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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Ericca Reynolds (reynoldse@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
10/08/2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES-The College of Education at Northwestern State University has recognized six alumni for their outstanding professional accomplishment with induction into its Hall of Distinguished Educators. This year's inductees are: Patricia Wiggins Blaize of Thibodaux, Morgan Dunnam Ford of Pineville, Frank M. Lampkin of Bossier City, State Rep. Billy Montgomery of Haughton, Dr. Leonard D. Ponder of Bryan, Texas and State Rep. Dr. B.L. "Buddy" Shaw of Shreveport. The inductees will be honored at the College of Education's Reunion which begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Teacher Education Center.
Blaize is a teacher in St. Charles Parish and was the first nationally certified teacher in Louisiana. She is certified in the following certification areas: secondary English and Spanish, reading specialist, gifted certification and supervisor of student teachers. She has been a workshop presenter in writing strategies, reading in the content areas and L.E.A.P. strategies.
Ford has the longest tenure of a principal of a full-sized school in Rapides Parish. He is in his 50th year as a principal. During his tenure, Ford has been principal of schools where historic events have occurred in Rapides Parish: first class for mentally retarded students, first class for hearing impaired students, first African-American student enrolled in previously all Caucasian school and he was principal of a pilot school for LTIP-LTAP.
Lampkin served at the principal of Bossier High School from 1956-1980. In addition to his work as an educator, he was active in community affairs. In 1952, Lampkin served as chairman on a committee of 100 to develop the YMCA Bossier branch. Since 1954, Lamkin has been an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Bossier City. He served on the Bossier City Recreation Board from 1957-1974.
Montgomery has served as a Louisiana State Representative for District 9 since 1988. After graduating from Northwestern in 1959, he taught and coached for 10 years winning two state championships in 1968 and 1969. He was assistant principal of Haughton High School from 1970-1982 and served as principal from 1983-1988. He was honored as the Louisiana Assocation of Educator's "Distinguished Legislator" in 1989 and was inducted into the Louisiana High School Coaches and Administrators Hall of Fame in 1991. Montgomery was honored by Northwestern with the Nth Degree in 1995.
Ponder is professor emeritus in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University. In 1990 and 2001, he was awarded the Thomas A. and Joan Read Chair of Disadvantaged Youth. This was the first chair in Texas A&M's College of Education at Texas A&M University. tthe Leonard D. Ponder Chair for Research and Development has been established upon his retirement in recognition of his lifetime achievements.
Shaw has served as a Louisiana State Representative for District 6 since 1995. After graduating from Northwestern in 1955, he taught and became principal at several schools in north Louisiana. In 1969, Shaw represented the state of Louisiana at a conference for Adult Education at the United States International University in San Diego. He served as principal of C. E. Byrd High School from 1970-1986. During that time, Shaw led the efforts to establish at a Math and Science Magnet School at Byrd. In 1993, he became president of the Caddo Parish School Board. In 1994, he became president of the Louisiana School Boards Association.