NO.17 | WI N T E R 2 0 0 7 During his 26-year tenure at Louisiana Tech, head football coach Joe Aillet amassed a career record of 151 wins. In 1946, his sixth year at Tech, dooley’S DAWGS Aillet posted 3 and 1 in Louisiana Intercollegiate games and 3 and 2 in other football records. Today, members of that team (pictured) recall their beloved coach as a man of integrity, intellect and charm. (From Left to Right) Derek Dooley lays down the law as Front Row: John Hay, Buddy Fallin, Jimmie Gilbert, W.O. Lynch, A.C. Schiro, Eddie Harelson, Pearce Didier, Tony Salvaggio, Carrell Dowies Second Row: James Perry, Revis Youngblood, Chester Wojecki, Raymond Peace, Leonard Olsen, Odelle Rigdon, Charlie Newman, Buddie Tech’s new head football coach Greene, Jack Kelly Third Row: Fred Crump, Walter Alexander, Conrad Jarmon, Rudolph Smith, John Williamson, A.C. Anderson, Lindsey Aucoin, Roy Collins, Bob Horneman HOMECOMING 2006 Fourth Row: Calvin Adkins, George Dulaney, Charlie Crouch, Hollis Jones, Ed Jolly, Mike Reed, Glen Moncrief, Maurice Rawls, Jack Brittain Alumnus of the Year: John D. Caruthers Fifth Row: Clem Henderson, Robert Dalrymple, Charles Johnson, John Holm, Edward Dean, Gene Patterson, J.E. Tripp, Sid Sedlock Sixth Row: Lloyd Jones, Leo Reinsch, Joe Lynch, Billy Bowles, Joe Michael, Leo Beasley “miSS RUTh” HONORED Ruth Johnson receives honorary doctorate Louisiana Tech University NONPROFIT ORG. ALICE IN REALITY TV-LAND Division of University Advancement U.S. POStaGE P.O. Box 3183 “Design Star” launches Tech alumna to national spotlight Ruston, LA 71272-0001 pa I D PERMIT NO. 1028 LIBErtY, MO LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY www.latech.edu ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Kenny Guillot John Allen CONTENTS – President – Vice President Russ Nolan Tim King – Treasurer – Past President Daniel D. Reneau 2 | From the 16th Floor – Ex-Officio Envisioning Tomorrow’s Tech BOARD OF DIRECTORS 4 | Alumnus of the Year: John D. Caruthers Bobby Aillet, Dr. John Areno, Moved by the Spirit Lyn Bankston, Paige Baughman, Chris Bentley, Ayres Bradford, A WOrd frOm thE Allison Bushnell, Audis Byrd, ALUMNI DIRECTOR 6 | Young Alumnus of the Year: Brandon Phillips Mark Colwick, John Denny, Lee Denny, Brennan Easley, Following His Dream Wayne Fleming, Chris Hammons, What an exciting time it is at Louisiana Tech University. At the recent meeting Jeff Hawley, Justin Hinckley, of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association, Tech President Marsha Jabour, Chris Jordan, Daniel Reneau spoke about the ambitious new strategic plan for the University. 7 | Distinguished College Alumni Dr. John Maxwell, Dawn McDaniel, It’s a vision of what the University can be by the year 2020, and the future looks Rufus Estis, Bobby Neill, Jason Owen, Robert Cliff Merritt, Lomax Napper, promising. You’ll be hearing more about this plan in the months to come, and I Upchurch and Karen Gordon Jeff Parker, Robert Prestridge, believe you’ll share my enthusiasm and pride as Tech positions itself to become one Richard Simmons, Stephanie Sisemore, of the nation’s top research universities. Markus Snowden, Michael Stephens, With the recent hiring of Derek Dooley as Tech’s head football coach, expectations 12 | Homecoming 2006 Barry Stevens are high for new excellence in our football program. The cover story about Coach Scrapbooking Memories Dooley should give you ample reason to plan now to be in the stands this fall. You’ll ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF want to watch Dooley’s Dawgs in action. The Alumni Association will work with the Corre Stegall Athletic Department to plan events in various regions, so that alumni and friends 14 | Laying Down the Law – Vice President for University Advancement can meet Coach Dooley, an outstanding addition to our Tech Family. Derek Dooley accepts position of Head Football Ryan Richard It’s truly an honor to recognize Tech alumni who excel in their professions and Coach – Director of Alumni Relations who give back to their communities. This issue of the magazine recognizes the 2006 Jackie Stevens Tech Alumnus of the Year, the Young Alumnus of the Year and the distinguished – Coordinator of Advancement Programs alumni of each college. Tech honored these alumni during homecoming activities 18 | Alice in Reality TV-Land Barbara Swart this past October, and their stories will inspire you. Make plans to join other Alice Fakier Earns Second Place on HGTV’s “Design – Administrative Coordinator alumni and friends for Homecoming 2007. We’ll set the date after the WAC Star” football schedule is finalized in March. Watch for an announcement on the Alumni Association’s Web site, www.latechalumni.org. Make plans to return to campus to EDITORIAL AND see friends, to honor your fellow alumni, and to cheer on the Dawgs while you see 20 | “Miss Ruth” Honored DESIGN TEAM firsthand the exciting developments happening at Tech. 14 Tech Awards Ruth Johnson an Honorary Doctorate Dave Guerin Please visit the campus whenever you can. Along with other members of the staff, – Director, Marketing and Public Relations I truly enjoy visiting with Tech alumni and friends. Plan to stop by the Marbury Magin McKenna Alumni Center, the “living room” of the University. We would enjoy seeing you, and 22 | Family Ties – Senior Writer/Editor we’ll be pleased to make any arrangements you might need for a campus visit or tour. Jackie Stevens takes her seat as Marbury Alumni Mark Coleman Thanks for your loyalty and support! Center’s Coordinator of Advancement Programs – Designer Donny Crowe Sincerely, 4 12 18 – Photographer 23 | News Around Campus Eddie Blick, Sallie Hollis, O.K. Davis, Students and Faculty Persevere Rebekah Ray, Judith Roberts, Corre Stegall, Anna de Tiege – Contributing Writers Ryan W. Richard 26 | Foundation Spotlight Taking Tech Athletics to the Top Louisiana Tech Magazine is published P.S. Stay connected between issues of the Louisiana Tech Magazine by visiting the semiannually by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Alumni Association Web site www.latechalumni.org. You can read the latest campus Association. We welcome your letters: stories, update your alumni information and even plan your next vacation. 30 | News About You Louisiana Tech Magazine We Share Your Milestones P.O. Box 3183 | Ruston LA 71272 ABOUT THE COVER www.latechalumni.org Derek Dooley is shown standing on the new field turf of Joe Aillet Stadium, where he plans to lead Tech’s Bulldogs to victory. FROM THE 16TH FLOOR Recently, I logged more miles than an airline pilot to find to new heights of achievement. Today, we’re moving quickly the man who could lead this University’s football program toward developing a Research Park that will draw businesses to a greater level of excellence. Each mile was well worth to our community and state and sustain them once they’re the journey, because in December – amid a flurry of media here. The next few years will see our commitment to economic excitement – we welcomed that new head coach, Derek growth deepen as the Research Park becomes a reality. Dooley, into the Tech family. He and his family come to Successful alumni who are living their dreams provide us Ruston from Miami, where he coached with the Miami with great examples to follow. Tech’s own Brandon Phillips, Dolphins. He also coached with Nick Saban at Louisiana State young alumnus of the year, defied a serious heart condition to University. We’re impressed by what he can do on the field, realize his lifelong dream of becoming a physician. And John and we admire his insistence on high academic standards for D. Caruthers, Tech’s 2006 alumnus of the year, has a lifetime of his players. Tech’s new coach is a graduate of the University of accomplishments in business and civic endeavors. He dreamed Virginia and an attorney who holds a juris doctorate degree of beautifying Spirit Park, a focal point of that area of the from the University of Georgia. Our hiring of Coach Dooley campus; the park was established by a gift of the Class of 1950 is a direct response to the University’s strategic plan – Tech to commemorate the class’s 50th anniversary. His plans call 2020, Tomorrow’s Tech Today. It’s an American tradition that for adding four sculptures and a fountain to create a beautiful, top public universities have great athletic programs, and Coach contemplative space for our students and faculty who work and Dooley is just one of the many people who can lead Tech to study on that side of the campus. the top. Seeing our alumni return to Tech always delights. This Indeed, we are living in exciting times here at Tech. The homecoming, I had the privilege of meeting with our Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM) celebrated its crystal distinguished alumni of 2006: Robert Upchurch (College of anniversary in November. Next door to the IfM, our new Engineering and Science), Bobby Neill (College of Applied Biomedical Engineering Building is gearing up to open later and Natural Sciences), Rufus Estis (College of Business), Jason this spring. The new Student Achievement Center has opened Owen (College of Education) and Karen Gordon (College of to a bustle of activity in Wyly Tower. At Tech, dreams are Liberal Arts). Read more about their achievements in the pages becoming realities; so much of the progress couldn’t have following this letter. happened without the generous support of our alumni. Nationally and internationally, our alumni are making Louisiana Tech is truly blessed to have the loyalty and big names for themselves and for Tech. Alice Fakier spent generosity of its alumni and friends. her summer becoming a reality television star on HGTV’s As always, this magazine includes stories of alumni “Design Star,” where she finished in second place.