Pillars Spring 10

SPRING 2010, VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2

Dr. Robert Hebert

The Man Behind the Presidency page 4

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Contents

2010 Foundation Board of Directors Officers Emma DiCarlo-Vincent,

3........... A Bulldog Named Spike: John “Spike” Scofield

President Bob Davidson, Vice President/ President-Elect

4, 5....... The Man Behind the Presidency: Dr. Robert D. Hebert

Willie Mount, Secretary James Taussig, Treasurer

6.......... Molecules, Marsh and Muck...Oh My! Dr. Ray Neyland

Members

7............ Who Was John McNeese?

Glen Bertrand Judy Fuller

8........... The Sky’s the Limit: David “Brian” Guidry

Tom Henning Joe T. Miller, Sr.

9.......... A Tradition of Teaching: Kimberly Diane Boyett

Lee J. Monlezun, Jr. George Paret

10......... A Tribute to Leo: J. Leo McGough

Patricia Prebula Glenn Pumpelly

12, 13.... Bridging Cultures: Carlos Perez

Donna Richard Billy Rose

13......... Serving the International Student Population

John Scofield Jim Serra

14 . ...... Chief Cook & Bottlewasher: Doug Gehrig

Eli Sorkow David Stine

15......... McNeese Honors College

Ray A. Todd, Jr. Tom Tuminello, Sr.

16......... McNeese Foundation, Melissa Ellis Northcutt:

Aubrey White

Ex Officio Members Robert D. Hebert Richard H. Reid Advisory Board Members Billy Blake Coral Crain Byrd Fred R. Godwin Marilyn Hays Charles Viccellio 2

Director of Development Operations & Special Events

FOUNDATION TIES

John “Spike” Scofield • Donor • John B. and Patricia Scofield Professorship

A BULLDOG NAMED SPIKE John “Spike” Scofield was a full-time college student supporting a wife and three children by the time he graduated from Tulane University with a law degree in 1959. What an accomplishment!

Spike was born and lived in Baltimore, Md., until the age of 9.

Conoco, Inc., his father’s employer, relocated the family to Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana before they finally settled in Lake Charles when Spike was in the eighth grade. Spike graduated from Sulphur High School and received a football scholarship to attend Tulane University.

He played the positions of running back and defensive back before an injury during spring training his sophomore year ended his career. “I quit being a jock and became a student,” said Spike.

Although the sports injury meant Spike would lose his athletic scholarship, he still qualified for an academic scholarship. Business was his declared major but the subject matter didn’t captivate him. He asked some friends for advice – including a few attorneys – and from those conversations, a career in law became his goal.

At that time, students could complete their final year of undergraduate work while at the same time starting their first year of law school. Spike completed his Bachelor of Business Administration degree and his Juris Doctorate degree at Tulane University in just six years all the while maintaining a family and outside employment. He served a brief stint in the U.S. Army before joining the Army Reserves as a member of the transportation corps and the judge advocate general corps.

Spike’s first and only position since graduation has been with the oldest law firm in Lake Charles – originally called Pujo, Hardin and Porter. He was hired by Judge Thomas Porter in 1960 as a 24-year-old lawyer straight out of school. The partners’ names have changed over time with the firm now known as Scofield, Gerard, Singletary and Pohorelsky. Spike is a self-described “workaholic” who has only recently learned to cut back on his schedule and his caseload.

Spike is married to Patricia (Pat) and between them they have six children and 15 grandchildren. His profession’s legacy is now carried on by three of his four sons and by his grandson, Crosby, a Texas A&M graduate and student at Harvard Law School.

John “Spike” Scofield

The Scofields have supported McNeese State University by serving and financially supporting the University for the past 20 years. They created the John B. and Patricia Scofield Professorship when they realized a need for more professorships in the College of Nursing. They are members of the Foundation’s Inner Circle and the Athletic Foundation’s Quarterback Chapter and supporters of Banners’ Rouge et Blanc. Spike has also served on the board of the McNeese Foundation, including serving as board president when the Building a Solid Foundation capital campaign began in 2006. “I have slowly realized how important McNeese is to this community and how much this University has to offer. The vibrancy of having a college right here in our midst is often taken for granted.

Supporting McNeese is money and time well spent,” said Spike.

The name “Spike,” of course, begs the question of where it originated. When baby John Scofield was born, his father said that he was the ugliest baby that he had ever seen. John’s face reminded his father of a bulldog found in a comic strip featuring a dog named Spike.

The name has stuck with John ever since. In fact, when Spike’s first son was born, he was nicknamed “Tac,” meaning a little spike.

Reading, playing tennis and traveling are his favorite pastimes. The extended family, all 28 of them, holds a special place in Spike’s heart. They were fortunate to all travel to France not long ago, staying in a French chateau surrounded by the Alps. The family’s excursions around the country required that they take a chartered bus to accommodate everyone. The Scofield’s latest expedition, sans children and grandchildren, took them to the ends of the earth – Antarctica.

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COVER STORY Dr. Robert D. Hebert • President

THE MAN BEHIND THE PRESIDENCY When you think about Robert “Bob” D. Hebert, McNeese State University president, you might think of the Banners Cultural Series or the Honors College, both created under his leadership. What you might not envision is Dr. Hebert repairing furniture, cooking Chinese food or crabbing in the bayous, but in his rare spare time, these are some of the activities that he enjoys most.

Bob grew up in the small settlement of Meaux, La., in a tight-knit community. He was the youngest of four children, just a toddler when his father, Eddie, passed away. Bob’s mother, Inez, became a single parent, supporting her children as the Postmaster of Meaux.

In fact, Meaux’s post office was located in the Hebert home.

Bob’s mom stressed the importance of getting an education to all of her children.

Members of the Meaux High School Class of 1956 were extremely close then and continue to be so today. During that era, small schools lacked enough players to form a football team, so basketball was the school sport students rallied behind. Bob played basketball and his older brother, Calvin, helped coach. Prior to the game between Henry High and Meaux High schools, Bob was goofing off more than practicing his warm-ups. Calvin, having had enough of Bob’s antics, sent him to the sidelines to keep score.

Keeping score for Henry High was freshman student, Lilly Ann Vincent. It didn’t take long for Bob to take notice of the pretty student by his side.

Upon graduating from Meaux High School, Bob enrolled at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now called the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, to study history. Since he did not own a car, Bob would hitchhike to school or catch a ride with friends. Bob was always fascinated with history, particularly with the World War II era. As a child, his oldest sister had captured his imagination by talking about faraway places. Many of Meaux’s young soldiers were going off to war during that time which only added to Bob’s interest in World War II. Bob graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from SLI in 1959.

A fellowship offer by Florida State University allowed Bob to move to Tallahassee, Fla., to pursue his graduate studies. Bob received his Master of Arts degree in 1961 and a doctorate degree in 1966, both in history. Lilly Ann, now Bob’s wife, provided support by typing his master thesis on a manual typewriter at a time when carbon copies were the norm.

Bob was soon offered the opportunity to teach at the collegiate level at Mississippi State University in Starkville. His specialties were European and Russian history. He also moonlighted teaching history at a small college in the Delta town of Itta Bena, Miss. By then, Bob and Lilly Ann were raising three little boys. The comfort from their extended families and the familiarity of their native culture tugged at their heartstrings. After seven years in Starkville, a chance encounter with McNeese’s Dr. Joe Gray Taylor, history department head, lured the Heberts back to Louisiana to fill a history position at McNeese. A fourth son would soon round out the family.

McNeese offered Bob the opportunity to share his passion for history with his students. As the years passed, Bob progressed up the academic ladder, moving to full professor, director of basic studies, academic vice president, and ultimately, president, a post he has held for 23 years.

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Dr. Hebert’s accomplishments have been vast and have included expanding electronic delivery of instruction, improving campus-wide technology, ensuring that campus operations continued in spite of the devastating effects caused by Hurricane Rita in 2005 and improving and enhancing the University’s private fundraising. When he became president in 1987, the assets of the McNeese Foundation were less than $1 million. Today the assets are over $55 million and growing.

According to Lilly Ann, Bob also takes great pride in the beautiful live oak trees that shade the campus, many planted and nurtured during his tenure in office.

Another source of pride tied to his interest in preserving historical artifacts is the creation of the McNeese Archives and Special Collections housed at Frazar Memorial Library. The Archives act as a manuscript repository for historical collections for the five-parish area of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes.

Bob remains close to his family roots. He and Lilly Ann are both descendents of the Acadian ancestry from Nova Scotia. Bob has spent considerable time researching family genealogy and traveling to places of his heritage. In fact, traveling has always been a passion for the Heberts. Every summer took the family to a new destination, exposing the children to the world around them. Bob made sure that he knew everything about their destination prior to travel. He also made sure that everything was in order before the date of departure – even going so far as to conduct “dry runs” to ensure that the luggage would fit into the trunk.

Lilly An

n and Dr.

Robert H e

bert

Serving as official photographer, Bob would come home from a trip and develop his own film in a small darkroom he had created at the Hebert home. He made a habit of selecting one particular photograph from each destination to frame and hang on the wall. A storebought frame was not acceptable. Bob would scour flea markets and antique shops in search of old picture frames, preferably ones that required repairing and refinishing. When he inherited his grandparent’s breakfast table, he used his skills to build a new table top large enough to seat his growing family.

As a reminder of his roots, Bob maintains a large collection of Hadacol bottles. Hadacol, a product marketed as a vitamin supplement, was created by Dudley J. LeBlanc, a native of Abbeville. Bob’s other hobbies include gardening vegetables and flowers, reading history, mystery and westerns, cooking Chinese and Indian foods and listening to music. While Dr. Hebert will be retiring from McNeese, it is evident he will never retire from his love of education.

Inez Hebert’s emphasis on education was not lost on the Hebert children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bob and his siblings have all obtained graduate degrees. Each of Bob and Lilly Ann’s sons – Greg, Chris, Gerry and Edward – have all graduated from McNeese and gone on to obtain medical degrees. The eldest of the Hebert’s four grandchildren will enter the University of Pennsylvania in the fall.

The Heberts look forward to continuing their passion of following McNeese sports – now as spectators in the stands rather than dignitaries in the SkyRanch. They will celebrate their golden anniversary this summer.

It is unfortunate that Inez Hebert did not live long enough to see her son in his role as McNeese President. She would have been proud.

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FOUNDATION TIES Dr. Ray Neyland • Recipient • Jack V. Doland Academic Professorship

Molecules, Marsh and Muck…Oh My!

The work of a scientist often brings about many twists and turns. Dr. Ray Neyland’s molecular research ground to a halt when Hurricane Rita shut down his lab in McNeese State University’s Frasch Hall. When one door closes, another one usually opens. In Dr. Neyland’s case, the open door led to the study of aquatic vascular plants in the freshwater marsh around Grand Chenier.

Dr. Neyland, a professor in the Department of Biology and Health Sciences, is a botanist, someone who specializes in the study of plants. His interest in plants began as a child growing up in the Pensacola area of North Florida. Dr. Neyland’s father and sister were avid fishermen and Ray would often tag along to admire the plants and vegetation. The family wildflower books also inspired him to seek out and identify wildflowers much like a treasure hunter would dig for treasures.

Dr. Neyland obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of West Florida and his doctorate from Louisiana State University. An opening for a botanist brought Dr. Neyland to McNeese in 1996, offering him the opportunity to teach, to conduct research and to publish books and journal articles.

Professorships at McNeese are awarded on a competitive basis. Faculty use professorship funds to conduct research, to travel, to purchase equipment or to otherwise supplement their education-related activities. One of Neyland’s earliest and largest awards was the Jack V. Doland Academic Professorship. He continues to publish research from data gathered as a result of this early professorship, including publishing in scientific journals as far away as Australia.

Neyland’s current research is supported by a professorship in science. According to Neyland’s research detailed in The Effects of Hurricanes Rita and Ike on the Aquatic Vascular Plants in a Large Fresh-water Marsh in Cameron Parish, Louisiana: A Tale of Two Hurricanes, coastal marshes constitute about 82 percent of Cameron Parish. Much of the marsh isn’t accessible by boat or by foot due to its shallow waters and mucky soil. When the hurricanes struck Southwest Louisiana, a wall of salty sea water came inland, nearly destroying the aquatic plants in the study site. For reasons not known at the time, salinity levels in the marsh remained high long after the storms’ passing.

Dr. Neyland’s four-year study, which started prior to Rita and ended post-Ike, identified the reason.

A “chenier” is a marshy region with stands of evergreen oaks. The southern perimeter of Neyland’s study area is bounded in part by Little Chenier, an ancient geologic shoreline which forms a natural barrier sitting further inland from the current shoreline. Cheniers run east and west. When the storms pushed the salinated water into the marshes, the chenier trapped the water from flowing back out. This explains why the freshwater aquatic plants in the marsh studied have recovered so slowly after the hurricanes.

Dr. Neyland’s students from his Biology 404 class worked in the field with him to gather data. Students received three hours course credit as well as co-publication rights once the study was published.

The aquatic plant study yielded interesting experiences for Dr. Neyland.

Traversing the marshes, Neyland came across wayward houses, vehicles, appliances and other items moved and tossed about during the storms. His most interesting find was after Hurricane Rita when he eyed a dead alligator hanging six feet high up in a tree.

In the world of science, you never know where your studies will take you. Dr. Neyland has learned to “roll with the flow.” Even though his molecular lab was closed for several years due to Hurricane Rita, he used the opportunity to move his research outdoors. His first book, Wildflowers of the Coastal Plain, is now published and a new book, Ferns of Louisiana, is in progress. Neyland also serves as curator of McNeese’s herbarium, a collection of plants systematically identified, dried and stored for research purposes.

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Dr. Ray Neyland

Wildflowers of the Coastal Plain may be purchased through any major outlet such as Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million.

Who Was John McNeese?

John McNeese was born on July 4, 1843, in New York City, N.Y., to Scottish immigrant parents. His parents died of tuberculosis leaving young John an orphan at age 9. The most reliable sources say that he went to live with Dr. Nathaniel Stafford of Baltimore, Md., a foster father who placed a strong emphasis on education.

At some point prior to the Civil War, Dr. Stafford sent John to live with Richard H. and Mary Ellen Wright of Bloomery, Md., a rural community in Caroline County on the eastern shore. Mary Ellen was Dr. Stafford’s granddaughter.

McNeese joined the Union Army in 1861 at age 18. He was a member of the Maryland Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War where he fought in the battle of Gettysburg. Suffering from a case of tuberculosis, John moved to Texas in pursuit of a drier climate.

He settled in Menard County and became successful at grazing cattle and operating a mercantile business. He served as the district and county clerk from 1871 to 1873. Unfortunately, the Great Panic of 1873 brought financial ruin to McNeese and many others.

In 1873, McNeese and five other cattlemen set out on a cattle drive to New Orleans via the Old Spanish Trail. The group made it to the Sabine River but the cattle were starving to death due to drought conditions. McNeese decided to cut his losses by selling his cattle and settling in Imperial Calcasieu (including Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes).

McNeese boarded at the home of William Bilbo, an early settler in the present Oberlin area. He married Bilbo’s daughter, Susan, on his 33rd birthday and they had nine children, two of whom died in infancy. McNeese supported himself as a “professor” of penmanship and music. Later he attended Tulane University and received a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1887. He practiced law briefly, but his passion was education.

McNeese became the first parish superintendent of Imperial Calcasieu, serving in this capacity from 1888 until his retirement in 1913. He was probably the first parish superintendent to devote his entire time to the work of his office, the first to attempt the transportation of children to consolidated schools, the first to attempt classroom supervision among rural schools and the first to support the right of citizens of a local community to vote upon themselves taxes for the support of public schools. John McNeese died in 1914 at the age of 70, less than one year after his retirement.

Lake Charles Junior College, founded in 1939, was renamed John McNeese Junior College in 1940 to honor the pioneer Southwest Louisiana educator. The name was changed in 1950 to McNeese State College and finally renamed McNeese State University in 1970.

Consideration in the mid-1990s to change the name of McNeese State University to the University of Louisiana at Lake Charles never gained much momentum. McNeese is the only Louisiana state school named after an educator.

Excerpts from A Chronicle, McNeese State University 1939-1987, by Joe Gray Taylor, and The Life and Services to Public Education of John McNeese by Theodore John Ratliff.

Photos are from the McNeese Archives & Special Collections Department

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Foundation Ties David “Brian” Guidry • Recipiant • Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholarship

The Sky’s The Limit

A childhood dream guides David “Brian” Guidry in his quest to become an astronaut.

As a product of Holy Family Catholic School, Moss Bluff Middle School and Sam Houston High School, Brian entered McNeese State University with his eyes set on a career in agriculture. In 2004, Brian graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural sciences and a concentration in agribusiness.

During his studies, Brian worked as an intern and part-time employee for the Natural Resource Conservation Service branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With a hiring freeze looming as graduation approached, Brian reflected on his future.

“One day I was out in the field and I saw a crop duster fly by. I remembered that as a child we drew names out of a hat of someone famous to research. I drew the name of John Herschel Glenn Jr., a former astronaut,” said Brian. The more he studied Glenn’s astronaut career, the more intrigued Brian became with the profession. The goal of becoming an astronaut, however, seemed too lofty at the time to pursue.

With the dream resurfacing due to the crop duster’s fly-by and with his current position with the NRCS coming 8

to an end, Brian thought more and more about his childhood dream. He began researching the requirements to become an astronaut and composed a check list of things to do to make his dream a reality.

Brian began by enrolling at Sowela Technical College in the aircraft maintenance program. He also enrolled at McNeese in the mechanical engineering program in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

Lest he have too much time on his hands, he also held down a full-time position at the airport. He completed his associate’s degree at Sowela in December 2007 and received his Aircraft Mechanic Certification. Subsequently, he began flight training which he completed in the summer of 2008.

Brian recognized that obtaining an internship in the aerospace industry would be necessary in working toward his goal. According to Brian, “Because my field of interest was so specialized, I had to pursue the internship on my own.” He began by sending applications to the Johnson Space Center and to the United Space Alliance in Houston, Texas.

Rejection letters mounted. Not taking “no” for an answer, Brian called the Space Alliance’s human resources department and was told he had exhausted all his efforts for an internship. Ever persistent, Brian called back and announced that he

intended to drive to Houston the next day to meet with someone in person.

While the meeting did not result in an internship, the human resources officer did encourage him to pursue work at other aerospace contractors in the area.

A stop at Ocean Engineering Co., the manufacturer awarded the contract to create the new space suit, finally paid off.

Brian was hired for a summer internship which included a visit to Cape Canaveral.

“I encourage younger engineering students to pursue an internship or a coop, even at the expense of staying longer in school,” said Brian.

According to Ning Zhang, MSU assistant professor of mechanical engineering, “Brian is one of the best students I have seen at McNeese. He is a very bright, honest and a hard working person.” Zhuang Li, mechanical engineering assistant professor, agreed.

“Brian has a keen interest in aeronautics and astronautics and a very clear goal for his future career. He works very hard, writes notes carefully and reflects deep thinking. He displays high quality work.”

Brian is the recipient of the Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholarship and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He will add a second degree to his name when he graduates from McNeese

continued on page 17

FOUNDATION TIES Kimberly Diane Boyett • Recipient • Alma W. and G.W. Ford Memorial Scholarship

A Tradition of Teaching

Kimberly Diane Boyett is on the road to becoming a pre-kindergarten to third grade teacher. “I chose PK-3 because I have always had a connection with younger children. I love teaching them basics and then pushing them to think even deeper toward more complex problems,” said Kimberly.

Kimberly enrolled at McNeese State University as a Vidor (Texas) High School graduate and transfer student from Lamar University. She moved into Collette Hall where she has lived ever since along with her roommate, Pla, from Thailand. Kimberly joined the Pride of McNeese Marching Band and played the French horn before putting away her instrument this past year due to time constraints.

With an extended family full of teachers and firemen, Kimberly’s career options were limited.

Teachers and future teachers in her family include her mom, sister, fiancé, seven cousins, four aunts, two great aunts and two uncles. Firemen and retired firemen in her family include her father, fiance’s father and grandfather, two great uncles and two cousins. While a career as a fireman was a possibility, Kimberly had her eyes set on becoming a teacher.

Kimberly Diane Boyett

According to Dr. Faye White, professor and director of Student Teaching and Professional Education Services, students enrolled in early childhood education are well-qualified as they graduate and enter the classroom. Early childhood education majors complete a practicum which entails one course with 60 clock hours and another course with 90 clock hours of classroom instruction. Students teach 15 lessons in the classroom. Both the classroom instructor and a university faculty member conduct evaluations which result in the student’s class grade. According to Dr. White, “The practicum is the first time early childhood education majors learn to maneuver in the real world of education.”

The practicum helps the student learn teaching strengths and weaknesses. “I was really hesitant about classroom management and discipline. I wanted to structure the lessons so that I didn’t waste time but I delivered all the content. The practicum has allowed me to be in multiple classrooms with instructors who all have different methods of teaching. Based on these examples, I am now able to create a style all my own,” said Kimberly.

The Alma W. and G.W. Ford Memorial Scholarship is one of several scholarships that Kimberly has been awarded to assist her and her family with college expenses. Kimberly said, “I feel very blessed to have a family that supports me financially. I can’t imagine having a full-time job while being a full-time student.

“Kimberly Boyett is an The scholarships definitely help me with tuition costs and room and board expenses.”

Since not all universities offer a practicum, Kimberly is thankful to attend McNeese where the practicum is required. “I love the early childhood education program. I can’t believe all the things we get to do. We are out in the field a lot gaining hands-on experience. This program has definitely prepared me for my career as a teacher when I get out of school,” she said.

Currently, Kimberly is student teaching in a first-grade classroom at A.A. Nelson Elementary.

She will graduate from McNeese in May 2010. A wedding to her childhood sweetheart, Kyle Parfait, a McNeese music education major, will take place soon after graduation.

exceptional student. From the first time she came into my office she had a plan. She is so responsible and always turns everything in on time, no excuses; however, when I think of Kimberly I will always remember how respectful she is. As an advisee or a student in my class she does not hesitate to ask questions or ask for further explanation, and this is always done with polite respect for me as the professor. Her enthusiasm as a future teacher is refreshing. She will make a wonderful teacher who will be dedicated to giving her students her very best every day. One thing is certain, she will always be prepared.”

Deborah M. King Associate Professor Department of Teacher Education 9

Foundation Ties J. Leo McGough • Donor • Sam Emerson Memorial Music Scholarship

A TRIBUTE TO LEO The McNeese Foundation offers many opportunities to support the University. Tribute giving provides just one of those opportunities. A tribute gift is a gift given in “honor of,” in “memory of ” or in “thanksgiving of ” someone or something. The tribute gift is only restricted by the creativity of the giver. J. Leo McGough is one of the Foundation’s many loyal tribute givers through his contributions to the Sam Emerson Memorial Music Scholarship. Sam Emerson was a friend and local ophthalmologist with the Eye Clinic who had a love of music.

Mr. McGough is known by several nicknames, depending on the timeline of his life. Before World War II, his nickname was “Goo,” for his last name, McGough. During the war, he was called “Jim,” short for his first name of James.

After the war, he went by “Leo,” the name he is best known for today.

Born and raised in Alexandria, La., during the depression, Leo had a hardscrabble life. His father, Alfred Doty McGough, died when he was just 6 years old leaving behind Leo, his mother, Mary Kate, and his younger brother, Alfred Eugene. With limited professional training, Mrs. McGough took employment as a caregiver. To supplement the household income, Leo quit school after completing his elementary grades. He delivered newspapers and groceries, worked in a filling station and served as a “call boy” waking up the engineers and conductors when it was time for the trains to depart. “We didn’t know that we were poor,” said Leo. After working for three years, Leo went back to school to complete his education, graduating from Bolton High School in Alexandria.

J. Leo McGough

With World War II in full swing, there was no question that Goo would serve. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in February 1943. The service took him to Colorado, Wyoming, Texas and New Mexico before Jim, as he was now called, was shipped off to the Central Pacific Theater to take part in an island hopping campaign. Jim worked in the armament and ordinance divisions of the 27th Bombardment Squadron, part of the 30th bomb group. When his service was over in 1946, Jim returned to Alexandria.

The first night home, Leo, his current moniker, headed to the Walgreen’s parking lot where his buddies hung out. A friend’s invitation to double date prompted Leo to call an old acquaintance. Leo had first met Mary Faucett when he was just 5 years old and she was 2. He had watched from his back porch as Mary’s house burned to the ground. Mary had toddled across the yard to watch the fire burn with him. While they saw each other periodically over the years, it wasn’t until Leo asked Mary out for that double date that the fireworks sparked. They married in November 1946 and lived happily ever after until Mary’s death in 1995.

A job at a pest control company brought Leo and Mary to Lake Charles. He knew that he didn’t want a long term career in pest control, but he had a wife to support and he needed a job. Leo applied at area banks and was hired by Calcasieu Marine National Bank where Mary also worked. A quick promotion and pay raise was all that was needed for Leo to know that he had found his life’s work. The bank’s management training program and the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University trained him well for his ultimate ascension to the presidency. The new Calcasieu Marine National Bank high rise (now Capital One) was built under Leo’s leadership.

During his 41 years of employment, Leo and Mary spent 15 years in Vinton with their children – Vickie, Pam, Jim and Cindy. Three of their four children followed their parents into banking. Leo stays busy with his children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

His many friends, his daily three-mile walks and his weekly luncheons at the Pioneer Club leave him little time to be lonely.

Leo is a descendent of Edward Doty, a passenger on the Mayflower. Edward Doty was an indigent servant of Stephen Hopkins, one of the masters on the Mayflower. Doty served Hopkins for two years in exchange for his passage.

He was the second man to step on Plymouth Rock.

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Leo’s involvement with the McNeese Foundation began during his tenure at the bank. The Burton and Lawton families, owners of the bank, were all McNeese supporters. “I couldn’t have had a better job or worked for better people. The Burton and Lawton families have shared their time, their wealth and their knowledge with the people of Southwest Louisiana,” said McGough.

Leo added, “I wanted to do something for McNeese…To give in a manner that would help the school and the student. To me, a college education is a requirement. In fact, higher education ought to be mandatory.” Leo has supported McNeese through his tribute gifts and through his contributions to endow an oak tree on campus through the Foundation. It is fitting that his tribute gifts are directed at a scholarship that supports music majors. As a child Leo was forced to take violin lessons which were to him a chore. His desire was always to play the piano, but his family could not afford the lessons. Leo’s gifts to the Sam Emerson Memorial Music Scholarship support students pursuing their passion in music.

What Will Your Legacy Be?

F.G. Bulber Auditorium The legacy of Handel’s Messiah began when Francis Gerard Bulber (1909-1992) directed the first performance of the Messiah in December 1940 in the McNeese Auditorium. The Messiah has been performed every December since. Bulber served as the head of the Music Department, the dean of Fine Arts, and the academic dean of the University. Bulber founded the Lake Charles Civic Symphony and the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus. In 1992, the McNeese Auditorium was renamed the Francis G. Bulber Auditorium in his memory.

For information on planned giving, visit www.mcneesefoundation.org/plannedgiving

You Plan Your Gift

You Choose Its Direction

Office of Planned Giving P 337.475.5588 F 337.475.5386 Bequests • Charitable Trusts • Gift Annuities • Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation • Real Estate Retirement Plan Designations • Securities •Tangible Personal Property 11

FOUNDATION TIES Carlos and Grace Perez • Donors • Department of Liberal Arts Endowed Fund

Bridging Cultures “Write about me—Senor Carlos Perez—in the paper? Yes—girls,” he eloquently said, pulling out his horned-rimmed glasses with a flourish and bowing low, “and what would you like to know? How I got here? Why I’m here? And when I got here? Well, I must say you’d make an excellent FBI lady, but…since it’s all for ‘The Cause,’ I’ll give you the facts.” (The Contraband [student newspaper], Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1957) It seems that an interview with Carlos Perez was as much sought after in 1957 as it is 53 years later.

When Carlos Alfonsa Perez Correa was a child growing up in Mexico City, Mexico, children learned about America by watching movies. Carlos admired the country he came to know from the movies. He dreamed of one day coming to America.

As a child, Carlos would tag along with his father, a tennis player, for sport.

“There wasn’t a coach or an instructor to teach me,” said Carlos, “I practiced on my own.” It wasn’t long before Carlos realized that a university tennis scholarship might hold the key to realizing his dream.

Perez, 19 5

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A friend of Carlos was recruited to play tennis at Lamar Tech in Beaumont, Texas. In the late 1950s, with connections made through this friend, McNeese tennis coach Arthur E. Lee recruited Carlos to come to Lake Charles on a tennis scholarship. With VISA in hand, an $80 loan from his father and a few translated phrases tucked away for emergencies, Carlos purchased a one-way plane ticket to Houston, Texas.

Upon arrival from Houston to Lake Charles via the Trailways Bus, Carlos flagged down a taxi cab to take him on his final leg to the McNeese campus where Coach Lee was on hand to greet him. They talked at length – Coach Lee speaking only English and Carlos speaking only Spanish – with neither one understanding a word the other one spoke.

Carlos thought his scholarship would include everything needed to get started…sheets, pillows, towels, clothing, books, etc.

However, when he arrived in his dorm room, he discovered four barren walls and a mattress on the bed. Upon realizing the misunderstanding, Coach Lee took Carlos shopping. The remaining monies from his father’s loan were now depleted.

In the 50s, entering freshmen were required to take an entrance exam. Carlos arrived for the test, administered in English, studied the first question, and proceeded to the front of the room. Ms. Paddy Ann Doll, testing director, patiently explained the question to Carlos. After returning to his seat and looking over the second question, Carlos again proceeded to the front of the room. After several more repetitions of this same scenario, Ms. Doll quietly asked her assistant to help Carlos in a private room. Upon passing the entrance exam, Carlos was now officially a McNeese freshman.

The entrance exam guaranteed Carlos’s entrance and also introduced him to his future wife. DeQuincy native Grace Puerto was standing by Carlos in the “P” registration line. While verbal communication was a stumbling block, the language of chemistry soon took over. “Meeting Grace was destiny,” said Carlos.

Carlos excelled on the tennis court and in his course work. McNeese’s tennis team was a consistent winner of the Gulf State Conference.

Carlos was inducted into the McNeese Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004.

Grace worked at McNeese as Coach Lee’s secretary. After Carlos graduated and worked for W.R. Grace for two years, the couple, now married, moved to Mexico City.

Equipped with an industrial engineering degree from McNeese and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Pan American Institute for High Business Direction in Mexico, Carlos became a successful entrepreneur, ultimately becoming the largest manufacturer of stabilizers and emulsifiers for the dairy industry in Mexico. “My success in business is because I learned how American people think. I worked with Americans in all my business ventures and my knowledge provided a bridge between the two cultures,” said Carlos.

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Perez from 1960 Log Yearbook

Carlos and Grace have five children – Carlos Antonio “Tony,” Lisa Perez Fontenot and Melissa Perez Leblanc, all McNeese graduates, and Ricardo Perez and Tania Perez, who attended McNeese.

Carlos’ younger brother, Alfonso Perez Correa, is also a McNeese graduate. The family tradition continues with a Perez grandson, Steven, now enrolled in McNeese’s MBA program.

Carlos received the McNeese Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1993 for his remarkable accomplishments as a leading manufacturer, industrialist and civic leader in Mexico and Central America. He continues to be an ardent advocate for McNeese, recruiting students from Mexico to come to Lake Charles. Carlos and Grace support the Department of Liberal Arts Endowed Fund – Spanish and the McNeese Alumni Association.

Grace and Carlos Perez

“McNeese changed my life in many aspects. It gave me an education, friendships and a warm welcome. It introduced me to my wife, Grace. McNeese taught me how to be competitive in sports and in life…how to win and how to lose,” said Carlos.

Cricket game in the Quad

SERVING THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT POPULATION

McNeese State University has an active and growing international student population, including 484 students from 52 different countries, eight of whom, like Carlos Perez, are from Mexico. Ms. Corliss Badeaux, instructor in the Department of English and Foreign Languages, serves as international student faculty adviser. The adviser’s function is to work with the international student population to help plan activities, to monitor expenses and to help students stay on track during their campus experience. Corliss works closely with Pranay Wardhan, a student from India, who serves as president of the International Student Association.

The McNeese Office of Student Services has created the Multicultural Center, located in Holbrook Student Union of the Old Ranch, to serve as the “campus living room for international students.” The center is a place where people of all nationalities can come together to share life experiences. Sullivan Turner, a part-time graduate assistant, currently staffs the center.

According to Dr. Toby Osburn, dean of student services, “Our international population consists of great students who add tremendous value to the quality and experience of student life. Engaging international students in student life gets them involved and participating. It also gets other students involved in the culture, languages, political systems and religions of other countries.”

The Council for International Concerns, a broad-based community outreach group, works closely with McNeese personnel to help international students as they make the transition to Southwest Louisiana. International students can incur difficulties in the transition such as cultural barriers, language difficulties and transportation issues. The Council also works with the Lake Charles Rotary Club to host an annual barbecue for international students which includes entertainment such as belly dancers, ethnic music and martial arts demonstrations.

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FOUNDATION TIES Doug and Gay Gehrig • Donors • Lake Area McDonald’s Athletic Scholarship

CHIEF COOK & BOTTLEWASHER Lake Area McDonald’s restaurant owner Doug Gehrig believes that the community should embrace McNeese State University. “You can’t go anywhere around here without running into McNeese,” he said.

Doug is the owner of 10 area McDonald’s franchises as well as the Wal-Mart—Highway 171—restaurant. His path to the fast-food industry began as a child growing up in Milwaukee, Wis. Doug is the middle child of seven children. His parents owned a meat processing plant, a family restaurant and an A&W Root Beer stand at one time or another. He grew up working in all the many facets of the family business – including serving as the “chief cook and bottlewasher.”

With an aptitude for mechanics and the goal of a career in machine design, Doug graduated from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign in 1972 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Upon graduation, he moved to Burlington, Vt., to work for General Electric’s machine gun factory. Doug was on the fast track as a member of GE’s training program and was poised to be sent to graduate school. However, a slow economy was affecting the workload, and while Doug’s position was secure, he felt the job lacked challenge. A position in a research center pulled Doug back to Milwaukee where his engineering skills were put to use testing parts, chains and gear reducers.

Weary of the cold, Doug’s parents looked to purchase a McDonald’s franchise in a warmer climate. With the Lake Charles territory ripe for a fast-food chain, Doug helped pack his family for a move down south.

The first Lake Area McDonald’s opened on Broad Street in 1972. Within a few years, Doug quit his research position in Milwaukee and headed south to enter the family business.

Doug Gehrig

Doug called upon his experience working in the family food businesses back in Milwaukee as he worked his way up the local McDonald’s ladder from assistant manager to manager to supervisor, and eventually, to owner. The number of family-owned franchises increased to 10. Doug ultimately bought out all the local franchises from his siblings.

While managing multiple stores requires long hours in the office, Doug is happiest being out among his employees and customers.

With 530 employees and a $6 million payroll, Lake Area McDonald’s is doing its part to bolster the economy in Southwest Louisiana.

After Hurricane Rita, many service-oriented businesses incurred a significant employee shortage. The Lake Area McDonald’s lost over half its work force. With a stroke of genius in an effort to keep the restaurants open, Doug imported over 130 individuals from Romania to work at his McDonald’s. He helped acclimate new employees upon their arrival and found them housing. According to Doug, “The work force from Romania worked wonderfully.” To this day, Lake Area McDonald’s still employs five of the original immigrants.

Doug and Gay Gehrig and the Lake Area McDonald’s have supported McNeese for over 20 years. The Gehrigs created the Lake Area McDonald’s Athletic Scholarship to support athletes in need. A pancake breakfast fundraiser was held in the fall 2009 to raise funds for the scholarship. “We appreciate Doug and Gay Gehrig establishing the Lake Area McDonald’s Athletic Scholarship. The Gehrigs’ choice to invest in our student-athletes’ education shows their community support and their commitment to ensure the best college experience for our young athletes,” said Pam McGough, coordinator of the McNeese Athletic Foundation.

As a consummate engineer, Doug is especially complimentary of the McNeese engineering and engineering technology programs.

“McNeese has one of the best engineering schools in the country. The departments are small and you have easy access to professors which promotes learning,” he said.

When visiting one of the Lake Area McDonald’s restaurants, don’t be surprised to find Doug dressed in his pin-striped business suit, white starched shirt and tie, and black leather shoes tinkering with the ice cream machine. While he is a successful entrepreneur, Doug will always be a mechanical engineer at heart.

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FOUNDATION TIES Ms. Margaret Munro • Donor • John J. Munro III Memorial Scholarship

Dr. Scott Goins

McNeese Honors College McNeese State University is well known for its excellent programs in its six colleges – business, education, engineering and engineering technology, liberal arts, nursing and science – but there is another “college” that some people may not know about….the McNeese Honors College.

The Honors College was created to enhance the academic experience of high achieving and motivated undergraduate students.

The honors program was the inspiration of McNeese President Robert D. Hebert. “Having an Honors College enables McNeese to recruit a greater number of superior students than have been traditionally recruited in the past,” said Dr. Hebert.

The MSU Honors College began accepting students in the fall of 2000 under the guidance of Joan Vallee, assistant chemistry professor and the first Honors College director. Students enrolled in Honors College pursue traditional course work as required in their major but with an independent element added. As an example, students might be expected to prepare research papers and present findings at a regional or national conference.

Students gain many benefits from enrolling in the Honors College. They participate in smaller class sizes and have access to guidance seminars. They learn in an atmosphere that fosters intellectual stimulation and free thinking. And, since they stay with the same cohort of students that they start out with, they Honors College is much enjoy a cohesive and nurturing learning environment. more than just a scholarship.

Honors College students receive financial incentives to participate in the program. A four-year academic scholarship assists students with tuition, partial room and board, and textbook expenses. The Honors College received significant funding from two local families for operational expenses and for student scholarships. Mr. and Mrs. Claude “Buddy” Leach provided an endowment which funds Honors College operations, while Mr. and Mrs. William “Billy” Blake provided funds through the Juliet Hardtner Trust to support academic scholarships.

The McNeese Honors College is successful due to the shared commitment of both students and faculty. Dr. Scott Goins, professor of classics in the Department of English and Foreign Languages and current Honors College director, said that he felt duty bound to accept the call to direct the Honors College. “The Honors College seeks to support and inspire students as they broaden their knowledge and excel in their chosen discipline. I thought I could do a good job and make a difference for the students,” he explained.

With a limited enrollment, entrance into the Honors College is competitive.

Approximately 25 new students are accepted into the Honors College each year. Criteria for admission include: • Excellent high school record including a college-preparatory background • Minimum academic grade point average of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale • Composite score of 27 on the American College Test or combined reading and math score of 1210 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test • Written essay and interview with the Honors College Admissions Committee • Three letters of recommendation from teachers, principals and/or guidance counselors • Acceptance for enrollment by the University For more information about the McNeese Honors College, contact Dr. Goins at 337.475.5456 or sgoins@mcneese.edu.

Honors freshmen took a class called Humanities with Dr. Goins as our instructor. It was a great experience that not only introduced the entire group to each other, but we also got to know Dr. Goins as well. He is great when you need someone to listen or answer school-related questions. The friends I have met through Honors College are great people who care about their academics. There are various activities such as movie nights that provide us with extracurricular activities.

Being in Honors College has helped to enhance my college experience and helped me to stay focused on my goals.

Mallory Robicheaux College of Nursing Sophomore 15

Melissa Ellis Northcutt

gf

Director of Development Operations & Special Events

Melissa Ellis Northcutt, director of development operations and special events at McNeese State University, is one employee that this University couldn’t live without.

Melissa joined McNeese and the Office of Development and Public Affairs/Foundation almost 20 years ago when there were only two employees and a $3 million endowment.

Since that time, the Development/Foundation Office has grown to include eight employees and a $55 million endowment.

Melissa obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in management and marketing as well as her Master of Education degree from McNeese.

Along with her McNeese Cowboy hat, Melissa wears two other job duty hats—director of development operations and executive assistant to the president for special events.

As development operations director, Melissa coordinates the day-to-day activities of the office. Melissa is accountable for all McNeese Foundation and Athletic Foundation funds. She manages both the donor database and the accounting database, unrestricted and restricted accounts, and prepares the income distribution and budget reports annually. She is in charge of creating policies and procedures and conducting performance evaluations. Most importantly, she spearheads donor relations and donor recognition events such as the annual scholarship brunch.

Melissa is also involved in many public relations activities related to the Foundation.

She works with peers within the University and with outside vendors to create marketing materials, brochures, invitations and other print pieces.

Melissa serves as the point person for the office’s daily activities in the absence of Vice President of Development and Public Affairs/Executive Vice President of the McNeese Foundation, Richard Reid.

As executive assistant to the president for special events, Melissa coordinates activities held at the home of the president as well as activities held in the SkyRanch at Cowboy Stadium. She serves as the liaison and campus coordinator for visiting dignitaries, Board of Regents and University of Louisiana System members during periodic campus visits.

Correspondence, reporting and scheduling related to presidential activities are also handled by Melissa.

As part of her many duties, Melissa serves as chairperson of the McNeese Official Ring Committee. The McNeese ring tradition and ceremony began in spring 2007 with qualified students having the opportunity to purchase a class ring. The tradition has been expanded under Melissa’s leadership to include a ceremony held twice a year, a ring cake event during Homecoming Week and Spring Fling Week and the distribution of material promoting the McNeese official ring. The ring is currently featured on the McNeese Catalog, the Blue Key and the student recruitment marketing brochure.

As if juggling all these duties were not enough to keep Melissa busy, she also serves as a notary for campus personnel.

An effective and outstanding administrator, Melissa is a model employee, always exhibiting professionalism, courtesy and respect. When asked the key to her success, Melissa credits the truly talented people she is fortunate to work with every day. “I absolutely love what I do and I am privileged to work with such a delightful group of people. We have a wonderful team,” stated Melissa.

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Continured from page 8 this May in engineering. He plans to pursue a position with Ocean Engineering Co. upon graduation. Brian also looks to obtain a master’s degree in engineering prior to applying for the astronaut training corps. A meeting with the head of the astronaut selection committee at NASA revealed that in the last class 3,500 applications were received and only nine applicants selected. It may seem like an uphill battle, but Brian continues to climb.

“I think that engineering at McNeese is an extraordinary program,” said Brian. “Many astronauts attend prestigious universities and have extensive military experience. I don’t believe that those individuals are any more superior in knowledge or determination or have a better work ethic than I have. If, in the future, I am ultimately not selected for the astronaut training corps, I can accept that.

If it doesn’t pan out, at least I can say that I gave it my all. I know that to achieve a goal like this, I have to do everything I can, but I also recognize that I can’t live my life by it forever.”

Brian and his wife, Tiffany, a full-time teacher at Gillis Elementary, take turns caring for their 1-year-old daughter, Olivia. Another child is scheduled for “launch” this summer.

We’ve been busy!

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PILLARS Publication

Frequently Asked Questions 17

News You Can Use Tired of useless information that fills television, radio, newspapers and the Internet? The McNeese Foundation is producing news that you can actually use. The Foundation launched a new marketing initiative in January 2010 in the form of e-mail newsletters titled News You Can Use. E-newsletter content includes interesting articles about McNeese Foundation donors, student scholarship recipients and professors receiving professorships. The e-newsletters are sent to donors whose e-mail addresses are on file in the Foundation office.

The January issue featured McNeese retiree Linda Finley in an article titled, “From a Covered Wagon to a Spaceship.” During her 35 years of service, Finley served as the dean of university services and registrar. She established and endowed the Linda Finley Scholarship and is a member of The 1939 Living Oak Society and the McNeese Outriders.

Readers can also learn estate planning tips such as how and when to update their will, how to increase their retirement income and how to make charitable gifts without using their current income.

Articles from each issue can also be found on the Foundation Web site at www.mcneesefoundation.org/news, and scroll down to Foundation News. If you would like to receive News You Can Use, complete the form below and send to McNeese Foundation, Box 91989, Lake Charles, LA 70609 or e-mail your Web address to Jennifer Griffith at jgriffith@mcneese.edu. □ Please send me News You Can Use at the e-mail address(es) below: _________________________________________________________________ First Middle Last _________________________________________________________________ Primary E-mail Address _________________________________________________________________ Secondary E-mail Address

SPRING 2010 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2

We trust that you have been informed or enlightened by something you have read in this issue of PILLARS. Comments or suggestions for future bi-annual editions are welcomed and appreciated. Please take a moment to complete this form and return it to the McNeese Foundation, Box 91989, Lake Charles, LA 70609 or send comments via e-mail to mariannewhite@mcneese.edu. You are also encouraged to visit the Foundation Web site at www.mcneesefoundation.org for further information about our activities or methods of giving.

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EDITOR Marianne White Coordinator of Planned Giving and Donor Research mariannewhite@mcneese.edu STAFF WRITER Jennifer Griffith Planned Giving and Donor Research Specialist jgriffith@mcneese.edu ART DIRECTION, DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHY Anne Cobb Graphic Designer/Multimedia Specialist cobb@mcneese.edu Renee LeLeux Public Information Officer II rleleux@mcneese.edu FOUNDATION STAFF Jennifer Griffith Planned Giving and Donor Research Specialist jgriffith@mcneese.edu

One of many bids during the 2010 Denim & Diamonds Athletic Fundraiser

Kelly McGough Administrative Assistant kmcgough@mcneese.edu Pam McGough Coordinator of Athletic Development

pmcgough@mcneese.edu

PILLARS is published by the McNeese Foundation to educate and inform the community of the role that the Foundation plays in support of McNeese State University.

The name, PILLARS, was chosen to represent the importance of the Foundation’s support of McNeese as an institution of higher learning.

Melissa Ellis Northcutt Director of Development Operations and Special Events mnorthcutt@mcneese.edu Richard H. Reid Vice President of Development and Public Affairs/ Executive Vice President, McNeese Foundation rreid@mcneese.edu

Contact Information

bromero@mcneese.edu

McNeese Foundation Box 91989 Lake Charles, LA 70609 Phone 337.475.5588 Fax 337.475.5386

Marianne White

www.mcneesefoundation.org

Beryl Romero Administrative Specialist

Coordinator of Planned Giving and Donor Research mariannewhite@mcneese.edu

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Nonprofit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid McNeese Foundation, Box 91989, Lake Charles, LA 70609

www.mcneesefoundation.org

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Permit No 336 Lake Charles, LA