^^^Bl^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ r^_ \^ P i u .r^-t^l I^P 1 } 1 •l i Ml i 1 i 1 1 ^mm Wrai . "- h« • > i 11 If/' ixy of Louisiana LUMNlIlIcO ^^^PIMI^ Alumni Columns Official Publication of Northwestern State University Dr. Randall J. Webb, President Natchitoches, Louisiana ^^1 "^^ l^^^^^^l Northwestern State University Organized in 1884 A member of CASE Volume XI Number 4 Winter 1998 The Alumni Columns (USPS 015480) is published 4 times a year by Northwestern State University, Jfpf Dear Alumni: Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71497-0002 Periodicals Postage Paid at Natchitoches, LA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Alumni Columns Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA, day, something happens on campus that makes me proud of our Each 71497-0002. students (and future alumni). Alumni Office Phone: 318-357-4414 and 888-799-6486 I was never more proud of our students than when they voted to assess FAX: 318-357-4225 themselves to fund a renovation and expansion project at the Intramural Email: [email protected] Building, formerly the Men's Gymnasium, which will be known as the NSU ALUMNI OFFICERS Wellness Recreation and Activity Center. President Tommy Chester This $6.9 million project should be complete by 2002. Once the work is Arcadia, 1969 Vice President Ginger Wiggins done, the new facility will change the face of Northwestern 's Natchitoches Jackson, 1987 campus by providing our students with a modern wellness center contain- Secretary-Treasurer Steve Horton ing a number of amenities. Natchitoches, 1988 Executive Director Steve Horton We hope over the next few years to receive funding to renovate and Natchitoches, 1988 modernize several other buildings including Morrison Hall and the Fam- BOARD OF DIRECTORS ily and Consumer Sciences Building. Tommy Chester Arcadia, 1969 Over the past two years, our students have shown they value academ- Glenn Talbert Shreveport, 1964 Carroll Long Tyler, TX 1970 ics as well as what takes place outside the classroom. Their willingness to Dale Bernard Lake Charles, 1972 play an active role in improving Northwestern strengthens the Univer- David Morgan Austin, TX 1973 Bryant Lewis Haynesville, 1958 sity and adds value to the education you and I received here. Adrian Howard Arlington, TX 1989 Thank you for your support of Northwestern this year. Brenda and I Leah Sherman Dallas, 1986 wish each of you a happy holiday season. John Ramsey. New Orleans, 1986 Joe Cunningham, Jr. Natchitoches, 1984 Jimmy Williams Winnfield, 1993 Leonard Endris.... Shreveport, 1974,1975 Raymond Arthur Natchitoches, 1964 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Dr. Steve Horton, Director Luke Dowden Negreet, LA SGA President Alumni Affairs The Alumni Columns is published in spring, summer, fall and winter Fellow Northwestern Graduates and Friends: STAFF Editor for all of First, you who have so generously supported Dr Steve Horton the Annual Fund Drive, I personally thank you. The Writers David West Fund Drive is completed in two phases a mailing and a phone-a-thon. For — Leigh Flynn those who contributed by mail, we thank you for your prompt response. For Courtney LaCour Photography those of you who responded to our phone-a-thon requests, we are grateful. I Gary Hardamon thank members of Blue Key, Purple Jackets and Panhellenic for working Contributors nearly 45 hours on phone lines asking our alumni for their support. They, Doug Ireland Griffin's Studio of Monroe like you, of you. are proud their university, and also enjoyed speaking with Guillet Photography of Natchitoches Thank you for your continued support in our campaign. Neil Johnson Photography of Shreveport Homecoming was also a tremendous success, mainly because of you, Design/Layout our alumni, who came out for the events. All of the weekend's events had NSU overflow crowds, especially the banquet and tailgating parties. I thank PRESS alumni David Stamey ('82), Clark Averett ('89), and Demon supporter Dr Angelo Morreale for coordinating the tailgating events for the entire sea- son. These guys are the reason the parties have been so successful; and you are the reason we continue to schedule them. Northwestern State University is accredited by the Commis- and In the next months we will continue to schedule alumni events for you. sion on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges Schools ( 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: We will begin to schedule our alumni chapter parties around the region, Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award Associate, Bac- calaureate, Master's, Specialist and Doctorate degrees. and we will also begin to look at chartering new ones. Should you have suggestions or comments that would make our events more attractive, It is the policy of Northwestern State University of Louisi- please contact me. ana not to discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its educational pro- I You loyalty to the Alumni Association has been overwhelming, and grams, activities or employment practices as required by Title thank you. VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimi- nation in Employment Act of 1967, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Best wishes for a great holiday season! the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Executive Or- der 11246, Sections 503 and Section 504 of the Rehabilita- tion Act of 1973 and Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veter- ans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. During Homecoming '98, several Northwestern faculty and staff, both retired and current, and former students reminisced about the home. "We had a gorgeous magnolia tree right outside this window," said Juanita Kilpatrick ('49), who lived in the home from September 1966 through May 1970 he Tudor-style house with her husband, Dr. Arnold Kilpatrick ('44) and I located on College their two children. Avenue at the immediate right "I loved that tree," Mrs. Kilpatrick said. "I would go of Northwestern's main gates out there every day and get a flower when they were has come full circle during its in bloom." 71 year history. ^ Being in the home again brought back a number of The home has changed memories for the Kilpatricks, who were NSU's presi- several times, but one thing dential family from 1966 through 1978 and were the has remained the same — the last presidential family to live in the house. entertaining that has occurred "We had four wonderful years in this house," Mrs. within those walls. Kilpatrick said, "and they've done a wonderful job From dinner parties hosted by redoing it." I former presidents' wives to alumni The "redoing" to which she referred involved the events, the house has been the site reupholstering of the living room chairs and sofas and several other small projects downstairs. ofmany social events. | : | But the former President's Furnishings which include a grandfather clock, the Cottage, which has been home home's original dining table and chairs and several to Northwestern's offices of other pieces now fill the home. Alumni Affairs and Institu- Some of the furnishings for the home have been tional Advancement for the transferred from other campus buildings through the past 14 years, has not always years, a move Mrs. Kilpatrick said caused a stir when been a showcase for North- she did it. western State University. She had the grand piano in the home swapped with the one which was virtually unused in the lobby of Varnado Hall. "We used the piano all the time, and that one was in better shape," the music major said. "So one Thanksgiving, I had them switch the pianos. I caught a lot of flack for that." Several other Northwestern presidents lived in the house prior to the Kilpatricks, including Albert A. Fredericks, H. Lee Prather and John S. Kyser. Former President Dr Victor L. Roy planned for the At one time, a green IShgus grew on the home, a new women's dormitory and a new education walls, and mildew grew in cabinets overnight. building (Warren Easton Hall) in his 1926-28 building In 1984, the living room, which had in appropriation. the past been filled with beautiful fumi-|^ In 1927, the home was built for approximately ture, was furnished with only two couches. $25,000. The downstairs was used primarily for But during the past 14 years, furniture I entertaining, with the family's living quarters being has been purchased or reupholstered and upstairs. new wallpaper or paint covers the walls, "We did quite a bit of entertaining in this house," giving the home a new look. Mrs. Kilpatrick said. "We had lots of good times here." "It is a tribute to what it should be," said To this day, the downstairs is a gathering place for NSU's Director of Alumni Affairs Dr. Steve f» alumni and other organizations' functions. Horton. "This house is the second oldest But many people who visit the home today are building on this campus, and we wanted to unaware of the things that have remained virtually make it look as good as possible." fiti-ff^ CM**^ VlitJlM. W? / 1 , CfihPusNews About the cover: The charm of the old President's Cottage is reflected in this un( hanged throughout the photograph of the Alumni Center living When the Office of Alumni room. The cottage was home to hoi le's history, including the Development took it over in 1985, Northwestern presidents from the ('68) maj ny trees planted by Thelma 1920's through the 1960's and currently former director Elise James serves as home to the offices of Alumni Kyi.er, whose family lived in the said there was virtually no Affairs and the NSU Foundation. hoijhe from the mid-1950s furniture in the living room.