research wing on the building for the Center for Healthy Children.”

Jan O’Neal Murphy has a prized matted photograph of her and her 1958-59 classmates in the same ECEC building that her granddaughter, Caroline Cox, nearly 4, attends today. The iconic Willie Fletcher was Murphy’s teacher; years later, Murphy attended Tech, as did her mom, dad, son and daughter.

“My dad told me when I graduated from Tech that I’d gone full circle,” she said. “My mother was a Tech student when I started 30 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

ECEC; she knew how wonderful the program was. There was never any thought of her children going anywhere else.”

Murphy was sure some of the building blocks her granddaughter plays with today are the same ones she used. ECEC director Laura Chestnut, who has already begun the transition to the “new” ECEC, said some of the toy trucks on the playground are vintage 1960, and some of the “bikes” have been ridden by generations. “We’ve never had much of a budget,” she said with a smile.

And still, the program is accredited by the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and rated 5-star by the Louisiana Quality Star Rating system.

Becky Marbury Napper attended ECEC when it was located in a Quonset hut just east of the present location. Her dad, William Marbury, who would later help found the Louisiana Tech Foundation, attended ECEC in the location before that one.

Becky’s son, Lomax, and grandson, Camdyn (both pictured above), now 7 and at Cedar Creek, attended the present-day ECEC. That’s four generations of ECECers.

“I have the most wonderful memories of that place and of that time,” Napper said. “I learned some French there, do you believe that?…So many people started their educations there, and it was such a good start.”

Student Spotlight

‘Pretty’ popular fundraiser an annual bright spot

PETER WRZESINSKI, Senior

If Agricultural Sciences had a ‘departmental plant,’ it would have to be the poinsettia.

No matter that north Louisiana is heading into the hottest part of the year, it’s always poinsettia season on South Campus because of the plant’s perpetual value to the Agricultural Sciences.

The Department’s annual Poinsettia Show and Auction grossed $25,110 on 30 lots, or $837 per lot. “Truly amazing,” said College dean Gary Kennedy.

“After expenses, we grossed $22,524 for scholarships for deserving Agricultural Sciences students,” he said.

“AGSC awarded about $65,000 total in scholarships. This is just the Agricultural Sciences portion of the new School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry; it does not include Forestry scholarships.”

Held in early December at Squire Creek Country Club, the event always offers a variety of plants in all shapes and colors.

Mark your calendar as a reminder to purchase a ticket or table to the event this winter.

Traditionally, the plants will go on sale during normal hours at the Tech Farm Sales Room the day after the auction. “The best thing about all of this,” Kennedy said, “is that the auction is for a great cause.”

Hometown: Bossier City Major: biological sciences (chemistry)

“Tech was the right school for me because of the teaching staff; they’ve shown a genuine interest in every hardworking student’s success. The small town community of Ruston also influenced me to come…

“The most challenging aspect of college is time management.

Improving on my time management skills has allowed me to become a much better student and has allowed me to fulfill my academic goals…

“I want to be a physician and Louisiana Tech has prepared me for this by giving me the knowledge required for acceptance into the LSUHSC-Shreveport medical school program…

“The most difficult course was Dr. (Patrick) Hindmarsh’s Virology course. The course challenged me to study every night for at least two hours to be prepared for the material covered on the exams. I normally spend that time covering all the subjects I have for a particular quarter, but this course required the extra effort for success.”

Distinguished Alumnus, College of Applied and Natural Sciences WESLEY MADDEN (’06) After service in the United States Coast Guard and extensive training in technology involving troubleshooting electrical and flight control systems, Wesley Madden returned to Ruston with his growing family and, due to encouragement from the Tech faculty and staff, discovered a way to combine his technological background with patient care through a career in nursing.

After earning his nursing degree, Madden worked with St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe as a surgical intensive care nurse. He was also involved in Electronic Health Initiatives as a super user and implementation team member, effecting change for all of the other clinicians in his area with improved documentation and work flow.

After transitioning to P&S Surgical Hospital in Monroe, Madden was once again part of an electronic medical-record initiative, this time in the information technology department at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, Ark., where

he had the opportunity to be involved with the center’s medical device integration project. The positive impact to clinicians all over the hospital was immediate. Using DeviceConX software, he and the clinicians were able to automate the flow of device data from all of the devices connected to their patients.

Madden then accepted a position with iSirona, a medical device integration software company that designed DeviceConX, as a Clinical Analyst and Clinical Design consultant.

He traveled the United States, implemented DeviceConX and continued to see the need for medical device integration in all aspects of care, ranging from large research institutions down to rural clinics and hospitals. iSirona continued to grow and afforded him the opportunity to advance to become the vice president of sales support. Madden then began to travel the world to sell DeviceConX. The son of Tech alums, Madden is married to a Tech alumna and their four children attend school on the Tech campus, three at A.E. Phillips Lab School and one at the Early Childhood Education Center.

LATECH.EDU | 31

NEWS AROUND CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Chris Martin, Dean

It’s all about relationships

Introducing our students to the business world and to you

W

hen Chris Martin became dean of the College of Business in July, an early priority was to ramp up student services, not only in terms of placement and internships, but also with a major emphasis toward the engagement of today’s students with alums. The result is an increase in the amount of events hosted by the College – at least one career development event just for College of Business students each quarter – to better engage the current students with both alums and the world of business “out there.”

The Winter quarter event was a “speed interviewing” workshop, a 90-minute get-together in the Davison Athletics Complex highlighted by a mock interviewing opportunity done in a “speed dating” format. Each student was “interviewed” for five minutes each by 10 different local business professionals. The pro asked two questions, the student answered, then the pro offered feedback. So each student got the gift of 10 back-to-back five-minute interviews.

The event was open to the first 40 students who pre-registered; 40 local business professionals were on site to help.

“The whole idea is to allow students to practice interviewing skills in a professional setting, give them the chance to learn their strength and weaknesses and gain some confidence,” said Jessica George, the College’s director of student services and placement, the day after the January event. “The event was incredible and we received an overwhelmingly positive response from both students and employers. I could barely sleep last night because my adrenaline was pumping too hard.”

32 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

“What jumped out at me was how smart these kids are,” said Origin Bank senior vice president David Darland. “I wasn’t that polished when I was in their shoes. These kids had it…I had typed up a list of interview ‘do’s and don’t’s to give them; we got to offer some good feedback from our experience. The main thing was, this was the closest thing to a live interview they could get, but it was with someone who cares about them and has been where they are.

This is going to help those students.”

“Events like this one make me increasingly proud to be a part of the College of Business,” said 4.0 accounting senior Katherine Morris.

A four-night Career Event in the fall offered various opportunities, including one for juniors and seniors only, about preparing them for the job market. Another was in a panel discussion format, one for each of the College’s majors: students got to listen to what today’s pros do, what it takes to be successful in that field, and different areas of expertise required or opportunities offered that involve each major.

It’s easy to keep up with the COB’s events, either through Business.LaTech.edu or the College’s Facebook page. To connect with the University’s online job board and web-based recruiting system, a partnership between the College and Tech’s career center on campus, visit https://latech-csm.symplicity.com/ “We have a solid vision,” George said. “Now it’s just up to us to join together and execute it.”

Student Spotlight

Celebrating 75 years of academic excellence

HAMPTON ROANE, Senior

Hometown: Monroe Major: accounting

“My father and grandfather were both Tech graduates, so ever since I was about 6 or 7, I was being brought to Tech games and seeing campus. I established a ‘sense of home’ here early on, so when it came time to choose a college, Louisiana Tech was the obvious choice…

“The biggest challenge in my studies so far has been deciding what I wanted to major in. I knew I was interested in business because I like working with people, so I ultimately decided on accounting…

“The most fulfilling thing I’ve done academically so far is having the opportunity to enjoy an accounting internship with CenturyLink during this most recent summer. The College of Business allowed me to see a side of the corporate life that I never would have seen as a student otherwise…

“I don’t know specifically which of my classes have been toughest, but definitely my accounting intermediate courses have caused me the most stress. I spent a lot of sleepless nights focusing on all three of those classes…

“I honestly have no idea what I want to do with my life for sure professionally.

But I know with accounting there are several different paths I can choose, such as law school or public accounting. Right now I have lots of options.”

D

uring the first years of the University – then Louisiana Polytechnic Institute – classes in “Business Branches” were stressed as a part of the general emphasis that was being placed on Industrial Education.

The department of business progressed in all of its branches and the foundation was laid for the School of Business Administration and Economics in 1941.

So Happy 75th Anniversary to what is now the College of Business.

To help us celebrate, tell us your stories of your time at the College. Email Teddy@ LaTech.edu – and email a head shot if you wish – and your stories will be posted on the website at Business.LaTech.edu.

Distinguished Alumnus, College of Business DUT LEBLANC (’79) A magna cum laude accounting graduate, Dut LeBlanc is a member of the Louisiana Tech College of Business Advisory Board and past president of the Tech Accounting Advisory Board and a member of the LSUS Foundation. LeBlanc has been a guest lecturer and teacher at several colleges, including at Tech. He has attended and participated in executive education programs at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and the International Institute for Management Development Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland.

LeBlanc is a member of the KPMG LLP Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Finance and Operations Committee

of the firm’s Board. In addition, he is the Global Lead Partner for AT&T and CenturyLink and is a tax partner based in the Shreveport office.

Soon after his graduation from Tech in 1979, LeBlanc joined KPMG in audit, transferred to tax in 1981 and became a partner in 1988.

LeBlanc holds a CPA license in Louisiana and Texas and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is the past president and chairman of the Loyola College Prep Board of Trustees, past treasurer and executive member of Boy Scouts (NORWELA Council) and member of the Committee of 100, and he has served on several other not-for-profit boards.

LATECH.EDU | 33

NEWS AROUND CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Don Schillinger, Dean

COEnnectivity – with quite a story to tell

E

ducation is about connecting – connecting people to people, to ideas, to actions, to improvements. In the College of Education, a “Storytelling” era began when Don Schillinger became dean two years ago; a mission to make the extra effort to connect the College’s many pieces with each other – and with you. Efforts have been focused not only on doing good things, but also on telling others about the good things in order to help identify trends, connect people, and create new and exciting opportunities for engagement and collaboration.

The COE is now more connect-able due to its social media platforms, web presence, local news publication, radio and television appearances by faculty, staff and students, and branding efforts. These have combined to increase awareness of the College’s strategies, accomplishments and opportunities. Some of the stories shared include the following: • The eLearning Research Institute (eLRI) has been established to provide a central location for instructional training for formal and informal educators. eLRI is providing a valuable resource to the College and University as both faculty and staff complete professional development sessions to earn various Quality Matters certifications; • Launch of the Sport & Movement Science Laboratory (the SMSL Lab); • Contributions to Tech’s record-breaking 2015 fall enrollment numbers, with support from the Office of Professional Education Outreach (OPEO); 34 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

• Beginning of courses in the Think Tank (pictured), the new technology-rich classroom in Woodard Hall. Planned professional outreach activities with the UTeachTech students who meet there include collaborating with the SciTEC Center in the College of Education through its Adopt-A-School Partner (Cypress Springs Elementary), hosting a free STEM day, job shadowing colleagues through another partnership with CenturyLink, and redelivering STEM lessons to Ouachita Parish and Monroe City Schools.

• The Department of Psychology received the seven-year accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA) for its Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program; seven years is the longest period APA will accredit a program; • Highlighting of the international research conducted with the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB); • Establishment and Success of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Leadership’s (CIL) Teaching, Leading and Learning Initiative (TLLI), a new program designed to deliver advanced educational programs to individuals in the Caddo and Bossier Parish areas.

Visit these links to find out more and stay connected: Blog: LaTechCOE.blogspot.com Facebook: Facebook.com/LaTechCOE Twitter: @LaTechCOE

Student Spotlight

AEP gets an ‘A’ and an ‘Amen’

JOANNE GABIAS, Junior Hometown: British Columbia, Canada Major: Graduate student, guidance and counseling; instructor, Tech’s Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness

“Both of my parents are successful blind people. My father is an associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and my mother is the president of the Canadian Federation of the Blind. On top of that, my family runs the Gabias Wellness Center from their home…

“As a child, traveling with my parents to National Federation of the Blind conventions all over the United States, I realized that not all blind people have the same level of independence that my parents do. Some were never taught non-visual techniques they could use to maneuver in this very visual world…

“I did my research and discovered Tech’s Orientation and Mobility program, got in my Mini Cooper and drove to Ruston from Canada.

If I was going to be away from home, I was going to go to the best program in the world. It just happened to be in little ol’ Ruston!...

“I wanted to be in a program that would help me become an instructor who teaches independence and promotes positive thinking about blindness. Tech has an amazing program that is far superior to any other program in the country. Students can have hands-on training throughout the entire program. Not many students can say that on Day One, they were immersed in the workforce setting that they will eventually be working in. My degree will give me the skills I need to be able to help blind individuals find alternatives that work for them to assist them in becoming successful participants in society.”

A.E. Phillips Laboratory School at Louisiana Tech earned the highest overall “School Performance Score” of any school in north central Louisiana and one of the highest in all of north Louisiana from the Louisiana Education Department after its 2015 accountability assessment of the state’s publicly-funded schools.

A.E. Phillips’s “A” was based on a variety of factors including student achievement, academic indicators and measures of career and college readiness (such as Carnegie credits earned through 9th grade), and graduation rates.

Known for its strong academic focus and innovative teaching strategies as well as its emphasis on the arts, A.E. Phillips is a K-8 school that serves as a model for the use of research-based instructional practices as well as the integration of technology in the classroom.

Additionally, it offers a site for Louisiana Tech education majors to observe and practice effective teaching strategies in a supportive environment.

The AEP faculty are an integral part of the College of Education as many mentor teacher candidates and serve as adjunct professors. Teacher preparation programs housed within the College of Education accrue mutual benefit from the research-based collaboration that occurs between the College’s faculty and teacher candidates and AEP’s teachers.

Distinguished Alumni, College of Education PAMELA KIPER WARE (’62) AND WILLIAM WARE (’62) Husband and wife, William “Bill” Ware and Pam Ware of Gainesville, Ga., were able to graduate together from Louisiana Tech and be honored together at their alma mater as the College of Education’s Distinguished Alumni for 2015.

An English and speech graduate, Pam is theatre director at Gainesville High School and Bill, a physical education graduate, is Brenau University’s former dean of education.

Pam has produced more than 400 musicals and plays in her combined roles at Gainesville High and as director for Gainesville Parks and Recreation Summer Theater. She has

also established two intensified summer workshops in musical theater for elementary children; those culminate in productions for the public.

Bill is a professor and dean emeritus at Brenau. After graduation, Ware was a general science, biology and physical education teacher and assistant coach at A.G. Parish High School in Selma, Ala., before earning the positions of chair of the physical education department, head football and track coach, assistant principal and director of guidance.

He held positions in both Columbus, Ga., and Cleveland, Ga., before becoming principal of Fair Street Elementary in Gainesville in 1978. Bill later became a professor and chairperson of Brenau College’s department of education prior to being named dean in 1995.

LATECH.EDU | 35

NEWS AROUND CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE Hisham Hegab, Dean

New lab in Tech Pointe is really IT

F

ar from being “engineering exclusive,” Tech Pointe’s IT Lab is actually a joint venture among all the computing faculty and respective schools. Expected to be fully operational by the fall, the lab’s purpose is to support all of the computer programs on campus in five primary areas: mobile application development, cloud computing, cyber security, SAP (systems, applications and products) and big data/analytics.

The College of Business has been key in making the lab a reality; Clifford R. King Endowed Professor Rhonda Syler, who used the lab to teach a capstone course last fall, has been very involved in its design and logistics since the University began developing the lab initiative early in 2015. She and SWEPCO Endowed Professor Chokchai “Dr. Box” Leangsuksun (COES) have led the project from the faculty/technical side, and a team from CSRA (formerly known as Computer Sciences Corporation, or CSC) has been doing all of the work to “stand up” the server room and all the mobile device and infrastructure support.

All computing programs – Computer Information Systems in the College of Business and Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Science – will use software and tools provided by the lab to support curricula.

The lab is officially sponsored by CSRA, which has “contributed countless hours, manpower, hardware, software and dollars to make this lab a reality,” Syler said.

36 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

With state-of-the-art technologies, the lab is designed in ways “highly collaborative and idea-stimulative,” Dr. Box said. For instance, there are two zones: a more formal “team room” and also an early to work or play in a lounge setting. The high-resolution screens are Wi-Fi-enabled and moveable.

“It is unique in many ways,” Syler said. “It is a computer-less computer lab. The lab is an innovation playground infused with smart and smart-connected devices to provide a space for students in business, computer science and cyber engineering to learn, study and develop ideas.”

This innovative BYOD (bring your own device) space offers access to smart and smart-connected devices to test and explore new ideas. The lab environment brings full circle this cycle: the development of mobile applications, to configuration and use of cloud technologies, to the extraction, storage and analysis of the data generated, and finally to the evaluation of business processes.

“The lab is unique in that it is the first lab on campus incorporating technologies to study and develop ‘Internet of Things’ solutions and explore its challenges,” Syler said. “We also plan to expand its focus to open it up to anyone on campus interested in information technology. For example, we have a proposal under consideration to include health informatics in wearable fitness technology studies and class projects.”

Student Spotlight

Innovating triumphs over contamination

SARI FREEMAN, Junior Hometown: West Monroe Major: industrial engineering

“As the middle child of two Louisiana Tech alumni, I began attending Tech football games at a very young age. Watching my parents hold up the ‘No. 1’ with fellow alumni while singing our alma mater was always such a special moment: I wanted to do that one day!…

“In high school, math and science interested me most; with its highly accredited engineering and science programs, Tech immediately became my choice. I followed in my father’s footsteps and began pursuing a degree in industrial engineering…

“Entering into a male-dominated field, I was immediately intimidated by the large number of males in each of my freshman engineering courses. Being thrown into the rigorous curriculum also was a challenge. Devoting most of my time to my studies was crucial, yet I wanted to be involved in other activities on the campus that I had always loved. So finding the balance between studying and involvement at Tech was difficult. But overcoming those challenges while still being able to make my mark on the University and learn and serve through my sorority all blended to become rewarding. Being able to see my many hours spent in the library come to fruition after completing another course allowed me the ability to face the next challenge…

“I’m seeking an internship in order to figure out my interests in terms of my future employment. The field of engineering is very broad, so I’m looking forward to continuing to discover the different facets in which I can be a part.”

Anyone who missed Blue Bell on store shelves because of the company’s problems with contamination has a couple of Tech researchers to thank for their efforts in trying to prevent such a disaster from happening again.

Inventing a way to dramatically reduce the time it takes to detect contamination in food – from two days to 40 minutes – earned Tech’s Varun Kopparthy and Gergana Nestorova one of five finalists’ spots and the chance to pitch the application directly to investors during the New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week.

Called PathoRADAR, the application is a thermalbased detection technology for identifying pathogenic contamination. Following the success of the pitch, Varun, a doctoral student in biomedical engineering, and Dr. Nestorova, a research assistant professor for the Institute for Micromanufacturing, teamed with Niel Crews, director of the Institute for Micromanufacturing, to form BioSenseLabs, LLC, that will develop PathoRADAR and other technologies.

The Tech Foundation awarded Varun and his team seed capital of $20,000 to develop a prototype model of the food contamination detection system for testing. Varun said the progress has been a collaborative effort with faculty, staff and students.

“Tech has exposed me to cutting-edge research and development,” he said, “and provided me an opportunity to demonstrate my creativity to foster innovation.”

Distinguished Alumnus, College of Engineering and Science CHARLES SPRUELL (’57, ’64) A petroleum engineering graduate, Charles Spruell serves his alma mater as a Privileged Director of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation Board.

He spent his career with Mobil Oil Corporation (and predecessor Magnolia Petroleum Company) before retiring in 1994 in Dallas as president and general manager of Mobil Exploration and Producing U.S. In 1957, he started his career by planning and engineering assignments in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New York

headquarters until 1976, where he became general manager for Energy Minerals. His other Mobil posts were based in London and in New York.

Spruell has participated in various outside civic and oil industry activities, including the Dallas Wildcat Committee, a prestigious limited membership group of energy executives; he served as its chair from 1994-95.

He was honored as one of the Top 100 Distinguished Alumni at Tech’s Centennial Celebration, was the College of Engineering and Sciences 2010 Distinguished Alumnus (petroleum engineering) and is in the University Hall of Distinguished Alumni as a Tower Medallion recipient.

LATECH.EDU | 37

NEWS AROUND CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Donald Kaczvinsky, Dean

‘Sleeping Beauty’ another wake-up call for tomorrow’s students

A

s a department, The School of Performing Arts decided to add Children’s Theatre into its rotation of shows; this winter’s Sleeping Beauty was the third one SPA’s produced since.

“Doing shows like this not only allows our students to get practical learning in a style of theatre with which they may be unfamiliar, but it also involves the local community in a way that excites parents and children alike,” said associate professor Paul Crook, the School’s Director of Recruiting and the director of Sleeping Beauty. “With two dozen local children in the play, and almost 2,000 children who got to see the play, we were able to open the world of theatre up to an entire new generation.”

The SPA, said its director, Mark Guinn, “continues to thrive with new opportunities for music and theatre majors in the areas 38 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

of composition, multimedia production, arts management and stage combat.” The School has recently added the composition concentration for increased opportunities in digital music, gaming soundtracks and commercial application. In addition to new classes, the multimedia production studio was made possible by a generous grant from the Board of Regents.

“We’re small, but we’re mighty,” said professor Cherrie Sciro, Coordinator of Theatre for SPA, a graduate of the program and a veteran of some of Broadway’s longest running shows, including CATS and Les Misérables. “From one who’s experienced it firsthand, I know how special this department truly is, and what it offers that other performing arts programs do not.”

See the School’s production of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost April 26-May 1 in Stone Theatre. For tickets, call (318) 257-3942.

Student Spotlight

Collaboration sensation

KATHERINE STRODE, Senior

Hometown: West Monroe Major: interior design

“I never really considered Tech until I was a senior in high school. I took a tour around the School of Architecture on Legacy Day and I saw a whole new side of Tech. I loved that at Tech I wasn’t just a number.

“I knew my professors would be invested in me…

“Interior Design requires so much time and dedication. But within this degree there are so many opportunities to grow. We have done combined studios which helps us learn communication skills, we have taken a furniture design class and lots of other great classes…

“I would love to work at a firm doing commercial design…

“We’ve had to take several challenging history classes, including architectural history – three sections – and art history. These classes are very interesting, but the tests take a lot of preparation because it’s all slide identification…

“Most of my classes have been in Hale Hall, but I was also a Regal Blue so the football field is a really familiar place for me too!”

It seems at first like oil and water, but the School of Design has mixed with biology and biomedical engineering in a way that allows the University to showcase and promote interdisciplinary research, and helps students both advance in a new field and learn about it from visiting faculty and experts.

The new Digital Painting course (ART 320/420), led by associate professor Nick Bustamante, investigates the value of digital art, both as a visual means of communication and as a key component in scientific research. It developed as Mary Caldorera-Moore, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, and Jamie Newman, assistant professor of biological sciences, worked with Bustamante and his students on designing new imagery to support and promote the 2016-17 seminar series, New Frontiers in Biomedical Research.

The series brings leaders in biomed research to campus, which increases awareness for research, brings recognition to the University, allows students to talk one-on-one with the field’s pioneers, and offers obvious professional development opportunities through interaction and communication between colleagues.

Tech’s art students are creating the imagery for the series – note their digitally created “antibodyantigen interaction” illustration pictured – giving them experience in a relatively new field, but also exposing them to skill sets that can be applied in a variety of professions.

Tech alumni Jeanette and Justin Hinckley were instrumental in supporting this cross-disciplinary, collaborative project through the purchase of digital drawing tablets and other materials.

Future projects Caldorera-Moore, Newman and Bustamante plan involve art students working closely with science faculty to produce illustrations for publication, websites and presentations. The benefits for faculty are high-quality images for teaching aids, and for students, more opportunity to practice the craft and interact with other disciplines.

Distinguished Alumnus, College of Liberal Arts KEN REA (’66) Until his retirement in 2012, Ken Rea served for 25 years under Louisiana Tech president Dan Reneau as the University’s vice president for academic affairs.

A history graduate, Rea earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Chinese history from the University of Colorado in 1968 and 1970, respectively, before beginning his teaching career at Tech as an assistant professor of history.

Rea held a number of positions in the College of Arts and Sciences before accepting Reneau’s appointment as a vice president.

During Rea’s tenure as the leader in academic affairs, the

University added doctoral programs in education, engineering, computational analysis, counseling psychology, audiology, industrial and organizational psychology, and molecular science and nanotechnology. The University also created 14 new master’s and graduate certificate programs and established 14 academic and research centers.

Rea represented Tech and the University of Louisiana System on numerous statewide committees – some of which he chaired – including two terms on the Louisiana Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence. He served on the Louisiana Board of Regents’ Support Funding Planning Committee, on the Louisiana Library Network Commission, on the Regents’ Task Force on General Education, and on the Regents’ Task Force on International Education.

LATECH.EDU | 39

FOUNDATION

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.

H G I L T SPO

T

Opal Rhodes engineers a special legacy for Tech A call from Houston to the Tech Foundation in April of 2002 was the beginning of connecting a 1934 Tech engineering graduate, a communications pioneer of his time, with the University’s future pioneers in biomedical engineering.

The call was from Laura Opal Wilkins Rhodes, the widow of Herman A. (Dusty) Rhodes. Dusty died on June 30, 1999, and while going through his documents, Mrs. Rhodes had found information from Tech on the endowed professorship and eminent scholar chair program that Dusty had apparently requested. She wanted to know what a professorship or chair was and how she might establish one in his memory.

A few weeks later, Corre Stegall, then the University’s Vice President of Advancement (and now Vice President Emerita), and

40 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

Gary Strebeck, Director of Development, visited Mrs. Rhodes in Houston, the beginning of countless visits and interactions that would continue for 13 years. They found an amazing lady who was eager to learn about Dusty’s university that she’d heard so much about. Mrs. Rhodes had begun her own education at the University of Texas and completed her degree at the University of Houston after her marriage to Dusty. She’d often heard Dusty’s fond memories of Tech, and she knew of his interest in supporting Tech’s efforts. In fact, Corre had met Dusty in the early ’90s at a Tech Engineering Foundation meeting in Houston where they were seated at the same table.

Mrs. Rhodes became very interested in the research programs at Tech, particularly in the area of biomedical engineering; Dusty

died from Alzheimer’s disease, and she was eager to support research in biomedical fields. She began communicating with then University President Dan Reneau, the founder of Tech’s biomedical engineering program, and the Foundation staff continued to facilitate her connections with the University.

Born in Bellwood, a very small community near Natchitoches, Dusty couldn’t afford college, so he took a short course to study radio and became a shipboard radio operator on tramp steamers in the late 1920s. He saved his money to finance his education at Tech, graduating with a degree in both mechanical and electrical engineering in 1934, while being dubbed “the toughest basketball player at Tech” and working as an assistant to the dean of men.

Dusty’s interest in radio communication carried over to his first job with Humble Oil Company (forerunner of ExxonMobil) where he innovated the use of VHF radio for pipeline control. He moved over to Transcontinental Gas Pipeline and continued to innovate, working in concert with General Electric to install the then longest private microwave system in the country.

The August 2, 1951, edition of the Houston Post features an article on “Dusty Rhodes and his pioneering work with Micro Waves in communication.” The article states that Dusty’s innovations could bring great improvements in television reception, result in the gradual disappearance of long distance telephone lines, change the communications for combat zones, and mean more economical piping of oil over long distances. A microwave was defined in the article as a very short wave form of radio, beamed in just one direction.

As communications superintendent of the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corporation, Dusty had overseen the installation of a microwave communications system along 1,850 miles of pipelines from south Texas to Newark, N.J. Because microwaves could travel only about 32 miles and couldn’t pass through the earth, it was necessary to build transmission towers 250 feet high at 32-mile intervals along that route.

Acknowledged as the top expert in pipeline communications in that era, Dusty was a national leader in industrial professional organizations and was recognized with countless awards. After his retirement in 1973, he helped organize the Gulf Coast Conservation Association and served as its first Executive Director. His highly effective lobbying led to the Texas State Legislature’s enacting laws to protect the redfish, effectively saving the species from extinction from overfishing.

Opal Rhodes wanted to find lasting ways to perpetuate the efforts and accomplishments of an extraordinary man. She had been his helpmate and greatest cheerleader during their 64 years of marriage; they had two sons, and both predeceased them. In 2004, Opal made a significant contribution to the building campaign for the Biomedical Engineering Building and named labs for her sons and for Dusty. In 2007, she made an eagerly awaited trip to the campus for that building’s dedication, and she chose that

occasion to present to President Reneau the funds to establish the University’s first (and to date, only) $2 million Eminent Scholar Chair in Engineering, in Dusty’s memory. Dr. Leonidas Iasemidis, Director of Tech’s Center of Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science, an internationally prominent researcher in neurological science, currently holds the prestigious Rhodes Chair.

Her initial wish to honor Dusty was fulfilled, but Laura Opal Wilkins Rhodes wasn’t finished. Her connection to Tech continued with her “Tech Family.” On June 4, 2011, in honor of her 100th birthday, Opal Rhodes became an honorary alumna of Louisiana Tech, and she was thrilled by the designation, feeling it made her “official.” Opal Rhodes died on January 1, 2015, at the age of 103.

Her desire to continue to support Tech was met through her will; she made a number of generous bequests to individuals, her church, and other causes she supported, leaving the remainder of her estate to Tech to establish “The Herman A. ‘Dusty’ Rhodes and Laura Opal Wilkins Rhodes Endowment in Biomedical Engineering Research,” a $3.5 million endowment that supports biomedical research initiatives and projects.

Stegall was Mrs. Rhodes’ primary contact at the Tech Foundation, and they became close friends over the years. Corre said, “Opal Rhodes was truly born before her time; she had a keen interest in science and technology and her knowledge was impressive. She read constantly until glaucoma robbed her of her sight. She was able to make a difference during her lifetime, which was so gratifying to her, and she also had the satisfaction of knowing that her estate gift would further facilitate her passion for biomedical research. She taught me so much, and her gifts are absolutely transformational in biomedical engineering at Tech.

She was convinced a Nobel Prize winner will emerge from Tech research programs, and I learned that she’s usually exactly right!”

A phone call in 2002 from Opal Rhodes, a caring woman determined to make a difference, has resulted in the perpetual recognition of the life’s work of a pioneer that will undoubtedly lead to discoveries that will make lives better—for us and for generations to come.

For information on estate gifts and other gifts to the Louisiana Tech University Foundation, please contact Jennifer Riley at Marbury Alumni Center at (318) 497-4731 or by email at Jennifer@ LaTechAlumni.org

LATECH.EDU | 41

N E W S A B O U T YO U 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 at News@LaTechAlumni.org.

1962

1971

Marilyn Fulmer Sewell, education, of Portland, Ore., is the subject of a prize-winning documentary film, “Raw Faith,” and author of a memoir, Raw Faith: Following the Thread. Regarding the film, Village Voice says “Empathetic and clear-sighted … a therapeutic act of faith in oneself, God, and love.”

Available from Alive Mind Cinema.

Sewell serves as Minister Emerita of the First Unitarian Church of Portland.

Don L. Olson, civil engineering, of Shreveport has received the VIVA (Very Important Volunteer Award) from the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. Don is recently retired as vice president of Hunt, Guillot & Associates, and he provides consulting services to HGA and other companies on special projects.

1968 James Michael Glasgow, business administration, received the Bossier High School Hall of Fame Award posthumously in October in recognition of his outstanding achievements in his field, for demonstrating leadership, character and service to his community, state and nation. He held the position of vice president and general manager of the Shreveport Coca Cola Bottling Company prior to his death in 2003.

Susan Odom Pincus, business administration/ education, of West Palm Beach, Fla., has recently begun a new career as a specialty food entrepreneur. Her company is SoLa Seasonings, Inc. SoLa Cajun Seasoning is made with sea salt, and it can be purchased at SoLaSeasonings.com.

1969 Stan Tiner, journalism, of Gulfport, Miss., has been inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Mass Communications and Journalism Hall of Fame. Tiner, who served as a newspaper editor in four states, retired from the Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.) in September after serving for 15 years as its executive editor. Under his guidance, the Sun Herald won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its work in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

42 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

1972 Frank Kennedy, professional aviation, of Davidsonville, Md., has completed his second retirement, this time as a Boeing 747 Captain with Atlas Air, Inc.

1977 Mike Crumpler, health and physical education, of Monroe was named head girls basketball coach at Sterlington High School. Mike has coached in Ouachita Parish for the past 17 years.

1979 Don Coker, health and physical education (master’s health and physical education 1980, doctorate educational leadership 2005), of Calhoun has been named superintendent of the Ouachita Parish School System. Don previously served as the personnel director and assistant superintendent for the parish for the past eight years.

He has 35 years of experience in education.

Dawson Durbin, health and physical education (master’s health and physical education 1982), of Lafayette has taken a position as defensive coordinator at Foley (Ala.) High School. He spent the last 34 years coaching in the Acadiana area.

David R. Kelly, accounting, of Baton Rouge has been named to the 2016 Edition of Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected

peer-review publication in the legal profession. Kelly is an attorney with Breazeale, Sachse and Wilson, L.L.P.

1981 Danny J. Rea, petroleum engineering, of Spring, Texas, was recently hired as chief operating officer at Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC. Rea was formerly vice president, Midstream for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and also served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of both Western Gas Partners, LP and Western Gas Equity Holdings, LLC.

1982 Lyn Bankston, business administration, of Winnfield has been named head coach for the Louisiana College Lady Cats softball team.

Steven Stanfield, accounting, of Bossier City has received The Association of School Business Officials International’s top Eagle Award, signifying a lifetime of achievement. Stanfield served as the DeSoto Parish School Board business director from 1985 until his retirement in December.

1983 Ralph S. Davis, animal science (master’s biology 1999), of Kaufman, Texas, received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents during their annual meeting and professional improvement conference. Davis has served as the county extension agent for Kaufman County for the past 15 years.

Michael E. McKelvy, architecture, of Parker, Colo., has assumed the position of president and chief executive officer of Gilbane Building Company, a global and award-winning leader in construction and facilities-related services.

Karen Longfellow Stone, accounting (master’s accounting 1984), of Brentwood, Tenn., was recently elected to a three-year term to BDO USA, LLP’s board of directors.

Karen is a partner and BDO’s office managing partner for tax services in Nashville and Memphis.

1985 Kirk D. Stebbins, finance, of Austin, Texas, has been hired as chief investment officer for the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System. Kirk previously served as CIO of the City of Austin Employees’ Retirement System.

1986 Shelia Wilson Anderson, computer science, of Boerne, Texas, has been named USAA’s Division CIO for Property and Casualty Insurance. Shelia joined USAA’s IT executive team in 2012 as vice president to lead maintenance and support for business applications.

Dr. Steve Maltempi, business administration, has been named the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s new youth strategist. Steve recently served as the lead associate of student and collegiate ministry for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and has also worked as a youth minister at several churches in Louisiana.

1987 Patricia A. Brewer, professional aviation, of Penn Valley, Calif., recently assumed command of the U.S. Air Force 908th Mission Support Group. She is now a colonel in charge of more than 500 Airmen whose mission is to provide peacetime and wartime mission-readiness support of the 908th Airlift Wing.

Kelly West Myers, early childhood education, of Columbia, Tenn., has been named principal at Highland Park Elementary in Columbia. She previously served as Maury County Public Schools federal programs coordinator.

Jesse Wade Wagner, wood utilization, of Chatham has signed a promotional deal with Makin’ Music in Nashville.

They currently have five songs written by him, with particular interest in promoting two of them. Wagner is known in Nashville by his stage name, Jess Wade.

N E W S A B O U T YO U 1989 Kathy L. Jackson, petroleum engineering, of Houston has been named global production engineering chief at ConocoPhillips.

During her 26-year career with ConocoPhillips, Kathy has held a variety of international and U.S.based engineering and operations management roles.

1990 Ronald K. Jones, management information systems, of Grand Prairie, Texas, has been appointed as a chief administrative officer by the Tyler (Texas) ISD Board of Trustees.

Jones has 22 years of experience, including serving as lead principal for Hillcrest High School feeder pattern in Dallas ISD.

1991 Col. Tom Wilcox, human resources management, of Great Falls, Mont., has been nominated for appointment to brigadier general. He has served as the 341st Missile Wing commander at Malmstrom Air Force Base since March 2014.

1992 Krista Phelps Garris, nursing, of Farmerville was recently promoted to regional executive director over the Ruston, Monroe and Rayville branches of STAT Home Health.

Leonard B. Nagel II, economics (master’s business administrationquantitative analysis), of Tampa, Fla., has joined Caldwell Trust Co. as senior vice president and chief technology officer. Nagel was formerly senior vice president of technology and services at Suncoast Solutions, a commercial software manufacturer for the hospice and home care industry.

1993 Chris Cook, journalism, of Lubbock, Texas, is the new Texas Tech Public Media/KTTZ managing director.

Chris also serves as managing director for Texas Tech’s Office of Communications & Marketing.

He has worked in the Office of

Communications & Marketing for five years following an 11-year career with Texas Tech Athletics.

Hershel M. Harper Jr., finance, has been named chief investment officer for the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust. He most recently served as the senior adviser to the South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission.

Scott Rowland, forestry business, of Magnolia, Ark., is the new president of the Forest Landowners Association. He is president of Neill Forestry Consultants and has 18 years of experience as an independent consulting forester.

1995 John R. Hunter, accounting (master’s accounting 1996), of Fayetteville, Ga., was recently promoted to vice president, supply and trading, within Delta Air Lines’ Fuel Division. John joined Delta in 2013 after working for almost 17 years with Murphy Oil Corporation.

1996 Steven Hampton, finance, of Petal, Miss., has been named principal at Petal High School. He previously served as the school’s career technical instructor and assistant principal.

2002 Trey Castleberry, marketing, of Baton Rouge has been hired as the marketing director for PacTec Inc. in Clinton. Trey previously served as a producer/director for the Automotive Marketing Group in Baton Rouge and has nearly 15 years of executive-level experience.

Randy Richard, health and physical education, of Baton Rouge, has been promoted to athletic director at Episcopal School of Baton Rouge.

Randy, who has been with Episcopal for almost 13 years, most recently served as dean of students.

Stephanie Robertson Sievers, health and physical education (master’s 2003), of Bossier City has been awarded the World Council Young Credit Union People Scholarship by the World Council of Credit Unions.

The scholarship is awarded to nominees who have made significant contributions to their credit union systems and have the potential to

make a global credit union impact.

She also serves as a board member for the Credit Union National Association. Stephanie is CEO of ANECA Federal Credit Union.

2003 Stephen P. Pate, health and physical education (master’s curriculum and instruction 2005), of New Orleans has been named senior director of community and governmental affairs for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans. Pate began his tenure with the Saints in 2008 as the manager of business and marketing operations.

2004 Court L. Fletcher, finance, of Spring Hill, Tenn., has joined PharmMD as SQL Developer, Infrastructure.

He joined PharmMD from Value Payment Systems.

Ben R. James, marketing, of Shreveport was recently promoted to vice president at Merrill Lynch.

He also became the first Qualified Kingdom Advisor in Shreveport.

Kingdom Advisors seeks to create a recognized and credible specialty of Christian financial, legal and accounting professionals within the financial services industry offering biblically wise financial advice.

2005 John S. Lary II, history (master’s history 2007), of Shreveport has received the Milken Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation.

John teaches advanced placement European and U.S. History at C. E. Byrd High School.

Abhishek Prasad, master’s biomedical engineering, of Coral Gables, Fla., was one of six Indian American researchers who received the National Institutes of Health Director’s prestigious New Innovator Awards for 2015. He is an assistant professor in the department of biomedical engineering at the University of Miami.

2007 Ashley N. Shinpoch, political science, of Shreveport is the department chair for the second year in a row at Youree Drive Middle School in Caddo Parish.

She was also selected as an English teacher leader.

2009 Atticus Finger, wildlife conservation and forestry, of Thibodaux recently joined the American Sugar Cane League as an agronomist.

2010 Daniel Elsea, aviation management, of Youngsville has been named deputy director at Lafayette Regional Airport. Daniel previously served as the assistant project manager for the airport.

Jericho Jones, business management and entrepreneurship, has joined First West Baptist Church in West Monroe as young adult pastor.

WEDDED BLISS 1985 Vicki Renee Vaughn, marketing, and Sterling H. Lance Jr., July 18, 2015, Bossier City

1994 Catherine Kimbell Kelsey, human resources management, and Thomas Novosad, April 18, 2015, Houston, Texas

1997 Jennifer Michelle Waller, health information technology, and Bruce Neaville, June 27, 2015, Simsboro

2000 Julie Ann Mook, biology, and Aaron Wilton Broadwell, May 3, 2015, Shreveport

2002 Pamela Roxanne Moser, English (master’s English 2004), and Casey Paul Simon, Nov. 1, 2015, Shreveport

2003 David Rhodes Asfar, civil engineering, and Stephanie Anderson, June 27, 2015, The Colony, Texas Amy Elizabeth Horne, speech (master’s education 2004), and Daniel Mayton Williams, electrical engineering technology 2012, July 4, 2015, Shreveport

2004 Bradley Lane Bond, graphic design, and Bethany Ball, June 11, 2015, Austin, Texas Lydia Anne Finger, biology, and Stephen Tyler Ingram, biology 2010, June 6, 2015, Thibodaux Stephanie Constance Gravener, family infancy and early childhood education (master’s family and consumer sciences 2006), and Christian Douglas Moises, journalism 2003, June 21, 2014, Metairie Paul David Walston Jr., electrical engineering technology, and Lindsey Marie Francois, June 6, 2015, Ridgeland, Miss.

LATECH.EDU | 43

N E W S A B O U T YO U 2005 Charles Elliott Lovelace Jr., computer information systems, and Catherine Pink, July 18, 2015, Frisco, Texas Dana Catherine Trauth, English (master’s secondary education 2012), and Wade Holmes McGaha, biology 2010 (master’s secondary education 2013), Oct. 10, 2015, Ruston

2006

Lynn Anderson, May 23, 2015, Shreveport Maurice Addison Hawley IV, biomedical engineering, and Megan Cady Scholz, June 20, 2015, Lafayette James Connor Nicholson, electrical engineering (master’s engineering 2015, doctorate engineering 2015), and Nikki LeCompte, April 18, 2015, Aiken, S.C.

William Luke Miller, civil engineering, and Kadie Lilyan Britt, Sept. 12, 2015, Alexandria

Caitlyn Brooke Norris, economics, and Matthew Alan Dockendorf, general studies 2011, May 9, 2015, Houston, Texas

2007

2012

Amanda Ann James, journalism, and John Breffeilh, March 7, 2015, Ruston Michael Jason Stansell, business management and entrepreneurship (master’s business administration 2009), and Sara Green, Aug. 8, 2015, Hurst, Texas Marisol Yumet, political science, and Adam Martin O’Neal, business management and entrepreneurship 2007, May 30, 2015, Ruston

2008 Ashley Michelle Bennett, nursing, and Joshua Lee Walpole, marketing 2007, June 20, 2015, Ruston Joshua Paul Hadden, communication design, and Lindsey Erin Frith, May 30, 2015, Bossier City Amanda Jean Thomas, journalism, and Harry Marcel Barton, Nov. 20, 2015, New Orleans

2009 Jessica Michelle Jordan, health information administration (master’s elementary education 2013), and Parker Wilson Brasuell, July 11, 2015, Ruston

2010 Emily Kaylyn Carver, elementary education, and Luke Allen Amos, June 20, 2015, West Monroe Kristopher Dow Eldridge, accounting (master’s accounting 2011), and Deni Zeigler, May 9, 2015, West Monroe Kevin James Garsaud, sociology, and Carissa Brooke LaBauve, July 25, 2015, Pineville

2011 K’Lanie Rae Almond, merchandising and consumer studies, and Brett Patrick Gordon, July 17, 2015, Minden Brianne Elise Chandler, psychology (biology 2011), and Jim Hankins, Aug. 9, 2015, Homer Gilford Lee Gillen, master’s counseling and guidance, and Allie 44 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

Jodi Leigh Albritton, kinesiology and health promotion, and Dustin Lamar Serpas, sociology 2012, June 20, 2015, Ruston Emalee Jane Ellis, biology (kinesiology and health promotion 2012), and Weston C. Colvin, sociology 2012, July 26, 2015, Ruston Elise Danielle Endel, music education, and Luis Armando Sanchez Fabre, June 27, 2015, Junction City, Ark. Marsha Ann Hancock, family and child studies, and Adam Trevor Hammons, sociology 2014, Aug. 22, 2015, Choudrant Lucy Elaine Maddry, psychology, and Paul Scott Washam, animal science 2013, Aug. 22, 2015, Dubach Alex Nicole Robertson, master’s secondary education, and Matthew Raymond Madden, animal science 2010 (agricultural business 2015), Oct. 3, 2015, Shreveport Sarah Jo Thomason, elementary education, and Andrew Louis Brun, June 27, 2015, Rayville

2013 Kirby Kathryn Bullock, chemical engineering, and Scott Chien Wen Li, chemical engineering 2014, June 13, 2015, Shreveport Shelby Maurine Gibson, marketing, and Matthew Ryan Schuldt, computer information systems 2012, Nov. 29, 2014, Longview, Texas Abby Leigh Hill, speech pathology, and Timothy Andrew Smith, accounting 2010 (master’s accounting 2011), Oct. 24, 2015, Dallas, Texas Jessica J. Lilley, psychology (master’s counseling and guidance 2015), and Grant Oliver, Nov. 28, 2015, Dubach Shirley Michelle Owens, early childhood education (master’s curriculum and instruction 2014), and Travis Edward Markey, May 30, 2015, Calhoun

2014 Hillary Anne Clary, art, and Michael Nelson Savage, finance 2015, June 13, 2015, Ruston Lauren Nicole Easley, merchandising and consumer studies, and Zachary Eric Archer, mechanical engineering 2015, April 18, 2015, El Dorado, Ark. Megan Leanne Evans, biology, and Patrick Edward O’Dell, biology 2015, Nov. 22, 2014, Baton Rouge Kimberly Diane Farrar, kinesiology and health promotion, and Daniel Clay Moore, sociology 2008, Aug. 29, 2015, Ruston Karen Taylor Henderson, early childhood education, and Brandon Morelle Pearce, June 27, 2015, Ruston Morgan Michelle Ivey, speech pathology, and Connor Louis Randel, Aug. 8, 2015, Shreveport Katherine Imogene Johnson, kinesiology and health promotion, and Andrew T. Griffin, forestry 2015, Oct. 17, 2015, Ruston Abagail May McCary, marketing, and Phillip Davis Washington, kinesiology and health promotion 2014, June 13, 2015, Natchez, Miss.

Sarah M. Peshoff, economics, and Logan M. Didier, biomedical engineering 2015, June 27, 2015, Ruston

communication design, and Colton Mark Cranford, mechanical engineering 2015, Nov. 15, 2014, West Monroe Aubrey Elizabeth O’Reilly, secondary education, and Caleb Allen Lee, Nov. 28, 2015, Ruston Zachary B. Tubb, civil engineering, and Lucy Beebe, Jan. 17, 2015, West Monroe Juan Carlos Vargas, mechanical engineering, and Viri Romero Ferro, July 22, 2015, Shreveport Carlee Elaine Ward, biology, and Jamie Tyler Gilley, sociology 2012, Feb. 28, 2015, Dallas, Texas Melissa Brooke Welch, nutrition and dietetics, and Michael Wayne Hill II, Sept. 12, 2015, Choudrant

STORK REPORT 1998 Elizabeth Minee Fletcher Kelly, speech pathology, and Brett Kelly, daughter, Rose Matilda, Aug. 14, 2015, Fairfax, Calif.

2001 Melissa Anne Campbell Dawson, marketing (master’s business administration 2003), and Alan Dawson, son, Andrew Campbell, May 25, 2015, Houston, Texas

Teresa Hilary Reeves, early childhood education, and Kendall James Guillot, health information and information management 2013, June 20, 2015, Dallas, Texas

2002

Molly Frances Rudd, nutrition and dietetics, and Reggy Lynn Winkler, mechanical engineering 2015, July 19, 2014, Deridder

Matthew Clay Vermillion, computer information systems (accounting 2004), and Amanda Vermillion, daughter, Abigail Marie, July 17, 2015, Dallas, Texas

Megan Brooks Wilder, elementary education, and Ryne Joseph Allen, biology 2012, Aug. 29, 2015, Monroe

2015 Richard Paul D’Angelo, nursing, and Lindsay Marie Crump, April 11, 2015, Ruston Sarah Elaine Hixon, elementary education, and Garrett Alan Pender, construction engineering technology 2015, June 27, 2015, Ruston Hannah Johnston, photography, and Justin Posey, May 28, 2015, West Monroe Madison Leigh McDonald, secondary education, and Timothy James Guy, construction engineering technology 2014, July 11, 2015, Bastrop Meredith Turner McGregor, art, and Kevin McGaughey Kavanaugh, June 27, 2015, Ruston Anne Louise Muckleroy,

Kenya Coretter Bibbs, general studies, son, Hollister Kole, Oct. 29, 2015, Houma

2003 Jane Marie Sutton McGehee, social studies, and Jeffrey Powell McGehee, computer information systems 2003, daughter, Mollie Jean, Nov. 10, 2015, Ruston Thomas Martin Perkins, general studies, and JoErin Elizabeth Tonneson Perkins, daughter, Caroline Olivia, July 21, 2015, West Monroe

2004 Christopher Brian Garriga, construction engineering technology, and Jennifer Garriga, daughter, Collins Elizabeth, July 1, 2015, Ruston Kendal Michelle Cole Singh, educational services, and Kevin Jaipaul Singh, son, Patrick Woodgate, May 10, 2015, Ruston Jennifer Dianne Norris Soto, political science, and Thomas Henry Soto,

N E W S A B O U T YO U sociology 2001 (master’s history 2004), daughter, Emlyn Posey, Feb. 1, 2015, Ruston

2005 Bevin Brooks Sutton Hicks, general studies, and Andrew Bridwell Hicks, psychology 2004, son, Sutton Leo, Dec. 18, 2015, Shreveport Logan Joseph Hunt, forestry, and Megan Carlisle Bates Hunt, daughter, Elizabeth Jane, June 19, 2015, Ruston

2006 Lynn Elizabeth Ringle Jacob, secondary education (master’s curriculum and instruction 2007), and Kyle Drake Jacob, psychology 2003 (master’s business administration 2006), son, Henry Kyle, Oct. 28, 2015, Bossier City Lori Brooke Crumpler Lynch, health information administration (master’s counseling and guidance 2011, dynamics of domestic and family violence certificate 2011), and Wesley Otis Lynch IV, business management and entrepreneurship 2005 (master’s business administration 2006), daughter, Nora Faith, Nov. 5, 2015, Plano, Texas Kelly Elizabeth Reed Watson, chemical engineering, and Christopher Joe Watson, biomedical engineering 2006 (electrical engineering 2007), son, Collin Matthew, May 17, 2015, Pearland, Texas

2007 Shannon Kathleen Dowling Bothel, political science (master’s secondary education 2011), and Michael Colt Bothel, construction engineering technology 2010, son, Michael Colt Jr., Aug. 7, 2015, Shreveport Lauren Elizabeth McGehee Hannon, accounting (master’s accounting 2008), and Patrick James Hannon, biology 2007, daughter, Caroline Elizabeth, Sept. 28, 2015, Benton Nicole Marie Huffstetler Lynch, elementary education (master’s educational leadership 2009), and Matthew Wayne Lynch, political science 2004, daughter, Rebecca Marie, March 31, 2015, Saint Francisville Jennifer Marie Welch Miller, early childhood education (master’s curriculum and instruction 2008), and Tyler Davis Miller, sociology 2007, daughter, Coralie Elizabeth, June 29, 2015, Waco, Texas Britney Kay Wallace Smith, photography, and Jordan Hays Smith, family and child studies 2005 (master’s family and consumer sciences 2007), daughter, Grace Katherine, Sept. 5, 2015, Shreveport

Amber Nicole Pipes Walker, animal science, and Joshua Ray Walker, civil engineering 2004, daughter, Piper Kate, Sept. 8, 2015, Ruston

2008 Katie Beth Cheshier Golden, speech pathology (master’s speech pathology 2010), and Charles Patrick Golden Jr., kinesiology and health promotion 2009, son, Charles Patrick III, Aug. 18, 2015, Choudrant Kaitlyn L. Jennings McDaniel, mechanical engineering, and Michael Douglas McDaniel, mechanical engineering 2007, son, Lucas Douglas, March 17, 2015, Katy, Texas Justus Runanu Murimi, finance, and Stephanie Murimi, son, Ezekiel Joseph, May 20, 2015, Dallas, Texas Anna Katherine Coates Plummer, nursing, and Robert Casey Plummer, daughter, Caroline Grace, Nov. 8, 2015, Dallas, Texas

2009 Rachel Edna Woodward High, sociology, and Heath Christopher High, son, Elan Samuel, Jan. 20, 2015, Cramerton, N.C. Jordan Elizabeth Dauzat Hughes, nursing, and Jacob Frank Hughes, son, Connor Jacob, Nov. 10, 2015, Shreveport

2010 Lindsay Smith Cavin, family and child studies, and Wesley Tyler Cavin, business management and entrepreneurship 2010, son, Sawyer Maddux, Aug. 31, 2015, Ruston Chelse Eileene Dilmore White, nutrition and dietetics (dietetics certificate 2011), and Lance David White, kinesiology and health promotion 2009, daughter, Kennedy Jean, Nov. 11, 2015, Ruston

2011 Anna Elizabeth Garner Alexander, elementary education, and Dustin Wayne Alexander, son, Garner Wayne, Oct. 5, 2015, Ruston Audrey Nicole Pardue Ewing, merchandising and consumer studies, and David Clinton Ewing, civil engineering 2011, daughter, Helen Catherine, July 15, 2015, Farmerville Morgan Anne Crume Fuller, early childhood education (master’s curriculum and instruction 2012), and Benjamin Graham Fuller, mechanical engineering 2012, daughter, Bobbi Anne, Feb. 18, 2015, Ruston Jessica Lynn Barnes Sasser, nursing, and Darrell Kody Sasser, nursing 2010, son, Harrison James, Aug. 26, 2015, Pollock

2013 Ryan Kendall Kavanaugh, speech, and Morgan Elizabeth Malone Kavanaugh, daughter, Kayla Sidney, Nov. 18, 2015, Ruston

2014 Lisa Plaisance Leach, accounting, and Drew J. Leach, communication design 2015, daughter, Alexis Kate, April 1, 2015, Monroe

IN MEMORIAM 1933 Lillian Edwards, 102, mathematics, Oct. 13, 2015, Monroe

1936 Carolyn Cupp Lewis Locke, 98, education, July 30, 2015, Ruston

1938 Ruth Marguerite Wilder Garrett, 96, arts and sciences, Oct. 13, 2015, Ruston

1939 Albert S. “Buddy” Cooper Jr., 96, arts and sciences, Sept. 10, 2015, Brewton, Ala.

1940 Lillian Milliner Berry Martin, 96, business, Nov. 30, 2015, Shreveport Inda Mae Wright Taylor, 96, human ecology, July 27, 2015, Monroe

1941 James Barnis Bradley Jr., 95, accounting, May 28, 2015, West Monroe Howelene “Polly” Shirey Skinner, 95, social studies (master’s English education 1965), June 8, 2015, Houston, Texas

1943 Nancy “Nevers” Monschau DeRouen, 92, human ecology, July 26, 2015, Lake Charles Julian Wayne Stelzig, 94, electrical engineering, Oct. 30, 2015, Tyler, Texas Mary Sue Ramsey Sweet, 92, business, May 25, 2015, Ruston

1944 Carla J. Allbritton Everett, 91, international studies, Oct. 29, 2015, Houston, Texas Wana Ann Gibson Fort, 91, international studies, Aug. 31, 2015, Baton Rouge Mildred Cornie Mondy Gullatt, 93, business administration, May 23, 2015, Ruston

Monette Green Hicks, 93, education, Aug. 2, 2015, Shreveport

1945 Robert Leon Baker, 90, arts and sciences, May 15, 2015, Mountain Home, Ark. Nellie Vee Bates Hinton, 92, human ecology, Oct. 17, 2015, Sulphur Betty Jo Ferguson Parks, 90, human ecology, Dec. 2, 2015, Edinburg, Texas

1946 Doris Hughen Culbertson, 88, education, July 9, 2015, Shreveport Lona Mae Alden Futrell, 100, sociology, Nov. 13, 2015, Ruston Lurline Anderson Pace, 89, elementary education, Dec. 2, 2015, Bossier City Carrie Elaine “Scotty” Scott Ellis Wilkins, 90, education, Aug. 4, 2015, Denver, Colo.

1947 Mary Josephine “Jo” Olive Hazlitt, 88, human ecology education, Sept. 8, 2015, Longmont, Colo.

Roger Allyn Kaufmann, 88, business, Sept. 18, 2015, Miami, Okla.

Margie Beth Mitchell Pace, 91, elementary education, July 27, 2015, Port Lavaca, Texas

1948 Leo Jerald Beasley, 93, mechanical engineereing, July 24, 2015, Ridgeland, Miss.

William Edgar “Bill” Brown Jr., 90, business, June 5, 2015, Greenville, Texas Frances Hancock Edwards, 88, English, Nov. 29, 2015, Ruston John H. Hyde, 88, business, July 17, 2015, Brandon, Miss.

Martha Jane Mitchell Mace, 87, business, Nov. 29, 2015, Mukilteo, Wash.

Frances Lillian Freeman Norris, 86, education, June 8, 2015, Monroe

1949 Dorothy Anne White DeFreese, 87, arts and sciences, Oct. 4, 2014, Atlanta, Ga. Edward Murdock Horn, 95, electrical engineering, Dec. 3, 2015, Shreveport Bobbie Rachael Smith Kincade, 87, education, Nov. 2015, Shreveport David Henry McGee II, 88, electrical engineering, June 18, 2015, Jefferson, Texas

LATECH.EDU | 45

N E W S A B O U T YO U Charles F. North, 98, mechanical engineereing, Dec. 3, 2015, Colmesneil, Texas

Ala.

1950

Joe C. Boyer, 82, business administration, May 6, 2015, Harker Heights, Texas

Henry Lee Colvin, 87, business education, July 30, 2015, Springhill Irma Anna Boyd Colvin, 95, education (master’s education 1960, specialist reading 1969), Sept. 16, 2015, Bossier City Frank Edward Darsey, 89, forestry, Aug. 21, 2015, Shreveport John Shelley Murph, 93, French, July 11, 2015, Shreveport Mary Lou Anthony Welch, 86, education, Aug. 5, 2015, Jena

1951 Lyonel Beverly Wallace Bradshaw, 84, elementary education (master’s elementary education 1975), Aug. 15, 2015, Mount Pleasant, Texas Burnelle Wall Brantley, 84, education (master’s education 1963), Nov. 1, 2015, Ruston Pauline Chapman Gideons, 85, elementary education, Oct. 5, 2015, Alvin, Texas Chester Poole Grigsby Jr., 86, accounting, Sept. 15, 2015, Shreveport

1954

Sibyl Ann Gilmore Leach, 82, human ecology education, May 25, 2015, New Orleans Norman L. Moore, 84, mechanical engineereing, June 25, 2015, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

1955 Frankie Frisch Futch, 81, education (master’s education 1963), June 13, 2015, Spearsville George William “Billy” James Jr., 82, civil engineering, Sept. 23, 2015, Ruston Doc Benoit Lynn, 82, business, June 13, 2015, Shreveport Frederick Eugene Smith, 83, art, Nov. 22, 2015, Fort Worth, Texas

1959

Check Wing Joe, 75, electrical engineering, June 23, 2015, Shreveport

Carrie Sue Savage McClure, 78, elementary education, Dec. 4, 2015, Tunica C. Wade Meade, 83, geology (master’s geology 1961), Oct. 27, 2015, Tyler, Texas

1960 Jo Ann Philbeck White Detroit, 76, mathematics, Oct. 23, 2015, Bend, Ore. Marion David “Spec” Lewis, 76, business administration, Aug. 3, 2015, Monroe Jimmie Ray Sturdivant, 77, English, June 15, 2015, Alpine, Ala. Clyde Nolan Thompson, 78, education (master’s education 1966), July 31, 2015, Delhi

Bob Allen Wilkinson Jr., 72, physics, Jan. 2, 2015, Anaheim, Calif.

1956

Harold Clyde Rowan Jr., 76, acccounting (master’s accounting 1967), Oct. 27, 2015, El Dorado, Ark.

1966

Margory Swilley Brown, 80, speech, July 8, 2015, Titusville, Fla. Allan Reese Duckett, 81, general studies, June 10, 2015, Houston, Texas Don Wayland Love, 81, physics, Sept.

11, 2015, Ruston

Arlie Houston Wilkerson, 82, forestry, Nov. 25, 2015, Oakdale

1962 Jimmy Ray “Chick” Childress, 83, master’s education, July 12, 2015, Choudrant Paul Gilbert, 85, master’s chemical engineering, Oct. 21, 2015, Stillwater, Okla.

Lawrence Bryan Thorn, 77, physics, May 7, 2015, Monroe

1952 Dorothy Marie Cunningham Flake, 84, business, Oct. 2, 2015, Houston, Texas

Shirley Dean Huckaby Walker, 75, education, Nov. 22, 2015, Fayetteville, Ark.

William Francis “Billy” Smith Jr., 82, accounting, Nov. 5, 2015, Springhill

1963

James Thomas “Tom” Woodall, 84, forestry, May 21, 2015, Spanish Fort, 46 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

Carl Ross Holland III, 71, chemical engineering (master’s chemical engineering 1966), March 7, 2015, North Palm Beach, Fla.

Evelyn Chandler Coleman, 88, education, Nov. 24, 2015, Haughton

George Samuel Mangum, 83, education, Sept. 13, 2015, Ruston

James Leighton Loe, 84, agricultural business, June 5, 2015, Arcadia

Jimmy Ray Gray, 72, electrical engineering, Sept. 13, 2015, Sunnyvale, Texas

John David Walters, 82, life sciences, Nov. 4, 2015, Monroe

Kenneth Eugene Bates, 81, education, Aug. 30, 2015, West Monroe

Gloria Monk Ham, 84, education, Aug. 30, 2015, Homer

Paul E. Clay Jr., 81, master’s mechanical engineering, Sept. 26, 2015, Jeffersonville, Ind.

Douglas Dean Smith, 80, industrial engineering, Aug. 22, 2015, Dallas, Texas

Alma Jean Ruffin Shaffer Nichols, 84, office administration, Sept. 8, 2015, Shreveport

Patsy Marie Pratt Adams, 82, education (master’s education 1961), May 17, 2015, Arcadia

Michael Stuart “Mike” Bounds, 72, mechanical engineering, June 17, 2015, Texarkana, Ark.

Melba Crawford Barmore, 90, human ecology (master’s education 1969), May 23, 2015, Dubach

Roy Oran Baker, 86, electrical engineering, July 28, 2015, Greenville, Texas

1953

1965

Willis Monroe Stevens Jr., 81, zoology-premed, Feb. 23, 2015, Grapevine, Ark.

Johnny Ray Johnson, 85, electrical engineering, Nov. 15, 2015, Florence, Ala.

Marilyn Ross Jackson Shaw, 84, English education, July 21, 2015, Fulshear, Texas

Max Roe, 73, forestry, Oct. 23, 2015, Camden, Ark.

Gwendolyn Flowers Melton, 71, zoology, Sept. 16, 2015, Oneonta, Ala.

Charles Edward Anderson Sr., 82, education, Nov. 1, 2015, Bossier City

Dorothy Geraldine “Jerry” Cheek Woodard, 84, business education, May 10, 2015, Minden

accounting (master’s accounting 1965), July 26, 2015, Shreveport

1961

Roy Douglas Hicks, 85, business, Oct. 26, 2015, Houma

Joseph Vernon Strother, 85, business administration, Sept. 5, 2015, Baton Rouge

mathematics, Sept. 11, 2015, Oxford, Miss.

1957 E. LaRue Jordan Fordham, 78, elementary education, June 26, 2015, West Monroe Roy Lee Layton, 86, business administration, Nov. 20, 2015, Spring, Texas Volney Eugene Pierce Sr., 84, accounting, Nov. 9, 2015, Ruston Dorothy “Skippy” Spencer Quin, 79, human ecology, May 7, 2015, Arcadia

1958 Kenneth Allen Keller, 84,

Joseph Randolph Davis, 74, business administration, Nov. 23, 2015, Shreveport Mickey Harold Howell, 75, education, Feb. 15, 2015, Carefree, Ariz.

Scott M. Weathersby Jr., 74, electrical engineering, July 1, 2015, Sherman, Texas

1964 Hoye Arnold Bowman, 72, accounting, July 30, 2015, Magnolia, Ark. Warren Edgar Cockerham, 73,

Jerry Lee Glaze, 71, forestry, July 29, 2015, Benton, Ark. Carol Ann McMillin Herrington, 70, education (master’s education 1968), Aug. 5, 2015, Rockwall, Texas Robert Nolan “Bob” Renicker, 71, business administration (master’s economics 1967), Oct. 26, 2015, Tyler, Texas

1967 Charles Dawes “Chip” Dunlap, 73, wildlife conservation, May 9, 2015, New Orleans Judith Katherine “Judy” Sullivan Vann, 71, business administration, Sept. 26, 2015, Colorado Springs, Colo.

1968 Floyd Benjamin “Ben” James Jr., 79, master’s business administration, July 1, 2015, Ruston William H. “Bill” Ross III, 69, arts and sciences, Aug. 8, 2015, Ruston

1969 Don William Austin, 70, health and physical education (master’s health and physical education 1986), Nov. 23, 2015, Heflin William Edwin “Bill” Bauer, 69, business administration, May 30, 2015, Haynesville

N E W S A B O U T YO U Orlan John Bryan, 69, business administration, Aug. 19, 2015, Choudrant

William Richard “Rick” Kelley, 63, education (master’s education 1976), Aug. 22, 2015, Jacksonville, Ark.

James David “Jim” Caldwell, 68, economics, Aug. 7, 2015, Shreveport

Stephen Thomas “Tommy” McDonald, 63, zoology-premed, Oct. 2, 2015, Natchez, Miss.

Thomas Ashton “Tommy” Dunbar, 68, business, Oct. 18, 2015, Bossier City

1970 George Lewis Brown Jr., 66, forestrywildlife, Oct. 15, 2015, Franklinton Raymond Thomas DeMoss, 67, agricultural business, May 30, 2015, Arcadia John Cooper Harper, 67, business administration, Sept. 24, 2015, Laurel, Miss.

John Richard Vos, 73, mathematics, May 27, 2015, Hoover, Ala.

William Bryant “Bill” Williams, 63, general studies-psychology, June 19, 2015, Tallulah

1975 Robert Francis Dombrowski, 72, doctorate accounting, June 17, 2015, Salisbury, Md. Hugh Galen Hopper, 63, speech, April 21, 2015, Magnolia, Texas Brenda Lee Sims Watson, 62, journalism, Aug. 23, 2015, College Station, Texas

1976

Gregory A. Whitney, 68, electrical engineering, Oct. 20, 2015, Millersville, Md.

Kenneth Rogers Alley, 61, health and physical education, May 24, 2015, Haughton

1971

Jeffrey Martin Harriss, 60, electrical engineering (mechanical engineering 1977), Oct. 8, 2015, Shreveport

Elaine Joyce Culverson McLain, 71, English, April 18, 2015, Rockwall, Texas Margaret Anna Lemmons Miller, 65, human ecology education, Aug. 22, 2015, Winnfield Alvis Jane Holstead Smith, 77, accounting, July 23, 2015, Arcadia

1972 David Andrew Lankford, 64, general studies-psychology, Oct. 10, 2015, Sioux Falls, S.D. Charles Henry “Chuck” Lewis, 72, education, July 13, 2015, Lafayette Elsie Mae Talbert Pittman, 87, master’s music education, Sept. 25, 2015, Shreveport Anthony Jerome Wilson, 65, general studies-psychology, Sept. 20, 2015, Shreveport

1973 Kathy Ann Chandler, 62, elementary education (master’s counseling 1980), June 6, 2015, Houston, Texas

Thomas Alphonse Keenan, 85, general studies-business administration (master’s 1978), June 22, 2015, Bristol, Fla. Paula Louise Cole Paul, 61, art education, Nov. 5, 2015, Monterey Lewis Wayne Stephens, 62, accounting, Sept. 15, 2015, Shreveport

1977 Craig Walton Durrett, 60, journalism, May 11, 2015, Shreveport Thomas Arthur Ehorn, 68, master’s industrial-organizational psychology, Feb. 20, 2015, Gridley, Calif.

Connie Moore, 59, speech, Aug. 24, 2015, Houston, Texas Eldon Wayne Pentecost, 85, master’s counseling, Oct. 22, 2015, Bossier City

1978 Gary Michael Achee, 63, animal science, July 10, 2015, Baton Rouge

Gary Marten Kennedy, 62, English (master’s English 1975), Nov. 24, 2015, Shreveport

Ronald Steven Carpenter, 58, chemical engineering, Oct. 10, 2015, Katy, Texas

Robert Leroy Lee, 78, civil engineering, Jan. 15, 2015, Magnolia, Del.

Edward Raymond Coats, 58, accounting, Nov. 21, 2015, Cypress, Texas

James Bennett “Jim” Wallace, 69, master’s education, May 12, 2015, Benicia, Calif.

1979

1974 Claude Anthony Bloom Jr., 62, chemical engineering, Nov. 22, 2015, Bogalusa

Michael Joseph Canal, 59, animal science, Oct. 3, 2015, Baton Rouge

master’s counseling, Aug. 16, 2015, Winnfield

Freddie Clark “Pete” Cooper, 58, electrical engineering, Nov. 29, 2015, Sicily Island

1998

Robert Parke Phillips, 58, zoology, June 4, 2015, Marysvale, Utah

1983 Dwayne Lee Ellerman, 55, professional aviation (master’s forestry management 1991), Aug. 10, 2015, Ruston Michelle Karen Barrett Frazier, 54, medical technology, Oct. 4, 2015, Canon City, Colo.

Dolores Blake Glass, 73, master’s reading, Sept. 9, 2015, Sibley Melody Farmer Stewart, 54, social welfare, July 24, 2015, Orange, Texas

1985 Jerry M. Watson Jr., 53, electrical engineering, Nov. 24, 2015, Denton, Texas

1986

Gloria Francine Fowler Evans, 69, nursing, May 19, 2015, Rayville

1999 Benton H. “Ben” Broussard, 65, professional aviation, June 19, 2015, Bossier City

2001 Brenda Stephens Jones, 55, general studies, Oct. 16, 2015, Bossier City Douglas William Marx Jr., 38, studio art, Aug. 28, 2015, Mountain Home, Ark.

2006 Terri Kay Peters, 47, business education, June 14, 2015, West Monroe

IN MEMORIAM

(FRIENDS OR RETIRED FACULTY/STAFF)

Thomas Michael Stadius, 61, general studies, June 27, 2015, West Monroe

William R. “Doc” Edmiston, 81, Nov. 10, 2015, Ruston

1987

Meredith Stanley “Dick” Foster Sr., 87, June 21, 2015, Dallas, Texas

Jeffrey Keith Benson, 50, journalism, June 24, 2015, Bossier City

1988 Julianna “Julie” Langheld, 49, food service supervision (general studies 1988), Sept. 7, 2015, Homer Shawn David Sprinkel, 49, general studies (master’s industrialorganizational psychology 1990), Aug. 9, 2015, Georgetown, Texas

1989 Lea Ann Palmer Bostick, 48, elementary education, Oct. 18, 2015, Sherwood, Ark.

Billy Earl Laird, 71, June 11, 2015, Ruston Douglas James “Tank” Landry, 51, June 8, 2015, New Orleans Mildred F. May, 85, Nov. 1, 2015, Ruston Reba Kathleen Neel, 95, Oct. 23, 2015, Shreveport Jack Timberlake Painter, 85, July 25, 2015, New Bern, S.C. Barney Lewis Payton, 79, Sept. 11, 2015, Ruston

1991

Rita Ann Pepper, 62, Sept. 14, 2015, North Little Rock, Ark.

Josephine Thomas Hollis, 87, general studies, Oct. 22, 2015, Sterlington

John David Roth, 80, June 13, 2015, Florence, Ala.

1992

Luella Virginia Snyder, 90, Sept. 29, 2015, Winnsboro

Jerry Eugene Hobson, 76, business technology, June 23, 2015, West Monroe

1993 Jane Ella Nabors Atchison, 74, master’s counseling, Sept. 6, 2015, Asheville, N.C.

Karen Rebecca Toms Akin, 64, accounting, Dec. 1, 2015, Muncie, Ind.

1994

David Arthur Bird, 81, master’s finance, July 31, 2015, Haughton

1995

Renee Hubier Stibbens, 59, Aug. 10, 2015, Lantana, Texas Joe Ray White, 80, Oct. 29, 2015, Killeen, Texas

Joyce Lynne Roberts, 53, nursing, Oct. 7, 2015, Little Rock, Ark. Margaret Ann Moore Acosta, 61, LATECH.EDU | 47

BULLDOG BOOKSHELF THE GAME MASTER’S GAMBIT Jeff R. Babineaux (electrical engineering ‘15) has written this novel about a teen gamer who leaves her old life behind to start college in a new town. Fantasy blends with reality as she weaves tales that help her deal with the stress of new situations, as well as teach others what it means to play by their own rules. When he isn’t taking his turn as game master at the table, Jeff enjoys improvising recipes in the kitchen, wooing the woman of his dreams and pursuing a career in electrical engineering. } Amazon.com WHAT IS THE MEANING OF SEX? Denny R. Burk’s (history ’96) major work is a book on sexual ethics, set forth from a distinctly Christian perspective. It will equip you to engage our confused culture with a God-glorifying vision of human sexuality. Burk also completed a technical work on Greek grammar titled “Articular Infinitives in the Greek of the New Testament.” His most recent book is on the ethics of sexual orientation; “Transforming Homosexuality” was released in late 2015. Dr. Burk is a theologian and teaches at Boyce College in Louisville, Ky. } Amazon.com DELTA: THE MEN Carol Crowson DeVille (math education ’69, master’s math ’79) has written her first book, a novel about a young Cajun journalist who returns home in 1919 from four years as a war correspondent in Europe. Assigned to cover a Louisiana gubernatorial race, he discovers a world of political machines, secret societies, racial injustice, prohibition and jazz. He then begins his own journey toward becoming a voice for justice and compassion in the world of corruption that exists in 1919 America. } WestBowPress.com and on Amazon.com BAYOU COCKTAIL H. Renfro “Rennie” Howard (pre-med ’67) has written and published this novel about a surgeon who returns home to Louisiana to take care of his father, who has been assaulted and left for dead after uncovering knowledge about an organized crime operation and a corrupt hospital administration. Bayou Cocktail is an emotionally gripping and suspenseful book, sprinkled with a liberal dose of character and humor. Dr. Howard is a semi-retired general surgeon who lives and practices in Williamsburg, Va. } Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

THANK GOD FOR ATHEISTS Timothy M. Morgan (professional aviation ’93) was ready to reject God after a decade of major disappointments. But as he read the works of atheists, he found their reasons for rejecting God to be lacking. His is a well-researched book on why the evidence for God is much more compelling than the evidence against Him. Timothy is an airline captain at a major U.S. carrier, and he and his wife live in Florida. } HarvestHousePublishers.com and Amazon.com THE FABULOUS CAROUSELS: HITCHHIKING THE AMERICAN CULTURAL REVOLUTION Johnnie Lee Moore Jr. (business administration ’67) has written this firsthand account of major historical events of the most tumultuous period of the 20th Century, between 1957 and 1967. Walk in the footsteps of fictional LA Tech student Rocky Strong as he leads the Fabulous Carousels across 30 states, 64 cities and 132 venues, chasing fame, free love, subterraneans, drugs, wiseguys, JFK’s assassination and the Beatles. } TheFabulousCarousels.com and Amazon.com GIVE MY REGARDS TO DUBACH Randy Rogers (business administration ’79) has been writing humor columns for several newspapers since 2006 about what it was like to grow up in the 60s and 70s in small town North Louisiana. This book is a compilation of those columns. All proceeds from the sale of the book go to benefit Pine Hill Children’s Advocacy Center in Ruston, which provides counseling services for child victims of physical and sexual abuse. } In print and digital format only at Lulu.com LET’S ROLL: GRANMA JANIE ROCKS Janie Wilkins’ (English ’51) inspiration for the title of her latest book is Todd Beamer, who said “Let’s roll,” on 9/11 as he and others attempted to wrest control of the plane from the hijackers of Flight 93. She credits Beamer with saving the life of her son, who was working in the nation’s capital that day. Janie hopes this book will inspire the reader to allow God to use each person who reads it and to believe that “with God, all things are possible.” Wilkins, a lifelong educator, lives in Fernandina Beach, Fla., and has three children and six grandchildren. } TatePublishing.com and Amazon.com

If you’re a published alumnus, email your information to the Marbury Alumni Center (News@LaTechAlumni.org) so we can include it in Bulldog Bookshelf, which will now appear online at LaTechAlumni.org.

48 | LOUISIANA TECH MAGAZINE

ALWAYS BLUE.

AFROTC ALUMNI EVENT & CRAWFISH BOIL MAY 7 • 10AM - 5:30PM

ALUMNI $25 • ADDITIONAL ADULTS $15 CHILDREN $10 LOUISIANA TECH CAMPUS ARGENT PAVILION RSVP REQUIRED call: 318.257.2740 email: wiemann@latech.edu CAMPUS TOUR & PRESENTATION FAMILY GAMES • LA TECH BASEBALL GAME

To learn more: afrotc.latech.edu | 318.257.2740 | Connect on

Louisiana Tech Alumni Association 900 Tech Drive P.O. Box 3183 Ruston, LA 71272-0001

SAVE THE DATE

tuesday, may 3

SAVE THE DATE

24 HOURS OF ONLINE GIVING 1

VISIT

HOW TO GIVE:

giveforgoodnla.org CHOOSE LOUISIANA TECH

2

GIVE ANY GIFT $10 AND UP TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS

GIVE • SUPPORT • SHARE

3

SHARE WITH FRIENDS