New President Sees Mcneese As the Heart of Southwest Louisiana Dr
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Lake Charles, Louisiana Volume 59, Issue No. 1 Fall 2010 New President Sees McNeese as the Heart of Southwest Louisiana Dr. Philip C. Williams was named as Chihuahua named Zorro. The family will McNeese State University’s sixth president reside in the President’s Home on Ryan this spring by the Board of Supervisors for Street in Lake Charles. the University of Louisiana System. He Joyce Patterson, director of alumni replaced the retiring Dr. Robert Hebert affairs, sat down with Dr. Williams for this and began his new job on July 1. interview the day before he took office. Williams holds a doctorate in health Joyce: Now that you have had a chance policy and administration, a master’s to visit the area several times, what degree in public health and a Bachelor of are your thoughts about McNeese and Arts in history, all from the University of Southwest Louisiana? North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also earned a Juris Doctor from Columbia Dr. Williams: The two words that stand University School of Law in New York out in my mind are “potential” and City and was an Association of Schools “opportunity.” McNeese offers so much of Public Health Fellow at the Centers for potential and so many opportunities to Disease Control and Prevention. the people of Southwest Louisiana. Take for example the new SEED (Southwest Dr. Philip C Williams has been named as McNeese Prior to his selection, Williams Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic State University’s sixth president. served as president of the University of Development) program of which McNeese has a great amount of influence in the Montevallo (Alabama) since 2006. While is a part. In this time of economic quality of life for this area. there, he served as a member of the hardship and uncertainty, to have a project Alabama Governor’s Advisory Group like this, that has the ability to change Joyce: How does it feel to follow in the on China, based upon his extensive work the future in ways we cannot even as yet footsteps of a president who has served for as an instructor to Chinese health care imagine, is tremendous. The university the past 24 years? executives in Beijing, and as a member has joined with other governmental of the Board of Directors of the Japan- agencies, which will enable us to leverage Dr. Williams: My strong impression is American Society of Alabama. In 2008 our academic program resources that Dr. Hebert has done an outstanding he was elected to serve a two-year term to make this economic incubator a job. I have inherited a legacy of as Alabama’s state representative to the success. This is an example of what solid financial stewardship, academic American Association of State Colleges can be accomplished when groups join excellence, exciting cultural and athletic and Universities. together with a common goal and that opportunities, sustainable growth and speaks well for Southwest Louisiana. unlimited potential. Our student body is His previous service includes vice I feel that this part of the state has diverse – hailing from a wide variety of president for academic affairs and dean so much to offer with its wetlands, geographical regions, ethnicities, religions, at Methodist College in Fayetteville, energy resources, gaming industry, philosophies and points of view. This N.C., assistant vic president for academic tourism and the wonderful Cajun and came about from the hard work of many affairs and assistant professor of business ethnic influences. I see McNeese as who love this university. Dr. Hebert administration at Gardner-Webb the heart of the five-parish area in a has put together a strong and capable University in Boiling Springs, N.C. He manner that is unique. I came from the team and he has graciously accepted my also served as corporate legal counsel for Birmingham area where we have more request to be available on an informal Sea World Inc. and its parent company, than five universities that competed for basis whenever questions might arise Harcourt Brace Jovanaovich Inc. resources in that one metropolitan area. where his experience would be especially In addition, we had the University of valuable. The SEED project that I He has published children’s stories, Alabama that was one hour to the west mentioned earlier is just one example of along with adult mysteries and non- and Auburn University that was an a program that was started by Dr. Hebert fiction works, with his wife, Sandra. They hour and a half to the east. McNeese and one from which we will all benefit. have a 20-year-old son, Grant, and a plays a pivotal role in this region and continuedn o page 4 www.mcneesealumni.com 1 McNeese State University Alumni Association THE ROUNDUP Fall 2010 Vol. 59 No. 1 Published annually Dr. Philip C. Williams University President Homecoming 2010 Richard Reid, (’87) Vice President “Riding into a New Era” Houston Chapter Development and Public Affairs Saturday, Oct. 23 31st annual Ladies Champagne Bingo. This year’s Joyce Patterson (’76, ’82) theme is “Casino Royale” and tickets must be purchased in advance. Director of Alumni Affairs Stephanie Clark (’06) Tuesday, Oct. 26 Asst. Director of Alumni Affairs Past Presidents Reception. Reception held honoring Past Presidents of the MSU Alumni Association and their spouses. Held Jackie Adams at the University President’s home, by invitation only. Office Administrator, Alumni Affairs Thursday, Oct. 28 Contact for Office of Alumni Affairs Homecoming Parade, Pep Rally and Fireworks MSU Box 90775 Display in Cowboy Stadium. Fireworks are sponsored by the Lake Charles, LA 70609 McNeese Alumni Association. Activities begin at 7 p.m. 600 E. McNeese Street McNeese Outriders (retired MSU faculty and staff) to view Lake Charles, LA 70607 parade from reserved stands. Contact Marianne White at (337) 475-4107 (337) 475-5232 Champagne Bingo 1-800-475- ALUM Cowgirl Kicker’s 30th year reunion. Plans include the Parade, Pep Rally and Saturday’s game. For information go online [email protected] to www.mcneese.edu/kickers. 2010-2011 Board of Directors Friday, Oct. 29 Pay Hay (’74) President Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament. Four-man scramble at Mallard Cove. Four-man scramble with noon shotgun start. Cheryl Fuselier (’72, ’80) President-Elect Saturday, Oct. 30 Blake A. McCaskill (’87) Treasurer Pre-game activities in the Alumni Grove from 4:30 – 6:30 Ken Moss (’76) Secretary p.m. Music by “City Heat.” Must have Rowdy Card to enter Grove. Kristy L. Armand (’88) MSU Cowboys vs. Nicholls State Colonels. Barbara A. Bailey (’74) Game starts at 7 p.m. Roxanne Boxie (’74) For more information on Homecoming events or activities, contact Kevin W. Caldwell (’92) the MSU Alumni Office at (337) 475-5232 or [email protected]. Michael E. Doland (’77) Alumni Annual James K. Duplechain (’92) Crawfish Boil Maria N. Faul.(’03) Lonnie G. Fisette (’71) Moby G. Goodwin (’93) Ralph J. Hanks (’81) David S. Liggio (’81) Rollenda L. McCown (’81) Keith Monroe (’86) John D. Myers (’78) Blanche L. Pete (’74) Gayla D. Primeaux (’78) Daniel C. Pundt (’79) Richard R. Rhoden (’83) Capital One Bank recently donated $5,000 to the McNeese Alumni Mary M. Vest (’95) Associationo t help sponsor the annual alumni crawfish boil. From left: Stephanie Michael L. Wittler (’73) Clark, assistant director of alumni affairs, accepts the donation from Capital Pre-Game Theresa Woods (’80) One Bank representatives Greg Webb, Lake Charles area president, and Blake McCaskill, vice president. 2 www.mcneesealumni.com Distinguished Alumni To Receive Prestigious Awards The McNeese Alumni Association will present its two most degree in business administration in 1965 at McNeese. In 1973, prestigious awards during halftime ceremonies at the McNeese vs. he earned a degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Texas State football game Nov 13. Banking in bank operations. Grant T. Cardone, an international sales expert, He began his banking career in 1965 with First National motivational speaker and a New York Times and Wall Street Bank of Lake Charles, rising to the position of executive vice Journal Best Selling president. In 1992, he Author, is the recipient of became president and the 2010 McNeese Alumni CEO and director of Distinguished Alumnus Cameron State Bank and Award. This is the Cameron Bancshares Inc. highest award presented In 1999, he also became by the association and CEO and director of it recognizes graduates Mallard Investments, a who have distinguished full-service brokerage firm, themselves in their chosen a wholly owned subsidiary field of endeavor on a of Cameron State Bank. national or international In 2007, he received the level. He received his Philanthropist Award from accounting degree from Family Foundation SWLA McNeese in 1981. and earlier this year he was With more than two honored by the Louisiana Grant. T Cardone Roy. M Raftery decades of research, Bankers Association for 45 Cardone has developed a unique, common sense approach years of service to the banking industry. to sales that is practical and solution-oriented. He is a regular As president of Cameron State Bank, Raftery has been contributor on Fox News and an established writer for Business instrumental in garnering support for a variety of McNeese Week and The Huffington Post. Cardone’s work has also been programs, departments and the university’s general endowment covered by CNBC, CNN, the Wall Street Journal and over 700 fund. Cameron State Bank is a McNeese alumni corporate radio shows nationwide. He was recently featured in June on sponsor and Raftery is an alumni diamond club member The Joan River’s Show, “How Did You Get So Rich,” on TV Land bank has also supported Denim and Diamonds, Cowboy Night, channel.