Billy Hudson made a name for himself running very fast laps for the Northwestern State track and field team shortly after serving in World War II.

He also shaped his future. At age 94, he wanted to brighten the future of fellow Demons, and so this fall, he decided to endow a scholarship through NSU’s Perpetually Purple program.

The Marguerite and Billy Hudson Scholarship honors his late wife, who passed last year after a 67-year marriage. They were both career educators who met at Northwestern in 1947.

Hudson’s college career was interrupted by the war. After basic training in San Antonio, he wound up in Oklahoma, then shipped overseas to Burma. His group furnished fuel to Gen. Claire Chenault’s fabled Flying Tigers. When the war ended in 1945, Hudson headed home, uncertain about his future.

“When I was younger, my high school coach had recommended I go to Northwestern, where I’d be a big fish in a small pond. When I came back from the war, I remembered,” said Hudson.

Hudson was a great fit at Northwestern, running for a coach who became legendary, Walter Ledet. Hudson never lost a quarter-mile race in high school, college or the military. As a Demon, he set school and conference records that held up for 23 years.

Hudson was himself a successful coach at Ouachita Parish and Haynesville before spending the last 14 years of his education career in administration, working with another Northwestern legend, John McConathy, with the Bossier Parish School Board. He retired in 1984 and was enshrined in the N-Club Hall of Fame in 2004.

Hudson’s $20,000 gift is the latest to NSU Athletics as part of the Perpetually Purple endowed giving program managed by the Demons Unlimited Foundation.

The goal is to grow the endowment over the next five years from the current $1.7 million level to over $5 million. The program is separate from the efforts to supplement the annual budget for the athletics program with donations, corporate partnerships and special fund-raising events.

A minimum of $10,000 is required to create an endowment fund. Information is available on the NSUDemons.com website.

Northwestern State University’s College of Business and Technology honored two businesses, Crest Industries and Alliance Compressors, with Outstanding Business Awards in thanks for their partnership and support of NSU students and academic programs.

From left are Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, interim dean of the College; Kenny Robison, Crest Industries CEO; Robert Brinkerhoff, Crest Industries CFO; Scott Robison, Crest vice president; Alliance Compressors Human Resource Manager Michelle Brundidge and Alliance Plant Manager Ken Gardner with NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson.

Businesses were nominated by faculty based on their efforts in coordinating internships, mentoring students, funding scholarships, hiring graduates and providing input on industry needs.

Grammy-award winning ensemble Chanticleer will perform at Northwestern State University Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For ticket information, contact the School of Creative and Performing Arts at (318) 357-4522 or Director of Choral Activities Nicholaus Cummins at cumminsn@nsula.edu.
Called “the world’s reigning male chorus” by the New Yorker, the San Francisco based Chanticleer celebrates its 39th season in 2016-17, performing 52 concerts in 24 of the United States, 27 in the San Francisco Bay Area, and 15 in Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, Czech Republic, Hungary and Russia. Praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for their “tonal luxuriance and crisply etched clarity,” Chanticleer is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for the seamless blend of its 12 male voices ranging from soprano to bass and its original interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz and popular genres, as well as contemporary composition.

Named for the “clear-singing” rooster in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Chanticleer was founded in 1978 by tenor Louis A. Botto, who sang in the Ensemble until 1989 and served as artistic director until his death in 1997. Chanticleer was named Ensemble of the Year by Musical America in 2008, and inducted in the American Classical Music Hall of Fame the same year. William Fred Scott began his tenure as Chanticleer’s fifth music director in 2015. A native of Georgia, Scott is the former assistant conductor to Robert Shaw at the Atlanta Symphony, former artistic director of the Atlanta Opera, an organist and choir director.

Since Chanticleer began releasing recordings in 1981, the group has sold well over a million albums and won two Grammy® awards. Chanticleer’s recordings are distributed by Chanticleer Records, Naxos, ArkivMusic, Amazon, and iTunes among others, and are available on Chanticleer’s website chanticleer.org. Chanticleer will release a live recording of My Secret Heart on its Chanticleer Live in Concert (CLIC) series.

In 2014, Chorus America conferred the inaugural Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award on Chanticleer’s Music Director Emeritus Joseph H. Jennings to acknowledge his contribution to the African-American choral tradition during his 25-year (1983-2009) tenure as a singer and music director with Chanticleer. The hundred plus arrangements of African-American gospel, spirituals and jazz made by Jennings for Chanticleer have been given thousands of performances worldwide—live and on broadcast—and have been recorded by Chanticleer for Warner Classics and Chanticleer Records.

Chanticleer’s long-standing commitment to commissioning and performing new works was honored in 2008 by the inaugural Dale Warland/Chorus America Commissioning Award and the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming.

Level 1 nursing students from Northwestern State University participated in Shreveport’s annual Up with Downs Buddy Walk, raising $500 for local and national efforts to promote Down Syndrome Awareness month. Up with Downs is a non-profit support group for families and individuals with Down Syndrome.

“Our students had the opportunity to allocate service learning hours and volunteer for the annual Buddy Walk on October 8,” said Jolene Mateo, a nursing major from Shreveport. “My favorite part of the event was the interaction with such bright, happy, loving souls. I was carrying kids up ladders, sending them down slides and jumping hand-in-hand in bounce houses. It was a blast.”

Jennifer Goff, president of Up with Downs, presented a recognition medal to the group. The students found the experience rewarding.

“It was required this year, but next year I hope to be more involved without requirement and hope to raise more for such a wonderful organization,” said Alexis Leslie of Shreveport.

“The event was truly a wonderful highlight for a worthy cause,” said Wesley Caston of Mansfield.

“The smiles on so many wonderful children’s faces is something I will cherish and look back on fondly,” said Tricia Malone of Princeton. “I’m looking forward to many more years of ear-to-ear grins.”

Dinner Party Photos

Justin Normand and Gary Cathey celebrated two special anniversaries in October at their home on Jefferson Street. J.H. Williams Sr. purchased the Soldini House in 1916, which was built in 1847 by Soldini and Triscini in the Italian Renaissance Revival style.

“Our family is fortunate to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of our family owning the Soldini House,” said Justin.

H. Williams Sr. deeded the home to his daughter Henri D. Alcock upon her engagement to Walter Alcock. The Alcocks lived in the home till their death when it passed to their daughter Ruth Estelle Normand.  It then passed to her grandson Justin Normand and Gary Cathey.

The other special anniversary was the owners’ 25-year anniversary of their commitment to one another.

Justin and Gary met in 1991 and married in a personal and spiritual ceremony in Atlanta.

“It meant a great deal to us,” said Justin. “It was not something that we even discussed with family and friends because of the climate surrounding gay issues in this conservative area.”

In 2011 Justin and Gary were looking at ways to celebrate their 20th Anniversary when marriage equality was approved by the New York legislature.  Since Gary had lived in NYC for 5 years in the early 80s, the couple decided to be in NYC the first day gay marriages were performed and become legally married.

“At the time, our marriage was only recognized by the state of New York and the few other states that also had passed marriage equality at the time,” said Gary.

Now, in 2016, they’re celebrating the 5-year anniversary of their New York wedding, as well as their 25-year anniversary of commitment to each other.

“We hope our honesty about our relationship, the way we honor our commitment, and the way we work for the betterment of our community will help erase the bigotry and hate still directed at the LGBTQ community so that same-sex couples marrying now will feel no need to ‘quietly’ celebrate their 25th anniversary in the years to come,” the couple said.

The Soldini House has been “home” to Justin in every possible way. A list of colorful kin and friends have owned or resided there, including: James Henry Williams Sr., Walter E. and Henri D Williams Alcock, Ruth Estelle Alcock Normand, Lucia Alcock Creighton, Walter E. Alcock Jr., Edna Gloria Alcock, Mr. and Mrs. McKean, Rev. and Mrs. Schutz and family, Miss Helen Long, Harry and Mary Creighton, Gloria Jean Normand, Mary Ann Normand, Jason Johnson, Caine and Shana Hernandez, Tim Hernandez, Heidi Hernandez Greene, Ray Hernandez, Natalie and Danny Kellogg, and more.

“My great-grandparents, Walter and Henri D Alcock, loved this old house very much, and kept it in top shape, for which we are grateful,” said Justin. “They did so with over 100 years of combined service from their two maids, Eva Richards and Elvira Comite, for whom the family holds great gratitude and affection. Birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases, Fourths of July, Anniversaries — all have been huge family events here for a century now.”

Around 135 of their friends and family joined them under a tent behind their home Oct. 15 for a meal and fellowship.

“It was wonderful to be able to join our 25-year anniversary celebration with the 100th year milestone of the family in Soldini House,” they said.

The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will perform a special Halloween concert Monday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall.

Dr. Douglas Bakenhus is music director of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony. Guest conductors will be NSU Director of Bands Dr. Jeffrey Mathews and graduate assistant Jolie Gonzalez Masmela. Tickets are $10. Northwestern State University, BPCC@NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D.

Featured soloists will be NSU faculty Dr. Kristine Coreil on horn, sopranos D’Nissa Hester and Terrie Sanders, baritone Dr. Corey Trahan and tenor Michael Rorex.

“This concert is a great opportunity to showcase many of our fine faculty soloists,” said Bakenhus. “I went to our voice faculty for ideas on works they could perform for a Halloween concert and they gave me some excellent suggestions.”

The orchestra will perform “Dead Elvis” by Michael Daugherty with Mathews conducting, “Harry Potter Symphonic Suite” by John Williams and arranged by Brubaker, “Serenade for Tenor Solo, Horn, and Strings” by Benjamin Britten featuring Coreil and Rorex, “Doll Aria” from “Tales of Hoffman” by Jacques Offenbach featuring Hester and “Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky with Masmela conducting.

Also on the program are selections from “Phantom of the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Weber and arranged by Calvin Custer, “The Black Swan” from “The Medium” by Gian Carlo Menotti featuring Sanders, “A Little Priest” from “Sweeney Todd” by Stephen Sondheim featuring Hester and Trahan and “Berceuse” and “Finale” from “The Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky.

By Junior Johnson

The American Legion Gordon Peters Post 10 and Veterans of Foreign Wars J. C. Keyser Post 1962 held the first of what is hoped to become an annual event Oct. 27 on the downtown riverfront stage overlooking beautiful Cane River Lake. The event was titled: “Natchitoches Parish Honors the Blue.”

It recognized the brave people who put a uniform on each morning to protect and serve the people of our Parish, not knowing if they will safely return home to their own families.

This was a day of recognition for Law Enforcement, Firemen, Volunteer Fire Department members and First Responders.  They all serve a vital part of our community and we depend on them every day of our lives. They do not always receive the credit that they deserve; however, this event brought out citizens to show their appreciation.

The program began with the Posting of Colors by the Natchitoches Central High School JROTC, followed by the National Anthem beautifully performed by the Lakeview High School Band.

Dr. Bill Ebarb was the keynote speaker and delivered a very emotional speech on the importance of these men and women to our community. He also gave credit to those beyond the first responders whose responsibilities are just as important in life saving situations.

The current VFW Commander Ted Fowler and his wife Dee, who is Commander of the American Legion, were organizers of this wonderful event, but I was told that Wayne Nelson, who is a past Commander of the VFW planted the seeds and the idea spread like wildfire.

Parish President Rick Nowlin read a beautifully worded proclamation that was presented to all organizations involved, acknowledging the appreciation of their bravery and professionalism in their respective fields.

Brother Steve Harris led all those present in the Invocation and Brother Weyland Gauntt closed with the Benediction.

The riverfront was filled with citizens from throughout our Parish who showed up to express their appreciation for these brave and dedicated individuals. They risk their lives daily so we can provide a safe environment for our own families. God Bless them for what they do.

This was the First Anniversary of what we pray will be many more for the individuals who put their lives on the line daily for all of us.

I would like to especially thank John and Donna Masson of the VFW and American Legion respectively for their kind assistance in helping me get access to the stage where this historic event was taking place.

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

The Cane River Chapter of the Delta Waterfowl Foundation held its annual fundraising banquet and auction Thursday, 27 October at the Natchitoches Country Club. Over 100 hunters, families and supporters enjoyed a superb BBQ dinner, fellowship and a lively auction of shotguns and outdoor equipment.

The Delta Waterfowl Foundation is dedicated to preservation of watrfowl habitat, education of the public on conservation and hunting issues and passing waterfowl hunting heritage to the next generation. The event is expected to raise between 15 and 20 thousand dollars for this worthy cause.

By Corey Poole

From zombie noises to radio spots, Natchitoches native Andy Field is breaking into the world of voice acting.

Born and raised in Natchitoches, Field graduated from Natchitoches Central High School in 1989. He joined the Louisiana National Guard and then attended Northwestern State University. After getting married, he moved to Oxford, Miss. However, Natchitoches will always be his home.

Three years ago Field discovered the wonderful world of voice acting. He’d formerly worked at NSU teaching the Army ROTC, worked as a government contractor and a middle school teacher. Looking to make some extra money and always chosen to be the guy at the microphone, Field discovered his calling while imitating a voice in his kitchen.

“The world became flat all of a sudden,” said Field. “It’s amazing what we’re able to do.”

His first paid gig was making zombie noises for a video game, which led to commercials, e-learning videos, narrating infomercials and anything else that comes along. Field also worked on a radio spot for Natchitoches’ own Dark Woods Haunted Attraction.

Most notably is his voice acting for the popular “Five Nights at Freddy’s” video game series. “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location,” the fifth installment for Freddy fans, was released Oct. 7. While the original version was released for PC, this survival horror game quickly gained traction and was also released for Android and iOS.

“All of a sudden people want the cast members to show up at conventions and sign autographs,” said Field. “It’s made me realize this is pretty big.”

The voice actor job description appeals to Field because of the constant stimulation.

“That’s what makes it fun,” he said. “I’m not a person who needs to do the same thing every day. With this job I go from talking about diabetes, to American education, to narrating a book, to zombie noises for a video game.”

4-H members spanning grades 4th-12th and their families spent the evening carving and painting pumpkins together at the Natchitoches Parish Fair Grounds. A total of 35 entries were judged with four winners per grade. Winners received gift certificates courtesy of a local chicken store. After the event painted entries were donated to area nursing homes.

“We plan on making this an annual event,” said Pam Pearee the new Natchitoches Parish 4-H Agent. “I’m thrilled with the turn out. We have kids from all over the parish. I wanted to do something fun that would bring the kids and families out for a meet and greet. I must thank the Natchitoches Parish Fair Board for letting us use the pavilion.”

Participants took their time planning out their pumpkins first deciding if they were going for painted, spooky, most creative or silly. Kids got to participate in a cake walk and enjoy snacks. Who needs a dance floor? Kids and parents got busy dancing under the pavilion while judges picked their winners.

 

By Lloyd Courtney

When Northwestern State football lines up against Nicholls on Saturday night in Turpin Stadium, the Demons will be celebrating its annual “Military Appreciation Day.”

For Deacon Lewis, David Centanni, Gary Pittman, and Shelley Dickie, members of the hallowed, undefeated 1966 Northwestern State football team, today comes as a way to express their gratitude for the military, something that goes beyond anything they accomplished on the football field.

While these men were leading NSU to a No. 1 ranking in the NAIA polls, the U.S. was engulfed in a war with Vietnam, which is why those former Demons have such a profound respect for those that serve our country.

“If you are looking for patriotic statements, you’ll get them from us, because we respect the military more than any group in the country,” said Pittman, who lettered at halfback from 1963-66.

“We should do more for our veterans, and we should do more for the people currently serving. I have relatives that have served time in Iraq and Afghanistan that are doing the hard work for us, while we celebrate our fifty-year reunion. All the people that have sacrificed in front of us, we ought to give them a debt of gratitude.”

Lewis, Northwestern State’s starting quarterback from 1965-1968, served in the Army Reserves for a time, but he is proudest of the fundraising he does with a group called “Impact a Hero” based in Houston, Texas.

“With Impact a Hero, we have a whole weekend where we bring in around 50 soldiers and their families in,” Lewis said. “We host a gala of about 1,200 people in NRG Stadium that raises a lot of money for the military.”

Lewis’ connection to the Vietnam War is a personal one. His father-in-law was a Sergeant Major during that time.

“For 28 years he was stationed at Fort Polk,” Lewis said. “He trained soldiers at Tiger Ridge to go to Vietnam.”

While the members of the 1966 Demons played at then-Northwestern State College and attended classmates with those directly affected by Vietnam, the university’s bond with the military only has strengthened in the half-century since then.

Northwestern State has a campus at Fort Polk, which puts NSU at the heart of central Louisiana’s military efforts, according to NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson.

In conjunction with Military Appreciation Day, active or retired personnel will be able to get free tickets to Saturday’s game against Nicholls at Turpin Stadium by showing their Military ID cards at the gate.

Pictured from left, Deacon Lewis, Gary Pittman, David Centanni and Shelley Dickie were part of Northwestern State’s 1966 undefated football team whose college memories were partially forged by the Vietnam War, giving them a deep sense of respect for the U.S. military. Photo by Lloyd Courtney/NSU Sports Information.

Kevin’s Gallery

Students at Natchitoches Jr. High-Frankie Ray Jackson played games at the school’s Fall Carnival Wednesday evening, Oct. 26. It was also a family literacy night. Teachers dressed in costume as students waked to different game booths. The Natchitoches Parish Library awarded prizes at its booth and members of the NSU basketball team played games with the students. A dunk booth, pony rides and pictures with Dark Woods characters kept students busy.

For decades I have written these articles. In one church our newsletter was printed by a newspaper in Dallas. My pastoral article was typed and could only be six inches long. Someone had correlated that length to attention span. My current articles are much longer than six inches. The other guide is word count. This is now word sixty-four. The average reader will read 300 words before giving up and reading someone else’s article. My articles are way too long. But I am a preacher; I can say “finally” in a sermon and drone on for ten more minutes.

This is a popcorn article. These are random thoughts that might make you think. They are in no particular biblical order. I’m experimenting with the six inch rule for print media and the three-hundred word count for digital media. Hopefully one of these will strike a nerve in your soul.

Jesus threw a Temple tantrum.

Jesus was always borrowing things. He borrowed a boat; borrowed a donkey; borrowed an upper room; borrowed a sepulcher.

Jesus invited himself to supper at Zacchaeus’ house. Jesus invited himself to join the conversation on the Emmaus road. Jesus inserted himself into the political conversation in Jerusalem when he mounted a donkey and rode into the city. Jesus inserted himself into many conversations and situations and His imposition gave each person something they were looking for and a relationship that changed their lives.

Jesus spent too much time with children.

Jesus was a serial procrastinator. On at least two occasions, Jesus was late, and it cost someone his or her life. However, Jesus was always on time. Go figure.

As an infant, Jesus spooked a king. As a child he shocked the theologians.

Jesus comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comfortable.

Jesus.

Members of the Iota Mu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta established a scholarship to benefit an African American female attending Northwestern State University. The scholarship was announced during Saturday’s Homecoming celebration at NSU where sorority representatives met with administrators and the scholarship’s first recipient, Azhani Bennett, a nursing major from Shreveport.

The L.I.F.E. (Ladies Investing in Future Education) award is a minority scholarship established this year through the NSU Foundation by Delta Sigma Theta alumnae commemorating their 10-year Line anniversary.

“A group of ladies decided that in commemoration of our 10-year anniversary we wanted to give back to the university with a scholarship for an African American female who demonstrated a financial need,” said Nikki Ceasar-Small. The idea came to the group this past summer during a beach reunion when the group in Line 39 discussed doing something distinctive to celebrate their 10th year as members of the Iota Mu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.

Applicants to the L.I.F.E. Scholarship must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or better and preference is given to a student from the Ark-La-Tex.
“I am extremely grateful to have been chosen to receive this scholarship, being that I am from a middle class family and I do not receive much financial aid,” Bennett said. “This scholarship has also helped me realize that all my hard work isn’t going unrecognized.”

For information on creating a scholarship through the NSU Foundation, visit northwesternalumni.com or contact Chasteen at (318) 357-5213 or chasteent@nsula.edu.

Pictured from left are Brandy Tilley and Anastasia Christophe, Akilah Issac, Tiffany Chasteen, Shannon Jones, Brandi Milton, Latesha Espy, Azhani Bennett, Shaundra Webb, Krystal Jones, Ashunti Pearson, Taesia Shello, Ivy Early, Nikki Small, Ida Henderson, Krystle Johnson, LaKeshia Carey, Elizabeth Allen and Tonia and Dr. Jim Henderson.

An alumna of Northwestern State University’s Alpha Zeta Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority created a scholarship that will be presented each year to members who best exemplify the ideals of scholarship, service and character.  The Sherry Fargerson Morgan “Extra Mile” Scholarship was announced during the sorority’s leadership dedication program on Oct. 22, which took place on conjunction with NSU Homecoming Festivities.

“It meant a lot to be part of a group of young women who were there for me no matter what the need – someone to listen, encourage and love me just the way I am,” Morgan said.  “Several of my lifetime friends are those I met in Sigma Sigma Sigma.  I have been blessed beyond measure and want to give back to a most deserving group of girls who, I know, will strive to do their best and go that ‘Extra Mile.’”

Applicants must be initiated members of Alpha Zeta Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma with a 2.75 cumulative and previous semester grade point average. Students must be a full-time student.  Sophomore clinical students may also be eligible if they are active members of the chapter at the time of application.  Recipients will receive a grant varying from $500 to $1,000.

Recipients are selected through a rigorous application process that awards points for campus and chapter leadership, grades, employment and a series of essay questions.  The program seeks to recognize the effort and seriousness that a student displays in pursuit of academic excellence and their commitment to applying themselves in the classroom and in life outside the classroom by going the extra mile.

The award mirrors a similar one established at NSU in 2008 by Morgan’s husband, David Morgan, who initiated the Pi Kappa Phi Extra Mile scholarship for outstanding and high achieving members of NSU’s Beta Omicron Chapter.  Morgan created the program to inspire students to pursue excellence in academics, campus and chapter leadership, service and employment.

“As someone who works with college students on a daily basis, I am thankful for donors like Sherry Fargerson Morgan, who make it possible for those students, who go above and beyond, to be rewarded for their efforts,” said Kat Gillan (1999, 2002), a Sigma Sigma Sigma alumna. Gillan is director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at the University of Alabama.  “Having personally benefited from involvement specific scholarships as an undergraduate, the additional financial assistance made it possible for me to stay involved on campus while completing my degree. I see the Extra Mile scholarship as an opportunity to recognize those students who are making a difference at Northwestern State University. I hope students who are recipients of this award recognize its value and continue to give back to NSU as they pursue their degree and beyond.”

“This scholarship will help deserving young women, those who excel in character, service, conduct, scholarship and work ethic,” said Chapter Advisor Reatha Cox.

Mrs. Morgan said that her life is defined by the Bible verse Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” and by the philosophy that to whom much is given much is expected.

For information on support student scholarships through the NSU Foundation, visit northwesternalumni.com or call (318) 357-4414.

Northwestern State Sigma Sigma Sigma alumna Sherry Morgan created an “Extra Mile” scholarship for members of Alpha Zeta chapter through a donation of $100,000 to the NSU Foundation.  From left are Scholarship Advisor and Tri Sigma Alumna Reatha Cox, David and Sherry Morgan, Jacque Crew, chapter advisor; NSU First Lady and Tri Sigma Alum Tonia Henderson, NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson and Chapter President Abby Hinds of Many.

Visitation is Thursday evening with a Friday morning funeral in Arcadia for legendary Northwestern State basketball star George McConathy, whose nephew Mike is the veteran NSU head coach.

McConathy, 82, a native of the McConathy family’s hometown of Bryceland in Bienville Parish, passed away Monday after a lengthy illness.

Visitation is Thursday from 5-7 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1680 First Street in Arcadia. A 10 a.m. funeral will be held there Friday, followed by internment with full military honors at the Williamson Cemetery in nearby Sailes.

McConathy was an educator, coach and businessman. He was a 1982 inductee in Northwestern’s N-Club Hall of Fame, and was also a Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame member.

He still ranks 10th all-time in scoring in Demon basketball history with 1,436 points in 116 games from 1951-56, an average of 12.4 per game. McConathy stands ninth all-time in rebounding with 715, a career 6.2 average.

During McConathy’s career, the Demons posted an 82-39 record, winning 20 games in two seasons while never losing more than 10 in any season. He had a career high 32 points as a junior against UL Lafayette.

He was the youngest of three McConathy brothers who starred in basketball at Northwestern in the decade following World War II. Oldest brother J.L. and middle brother John, Mike’s father, are also deceased.

He served as a U.S. Army second lieutenant in Korea.

Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Dr. Terry Martin McConathy, and three daughters, Cynthia “Genie” Loftin of Shreveport, Diane Hill-Rothery of Bossier City, and Marianne Nelson of Bossier City.

By Natalie Covher

St. Mary’s Class of 1966 gathered at the home of Rosie and Bill Finical over the weekend. Classmates and spouses enjoyed the Autumn air and reminisced about life as teens in the 60s.

“McCleary’s Pharmacy had the best soda foundation,” said Tina Thomas Stroud.
“I remember going to McClung’s and getting a Cherry Phosphate,” said Rosie Prudhomme Finical. “They only cost a nickel or a dime.”

While the group thought back on which drug store made the best sodas everyone agreed that St. Mary’s had the best dances. “Little Bob and the Lollipops,” “John Fred and the Playboys” and “The Uniques” were only a few of the bands the classmates fondly recalled playing at the dances. The class of 1966 was the last class to attend St. Mary’s on the hill near the Courthouse. Their dances were held in the basement auditorium and were something that all the teens in town looked forward to.

“We spent so much time twirling that crepe paper,” said Marteel Deblieux Henry.
The group looked through old year books and found a picture of when Tina was Valentine Queen.

“The sixties were a simpler time,” said Marteel. “You didn’t have to lock your car or house. We walked everywhere or rode bikes or skated. Everybody knew everybody; there was no fear. It was free. We never thought about fear; it wasn’t a part of our lives. It was just safe, easy living.”

The way they described it would make anyone wish they could pop on over to Bernard’s Dairy or to Zesto for a burger and fries.

“Not everybody could go anywhere at any time,” said Lou Anne Prudhomme Terry. “We lived out in the country but we did get to ride our horses into town every Saturday.”
Another place they all remembered was the drive-in movie theatre located near where Trail Boss is now. “Wednesday night was buck night,” said Connie Conine. “You could bring in as many people as you could fit in the car for a dollar bill, and we could fit a lot of people in a car.”

Even though they went to the drive in movie theatre, that doesn’t mean they all had cars. The classmates said very few people had cars in high school and the traffic on the road was less than half of what it is now.

Now-a-days there is a lot of traffic on the road. Wouldn’t it be fun to hop in the car and take a trip to Natchitoches in 1966.

Classmates and spouses included Gil Stroud, Tina Thomas Stroud, Richard Zulick, Sara Nell Williams, Lou Anne Prudhomme Terry, Joe Payne Williams, Rosie Prudhomme Finical, Bill Finical, Henry Lemoine, Linda Evans Crafton, Stacy Williams, Dub Jones, Connie Conine, Amy Cloutier Hough, Wilma Jones, Marteel DeBlieux Henry and Skeeter Henry.