Centenary College Class of 1964 50th reunion biographical updates
George Havard Albright, M.D.
After graduation, I entered Louisiana State Medical
School in New Orleans with several friends from
Centenary, married my best friend--Joan, and
welcomed our first son--Havard, Jr., the evening
before my final exam in dermatology. Between 1968
and 1974, “we” finished my internship at Charity
Hospital of Louisiana at New Orleans; residency in
dermatology at LSU New Orleans; welcomed our
second son, Norman; served two years as a Major
and dermatologist in the US Army at US General
Leonard Wood Army Hospital at Fort Leonard
Wood, Missouri; and welcomed our third son, Travis.
I began private practice in 1974, and for the next
twenty-five years enjoyed treating patients as a
board-certified dermatologist; being involved in the
boys’ activities including school, sports, the YMCA
Indian Guides serving as Tribal Chief, Nation
Medicine Man and Nation Chief, Cub and Boy
Scouts; and teaching the LSU dermatology residents
starting as a Clinical Instructor and finishing as a
Clinical Professor. I joined and served in several
organizations , including the Dawn Busters Kiwanis
Club, for which I served as the Key Club Advisor for
three high schools and received the Key Club
Advisor of the Year Award for the LouisianaMississippi-Tennessee District; the American
Medical Association; Louisiana State Medical
Society; Orleans Parish Medical Society, for which I
served on and chaired the Membership and Domicile
Committees; the American Academy of
Dermatology; and the Louisiana Dermatological
Society, for which I served as President.
In 1999, at the age of 57 and dissatisfied with the
intrusion of insurance companies into the practice of
medicine and the physician-patient relationship, I
retired from private practice and re-entered the US
Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. After going through
Basic Training for a second time, I was stationed at
Ireland Army Community Hospital at Fort Knox,
Kentucky, where we lived on post for almost four
years, and then at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
in Landstuhl, Germany, where we lived off post in
Steinwenden for just over six years. While at the
latter post, Joan and I traveled around Europe on our
own and with visiting family and friends to Italy,
France, England, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Czech
Republic, The Netherlands, Russia, Spain and
Gibraltar.
After retiring from the Army, we returned to our
home in Metairie, family, and friends. I rejoined the
Dawn Busters; am active in their “Rewards for
Reading” program, which twice a year gives bicycles,
M4 Players and numerous other prizes to students at
nineteen public schools in Jefferson Parish; serve on
the Foundation Board; and participate in the annual
Thanksgiving Turkey Fry, Golf Tournament,
registration for the Red Dress Run and many other
activities. Once again, I am enjoying teaching
dermatology residents three days a week at LSU
Medical School and also at the Veterans’
Administration Hospital in New Orleans.
Our family now includes our three sons: Havard, Jr.,
a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon, who is in his
twentieth year of teaching high school English--at
Rabouin before Katrina and McMain after; Norman,
a Vice President of Ballard Brands and an LSU
graduate as is his wife, Rachelle, CEO of F. H. Myers
Construction Company; Travis, also an LSU
graduate, a manager at Deuce McAllister’s Ole Saint
Restaurant; and our grandchildren: Patrick, Norman
and Rachelle’s son, a seventh grader at Christian
Brother School, player and fan of almost all sports-especially LSU and Saints football; and Ainsley,
Norman and Rachelle’s daughter, a second grader at
The Academy of the Sacred Heart, swim team
member, dance student and charming socialite.
The mainstay of my life is my wonderful wife, who
has supported my decisions, helped make them
possible and assisted with this brief autobiography by
typing and editing. I look forward to seeing old
friends, reminiscing and reading your
autobiographies.
Bob Bishoff
1964: Graduated from Centenary College with a
degree in Business Administration and entered
University of Houston Law School.
1965: Assistant Manager, Centenary College
Bookstore. Began dating Bonnie Henry (’65);
became a Clerical Assistant and graduate student,
English Department, New Mexico Highlands
University. September 11--Married Bonnie Henry in
Brown Memorial Chapel at Centenary College and
soon began teaching assistantship, English
department, New Mexico Highlands University, Las
Vegas, New Mexico.
1966: Completed course work and thesis,
“Pragmatism and The Novels of Robert Penn
Warren.” Received MA in English from New Mexico
Highlands before receiving greetings from my draft
board with orders to report for my physical, and a
contract to teach in the English Department at
Panhandle A&M College in Goodwell, OK.
Faced with a choice of either Viet Nam, Panhandle
A&M, or flight to Canada elected to take the road
less travelled and opted for Good...Well...OK.
August 1: Arrived in Goodwell, OK, located on the
Beaver river and home to one general store, one pizza
parlor decorated with jungle murals, and one small
college. Taught freshman composition and literary
studies to cowboys and cowgirls during the week. On
the weekends, cowboys and cowgirls taught Bonnie
and me how to shoot pool and drink boilermakers.
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Centenary College Class of 1964 50th reunion biographical updates
Bob Bishoff (continued)
1967: Bonnie received her degree. She is, quite
possibly, the only person in the country to become an
equity actress after having received her degree from
Panhandle A&M College.
1968: Moved to Shreveport. Bonnie worked for
Headstart and I auditioned for a film starring Dionne
Warwick. (Actually got a part but had to turn it down
because shooting schedule conflicted with the start of
my real job. Too bad, too, since it was later named
one of the ten worst films of the year).
September: Began teaching Composition and
literature courses at newly established LSU
Shreveport. Bonnie began teaching Kindergarten as
the only white teacher at George Washington Carver
school in Caspiana.
1969: Took whirlwind “grand tour” of Europe then
moved to Amherst, Massachusetts with wife and old
dog to begin graduate study for PhD. and working as
a teaching assistant in the English department at the
University of Massachusetts.
1970-1973: Bonnie began graduate study and work as
a teaching assistant in the theatre department at
UMass. I completed course work and dissertation for
PhD in film and literature at UMass. Bonnie
completed course work and thesis performance for
MFA in acting at UMass. In September we moved to
Chicago, Illinois with pregnant wife, very old dog,
two cats, and five kittens. Began work as a program
design and production specialist with Perspective
Films/ Coronet Media in downtown Chicago.
December 26--Son, Aaron Bret, was born.
1994-1977: March--One of my first film projects for
Perspective films was selected for Screening in the
Documentary Shorts Category at the New York Film
Festival. August--Moved to the French Quarter in
New Orleans, Louisiana with wife, one son, one cat,
and one extremely old dog. September--Began work
as Director of Instructional Materials for the New
Orleans public school system. Bonnie began acting in
New Orleans, and teaching acting part-time at Tulane
University. July, 1975: School system offices moved
to New Orleans East, and so did we. SeptemberNovember: Bonnie and Bret lived on the campus of
Colorado Women’s College where she was an artistin-residence. July, 1977: Moved to North Adams,
MA with wife and one son, but, alas, sans the late cat
and dog. September: Began teaching film studies and
a variety of other subjects at Massachusetts College
of Liberal Arts, now one of U.S. News And World
Report’s top ten public liberal arts colleges. Bonnie
performed in Amherst as guest artist at University of
Mass.
1978-2009: September, 1980: Bonnie began teaching
theatre course and directing student productions at
MCLA. She also became a member of an Equity
theatre company in Bennington, VT. March 23, 1982:
Son, Joshua Henry, was born. 1984- 1986: Served as
Dean of Freshman Studies at MCLA. April, 1987-Bonnie was named outstanding junior faculty
member at MCLA. June, 1989: Awarded Pride in
Performance Certificate of Recognition by the State
of Massachusetts. July, 1989-2009: Wrote and
published various articles on film, the preface to a
book on Shakespeare and film, a chapter in Ethnic
Perspectives in American Literature published by
Modern Language Association Press, and a handbook
on interpersonal communication for the
Innkeepers of New England. I also wrote theatre
reviews for the local newspaper and was a founding
member/board of directors for the Williamstown
Film Festival. From 1999-2009 I served as
chairperson of the English Communication
Department, which consisted of 246 majors, 23
faculty and 3 staff. The department housed a small
film production studio, a television Studio, a radio
station, and the college weekly Newspaper. From
2005-2009 I also served as co-director of the
Massachusetts Institute of Contemporary Culture.
August, 2009: I retired from MCLA. August, 2010:
Bonnie retired from MCLA. Since retirement we
have spent a great deal of time doing as little as
possible. We have travelled some: on a road trip
through southern Canada and the north west U.S.; to
Rio and up the Amazon by boat in Brazil; to
Denmark, Sweden and the far northern reaches of
Norway; to the Yucatan; and back to Paris. We also,
happily, have both of our sons near us. Bret, who
went to high school at a boarding school in Concord,
MA and then to college at Oberlin in Ohio, is back in
the area. And Josh, who opted for the local public
high school and a career in the theatre after
graduation has finally returned to the Berkshires after
some years performing in Boston, and New York,
and with various regional and national touring
companies. He has brought with him a wife and,
recently, a new baby. We are probably the world’s
oldest first time grandparents, but as an in-constantmotion eighteen month old, Wesley Bishoff manages
to keep us in pretty good shape. I think everyone
should get themselves a grandkid...or even a greatgrandkid...when they turn seventy.
And, so it goes...or, so it’s gone. I’m frustrated
because I had to omit all the crazy tales that really
make up my bio and offer the truth behind all the
various events outlined herein. You know what I
mean. And, here is hoping that the last fifty years
have been as much fun for everyone else as they have
been for me.
Roger H. Box
I did not receive a degree at Centenary. I did benefit
greatly from the professors and campus life of the
College. Following my sophomore year, I was
accepted to the School of Pharmacy at Northeast
Louisiana in Monroe. While there, Angela (Doogie)
Pringos (Centenary '65) and I were married. In fact
we celebrated our 50th year of marriage in August of
this year.
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Centenary College Class of 1964 50th reunion biographical updates
Roger H. Box (continued)
Upon graduation from Northeast I returned to
Shreveport and practiced Pharmacy at the Physicians
and Surgeons Hospital, and had our first daughter,
Laura. In 1967 I received the opportunity to assume
the Directorship of Pharmacy at a hospital in
Bartlesville, Oklahoma. We have made Oklahoma
our home to this day, and while here Doogie gave
birth to another daughter, Andrea. In 1972 I left the
hospital to start Med Source Corporation, which
eventually provided services and products to
hospitals and clinics in five states. I sold the company
in 2000 or so and was talked in to doing some
"consulting" with hospitals in financial distress,
working in the areas of contract management,
materials and supply logistics, and internal staffing
primarily in non-clinical areas. After about seven
years of too much airline travel I slipped in to
retirement. During my entire career I have been
involved in many nonprofit Boards and Chairing the
majority of them at one time or another. (YMCA,
Green Country Free Clinic, Elder Care, OK Mozart,
Sunfest, Bartlesville Ballet, plus some state and
national business and professional associations). I
also had the pleasure of chairing the Committee to
rewrite the City Charter of Bartlesville and
subsequently to chair the committee to prepare a
Code of Ethics for the City employees, elected and
appointed officials. I currently serve as a trustee of
the Bartlesville Development Authority.
Angela and I remain active in the community, travel
to some interesting places, have renewed friendships
with old college and high school acquaintances, and I
continue to play tennis, ski, hike and piddle at our
cabin in the country or my little office downtown.
Both daughters now live in Austin with two
granddaughters each, I have been surrounded by
lovely women much of my life (we also have two
very nice sons in law)!
Mary Lou Briggs McCaa and the late William M.
McCaa, Jr. MD
After receiving my degree in elementary education
from Centenary, I taught school for two years – one
in Shreveport and one in New Orleans. The summer
in between I married classmate Bill McCaa in 1965.
He had graduated from Centenary in chemistry and
was now a 2nd year med student at LSU School of
Medicine in New Orleans. As life would have it, I
developed a serious muscular disease which ended
my teaching and sent my life in a different direction.
We returned to Shreveport for Bill’s internship and
first year of residency in general internal medicine.
Then he had an opportunity to finish his residency at
Parkland in Dallas and so we spent two years there.
It turned out his training was coinciding with a pivot
point in medicine; Bill’s mentors told him no one was
going to be a general anything anymore and he
should select a sub-specialty. The result was he
entered a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the
University of Utah in Salt Lake City, thinking we
would only be there for two years. But being
introduced to the West was a revelation to its
extraordinary beauty, unassuming people and low
humidity. It was our home for the next 39 years.
Bill liked to say he changed jobs rather than wives.
His 31 years of practice included
hematology/oncology, emergency medicine and,
returning to his first intent internal medicine. During
his years as an oncologist, Bill was especially proud
to have been the medical director of the first hospice
established in Salt Lake in the days when everyone
was a volunteer. Being a Southerner was a plus in
the West, and Bill’s patients loved his embellished
stories and Louisiana colloquialisms – most of which
they probably didn’t understand.
In those early years, I was a mother to our two
children, Katherine and William, a homemaker, and
community volunteer. Then in 1989 I was hired as
the director for local arrangements for the national
meeting of our Presbyterian Church, USA which was
meeting in Salt Lake City and realized I could be
paid for what I had been doing for free. I became a
development officer for a Catholic hospital, and then
for the University of Utah Hospital Foundation – 15
years in all. It was a fascinating job and I met many
interesting people. At the same time, being active in
the church has always been an important and
fulfilling part of my life and I have served in many
capacities. A highlight was a mission trip to
Thailand that Bill and I went on after we retired.
After working hard to retire a little bit early in 2005,
sadly Bill died unexpectedly in 2006. I continued on
for five years but felt the Utah chapter of my life had
ended. I wanted to be where I had family and in
particular where my three grandchildren were. They
lived in Memphis and so that’s where I live now too
and go from there to visit my son in California.
Though we only kept in touch with a few Centenary
friends and only went back for two reunions, Bill and
I both were keenly aware that our college years had
significance beyond their proportion of our lives.
Bill loved to tell stories about Dr. Mary Warters and I
read every page of the alumni magazine, searching
for names I recognized. Our college experiences
were hugely instrumental in developing who we
became and the course of lives. Thank you,
Centenary.
Ginger Darnell Folmer
After graduating from Centenary in 1964 with a BA
degree in Theatre and Speech, I attended Syracuse
University as a Graduate Assistant. I taught the
beginning acting class and choreographed the
departmental productions. I met fellow graduate
theatre major, Richard Folmer, and we married on
August 22, 1965. We both completed our MA
degrees in Theatre and moved to Detroit where
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Centenary College Class of 1964 50th reunion biographical updates
Ginger Darnell Folmer (continued)
Richard worked on his PhD at Wayne State Univ. I
taught English and Drama in public schools and
dance in a private school. I also choreographed a
summer season of musicals for a professional
company based in Detroit. (Richard was hired as an
actor for the summer.)
We moved to New York City in 1968 where Richard
pursued a career as an actor and I gave birth to our
son, Sloan. When Richard was on an extended
national tour of "Zorba", Sloan and I came to
Shreveport to stay with my grandmother. I met
Robert Buseick who was the Chairman of the Theatre
Dept. at Centenary. He subsequently hired me to
choreograph some of the summer musicals at the
Marjorie Lyons Playhouse. In 1975, Mr. Buseick
secured approval and funding to hire a dance
instructor for Centenary. He offered me the position
and I began teaching dance technique classes,
choreography, and dance history and choreographing
departmental productions in the fall of 1975. During
my 32 years teaching at Centenary we built an
impressive dance program establishing Escaped
Images Dance Company in 1983 and adding a major
in Dance in 1991. Our dance program was honored
regionally and nationally by The American College
Dance Festival Association. I retired from my
position as Professor at Centenary in 2008 and was
awarded the title of Professor Emerita.
My husband, my son, and I have been and continue
to be very active in local theatre productions: Richard
as a director and an actor, Sloan as an actor
(beginning at age 4), and me as a choreographer and
actress. Richard has also appeared in several films
and television programs. To this date, I have
choreographed 84 musicals, 17 plays that required
choreography, 8 operas and ballets, 22 children's
theatre productions, and 53 revues (not including
numerous compositions choreographed for dance
recitals and concerts). At present, I am
choreographing a production of "The Wiz" for the
Caddo Magnet High School Drama Program.
John Frazer
I left Centenary after the fall semester since I already
had more credits than I needed. I went home to
Monroe and was the first chemistry graduate student
at ULM. I then went to Tulane in July, 1964 for a
doctorate in biochemistry. I was graduated in August
of 1969 and went to the Oak Ridge National Lab for
postdoctoral training. My fiancee finished
her doctorate in microbiology at Tulane the next
August; one week later we were married in
Arlington, VA. She joined me at Oak Ridge for her
post doc period for two years. After that we were in
Birmingham, AL for about seven years, where our
son was born in 1978. We moved to Macon, GA for
a year at Wesleyan College, then on to New York
City, where my wife and I worked at NYU Medical
Center. I branched out into working for two small
diagnostic start-up companies before they went
bust. I then got a job with a company in NJ
providing treatment for patients without kidney
function who required dialysis. That company was
bought by a company with headquarters in Walnut
Creek, CA, and moved us out here. My wife worked
for two pharmaceutical companies in California. I
retired in March 2009, and my wife in 2012. Our son
is a chef and lives in Brooklyn, since he grew up in
the NYC area. We have been slowly going through
our accumulated possessions in order to move to
Monroe, where I still own the house that I grew up
in. I had hoped to be there in Monroe by this time,
but we have not yet rid ourelves of enough of our
accumulated junk to move from California. This is a
great place to live, but, having been unsuccessful in
winning the Lotto, our resources should last longer in
Monroe.
Rev. Dr. JoAnn M. Garma, Ed.D., ACPE, BCC
After graduating from Centenary with a BA in
Religion, I attended Perkins School of Theology and
received a M.R.E. degree. After Perkins my
professional life included ventures in local church
ministry as well as a social work trainee position in
the public school system of New Orleans.
My life’s vocation was in chaplaincy that included
ministry as a certified Supervisor with the
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
(ACPE). I am also a Board Certified Chaplain with
the Association of Chaplains. Beginning 1977 I
served as chaplain and then Chief Chaplain with the
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office for nearly 8 years.
During that time I was ordained in the Episcopal
Diocese of Louisiana as a Deacon in 1982, the first
woman to be ordained to a cure (a ministry) in the
diocese. I served at Grace Episcopal Church, New
Orleans, for 12 years and moved to other parishes
thereafter. I also completed a Doctor of Education
degree in pastoral psychology and counseling from
the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
When I received my first level of certification as an
ACPE Supervisor, I moved from prison ministry to
pediatric ministry at Children’s Hospital, New
Orleans, serving as Director and ACPE Supervisor
for over 10 years. I attained the final level of
certification with ACPE while at Children’s. During
my tenure Children’s was fully accredited with
ACPE. I moved from pediatric ministry to join the
faculty of The McFarland Institute, an arm of Baptist
Community Ministries. While with McFarland I
established an ACPE program at Mercy Hospital,
New Orleans and was the first Protestant to serve as
Director of Pastoral Care. I was also Director/ACPE
Supervisor at Baptist Hospital, New Orleans. I
established programs where ACPE CPE residents
were placed in institutions that had not previously
employed chaplains; they included nursing homes,
prisons, civil court, and hospitals. When McFarland
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Centenary College Class of 1964 50th reunion biographical updates
Rev. Dr. JoAnn M. Garma (continued)
closed its ACPE CPE programs seven years later, I
moved to Austin, Texas for 3 years and then to Dallas
for 1 year. In 2007 I moved back home (New
Orleans) to serve for nearly 7 years as
Director/ACPE Supervisor at East Jefferson General
Hospital, Metairie. I retired January 2014.
I have been deeply blessed with the many people
with whom I have had the privilege of serving as
their chaplain. My faith has been stretched and
challenged by the many stories told to me. Through
it all I believe that God’s love and grace abounds for
everyone. My ministry as an ACPE Supervisor
provided me with the opportunity to walk with ACPE
CPE students (clergy and lay) as they grew in their
faith and in their understanding and appreciation of
themselves as persons called to ministry.
I am now privileged to have transitioned into another
phase of life that holds as many opportunities and
challenges for learning and growth! I am relishing
every moment!
Robert Ross Hawkins
Robert Ross Hawkins is a CPA practicing in
Metairie, LA. After graduating from Centenary
College, Bob earned a Masters in Chemistry
Teaching from Loyola University in New Orleans.
He taught chemistry in Jefferson Parish Schools and
also taught part time in the LSU Dental Laboratory
Technology Program.
While enjoying teaching chemistry, Bob decided it
was time for a new challenge and he attended Tulane
University, leading to a Tulane certificate in
advanced accounting and eligibility to sit for the CPA
exam. He joined a firm in Metarie, and, after five
years, became a partner in the firm.
Bob is married to Ellen Morgan Hawkins. They have
one son, Richard, a professor of Economics at the
University of West Florida, a daughter-in-law, Jeanne
Eckert, M.D., and two teenage granddaughters,
Olivia and Maddie. Olivia is a freshman at the
University of Florida and Maddie is a sophomore in
the Pensacola International Baccalaureate Program.
When not busy with work, family, or friends, Bob
enjoys working with computers, listening to music
and spending time at Orange Beach, AL. He and
Ellen share a love of travel and books. Bob can be
reached at mohawkcpa@mindspring.com.
Jim (Jimmy) Henderson
During the summer following graduation Jim
interned with the NAACP, working in San Francisco
and in Mississippi. The following academic year he
earned a M.A. in history of the trans-Mississippi
West at the University of Arizona, going on to
complete a Ph.D. in modern Latin American History
at TCU by 1972. Between 1966 and 1968 he served
in the Peace Corps in Colombia, during which time
he married fellow volunteer, Linda Roddy. Jim and
Linda went on to have five children, two of whom
they adopted in Bogotá, Colombia. After teaching
history for fourteen years at Grambling State
University (1972-1986), Jim and Linda took teaching
positions at Coastal Carolina University (CCU), near
Myrtle Beach, SC. Linda taught in the Department of
Accounting and Jim in the Department of
Government and International Studies. Both retired
from CCU in May 2014. Jim has published widely in
the field of Latin American, and especially in
Colombian, history, and continues to research, write,
and publish. He is active in his county Democratic
Party and in the local Friends (Quaker) Meeting. He
also continues to play handball and racquetball.
Karen J. (Humphrey) Deeter
I attended St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre
Haute, Indiana for my freshman and sophomore
years. My family was in Indiana when I applied, but
my dad was transferred to Barksdale Air Force base
at the beginning of my freshman year. After
spending the majority of those two years that far
away from my family, I transferred to Centenary
College for my junior and senior years, graduating in
1964. A few months after graduation, I married my
first husband, and we were married for 25 years
before divorcing. We had a daughter, Sarah, in 1966,
and adopted four sons. Tim was born in 1967, in
Seoul, Korea, and adopted at the age of two years.
Kelvin was born in 1974, and adopted from Georgia
when he was 8 ½ years old. Josh, who was born in
Florida in 1966, was adopted at the age of 5 ½ years,
and Jon, who was born in Florida in 1967, was
adopted when he was 8 weeks old. Sarah and Tim are
married and each has one child – Sarah has a
daughter and Tim has a son. Kelvin and Jon are both
engaged. Josh, unfortunately, passed away in
November 2006, at the age of 30, nearly one year
after having a double lung transplant.
I have been married to Dave Deeter, my second
husband for 20 years. We met at ballroom dancing
classes, and we still do some dancing. Dave has two
sons, four grandchildren and one great-grand
daughter. Dave and I were fortunate to be able to
retire on the same day–February 28, 2010, and enjoy
spending most of our time together. I work part-time
as a consultant, and Dave is seriously pursuing his
art. In addition, he has two salt water aquariums, with
fish and coral and other sea creatures, which take
quite a bit of his time. This spring we just put in a
very large raised-bed garden in our front-yard, and
our vegetables are growing rapidly. We have five
chickens in our “backyard flock”. Oh, and we live in
town, about nine blocks from the University of
Florida.
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Centenary College Class of 1964 50th reunion biographical updates
Karen J. (Humphrey) Deeter (continued)
After graduating college, I worked with
developmentally disabled and brain-injured children
for a few years, and then taught pre-school for a
couple years. I then worked as a foster care/adoption
worker for the state of Florida for three years. In
between, I took some time off when the children
were small. When Jon was about four, I was hired by
Alachua County, here in Gainesville, as director of
the Refugee Assistance Program. In 1985, when the
federal funds for refugee programs dried up, I
transferred (temporarily I thought) to the County’s
solid waste program. I ended up staying in the solid
waste field until I retired in 2010! The last six years
with the County, I was the solid waste director.
About four months after retiring, I received an offer
for a part-time job that I couldn’t turn down. I work
flexible hours, from home, as a Senior Consultant for
MSW Consultants. Dave and I still have time to do
our gardening, take care of our chickens (and our
four dogs and three cats), and occasionally go
kayaking and sometimes even make it to our Tai Chi
class. We haven’t done too much traveling, but we
did take a long road trip last summer to be with my
paternal aunt for her 90th birthday, and then visit
Dave’s children and grandchildren. I also love to
read. I usually have two or three print books and one
or two Kindle books that I am in the process of
reading. I used to sew, and I am thinking of learning
to quilt. I need to spend more time on my music,
though. I play piano and organ, but only at home– I
am very much an amateur –and I am trying to learn
the accordion.
-
Paul's Place, Baltimore, MD - Board
member (twice) and President, Development
Chair; service more than 20 years; honored
at gala in 2007
- St. John's Church, Reisterstown, MD Vestry member and Sr. Warden
AVOCATION: Oil painting has been a passion for
many years. My works are shown at The Red Quen
Gallery (Onancock, VA), Zoll Studio Exhibits
(Baltimore) and other local shows in the Baltimore
area.
TRAVEL: We have enjoyed trips to Europe, the
Galapagos, China, Tanzania and India.
Owning a sailboat has enabled us to travel up and
down the East Coast and through the Caribbean.
also continues to play handball and
Melanie Martin Heacock '64
I graduated from Centenary with a B.A. in English. I
received an M.A. in French from the University of
Kansas. Married Donald Heacock. We have 3 grown
children and 2 grandchildren.
Taught (variously English, French and Math) at:
Newport School for Girls, Newport, RI
Sheridan School, Washington, DC
Glenelg Country School, Glenelg, MD
After 12 years of teaching school, I began a long
career of volunteering with non-profits. Highlights
of those years were:
- U.S. Pony Clubs - local club leader in MD
and in CA; national Board member 8 years;
national President 3 years; named a USPC
LEGEND in 2004
- Equine Land Conservation Resource, KY Co-Founder and Board member
- Hannah More School (for emotionally
disturbed children), Reisterstown, MD Board member and President, Long-Range
Planning Chair;
- St. Paul's School, Baltimore, MD - Board
member, Development Chair, Diversity
Chair
Ellen Morgan Hawkins
Ellen Morgan Hawkins is a retired elementary
principal living in Metairie, LA. After graduating
from Centenary College she earned a Master’s
Degree in Administration and Supervision from the
University of New Orleans. She was one of the
youngest teachers in Jefferson Parish Public Schools
to earn a position as elementary principal. Ellen
retired in 2000 with thirty-six years of service.
James R. (Jim) Mitchell
POST GRADUATE: MBA, University of Alabama
MILITARY: US Army Reserve, Staff Sergeant
FAMILY: Married to Anne since 1969, two
children, nine grandchildren
PROFESSIONAL: CPA-Louisiana and Texas
Career Highlights: Tax Partner, KPMG; Tax Partner,
BDO; Chief Financial Officer-Pavestone
Company (largest manufacturer of concrete
landscape products in the US)
HOBBIES: photography, travel
COUNTRIES VISITED: Tanzania, Greece, Egypt,
Morocco, Tunisia, France, Italy, Australia, New
Zealand, Fiji, Germany, Holland, and Costa Rica
WEBSITE: www.mitchellphotographic.com
Ellen is married to Robert Hawkins, her college
sweetheart. They have one son, Richard, a professor
of Economics at the University of West Florida, a
daughter-in-law, Jeanne Eckert, M.D., and two
teenage granddaughters, Olivia and Maddie. Olivia
is a freshman at the University of Florida and Maddie
is a sophomore in the Pensacola International
Baccalaureate Program. When Ellen is not busy with
friends and family, she volunteers at her church,
Munholland United Methodist Church. Ellen’s
hobbies include gardening, genealogy, playing cards,
and watching movies. She and Bob enjoy traveling,
reading and spending time at Orange Beach, AL.
Ellen can be reached at
mohawkcpa@mindspring.com.
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Centenary College Class of 1964 50th reunion biographical updates
Fred Peters
Joined the Army Reserve in 1964. After active duty, I
returned home in 1965 and went to work for Western
Electric/AT&T Manufacturing in Shreveport, LA.
Married my wife Jean in 1970 and we have two sons,
John and Jason. Both are married and we have three
grandkids: Evan 13, Wesley 10 and Avery 6.
I retired from AT&T after 30 years in 1995 and
started my own company, Brandon Industries of
Louisian. Brandon Industries is a Contract
Manufacturing and Metal Stamping Company and
still operating today.
Glennie Scott-Allen
Since graduating from Centenary, I have lived most
of my life as a working musician, playing piano and
singing in various hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and
churches. It has not been the life I imagined as an
undergraduate at Centenary, but I am fairly sure it
has been more interesting than that very safe
unimaginative life that I thought was my destiny.
I was married briefly; that marriage produced my
beloved son G. Scott Allen, who is now married and
who has provided me with a wonderful grandson,
Jordan Scott Allen.
I continued studies after Centenary days, taking voice
for 12 years from Michael Lawrence, taking classes
at U.of Houston and St. Thomas U. in both education
and accounting-related courses. I received my
Masters of Liberal Arts from Houston Baptist in
1998. I've also occasionally taken classes in Spanish,
German, computer, or whatever strikes my fancy at
the moment.
and work for which I am grateful and about which I
am intensely passionate. We now know that music
involves much of the brain, creates memories,
enhances memory, and acts as a healing presence for
many people. Being able to share that with others is
in itself a raison d'etre.
I will always appreciate my professors at Centenary;
those who took any interest in me did not restrict my
thinking, but rather expanded it. So I attempt to carry
on that tradition with my students and in my life.
R. Gray Sexton
I’m from Pineville, Louisiana. I went to Centenary,
played in the band (and orchestra) and worked hard.
I left in 1963 before graduation, (because I had a wife
and a baby and no money), and enrolled in LSU Law
School.
I graduated from LSU Law School in 1966 with an
LLB degree and later a Doctor of Jurisprudence.
I was an initial inductee, in 1987 into the LSU Law
School Hall of Fame. In May of 1999, I finally
graduated from Centenary! It took me 39 years!
Surely a record!
For 40 years, or so, I was the General Counsel to the
Louisiana Board of Ethics.
I have a general civil advocacy practice in Baton
Rouge with five younger associates and a brilliant
Administrative Assistant who keeps me in line.
I have a beautiful (yet high maintenance) wife; two
sons, one –Scott – is also a Centenary alumnus, two
step-children and the usual assortment of brilliant
grandchildren. I like to work, play tennis, collect
stuff and chase after my wife and family.
I love Centenary.
As a performer I have worked primarily in Houston,
but also played in hospitality suites for corporations
in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, the Florida
Keys and elsewhere. I worked in Sweden as a
visiting artist for three stints, a highlight of my career
in many ways. I continue to be one of the "working
retirees," playing often in retirement homes, at
private parties, and creating cabaret shows for
Ovations, a specialized venue in Houston. I teach
voice and piano in my home; my students have
ranged in age from 4 to 95.
Travel is one of my passions - I've managed to get to
most of the western European countries, all but three
of the 50 states, have spent time in Australia/New
Zealand, and quite a bit of time in Canada, both
eastern & western, as well as Mexico, Belize, and
some of the Caribbean Islands.
I write a little poetry, compose a little music, and am
insanely addicted to playing Free Cell.
I am blessed with a comfortable home, relatively
good health, a lovely extended family, great friends,
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