NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

7/12/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Tony Gustwick, executive director of the Northwestern State University Foundation, has retired from NSU after a long career in higher education. Gustwick, who also served as the university's director of institutional advancement, worked at Northwestern for the last decade, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between the university and the Natchitoches community through his involvement in numerous civic organizations.

Gustwick came to NSU in 1995 from LSU where he served in various leadership capacities with the LSU Alumni Association for 15 years. He also worked 10 years at his alma mater, Texas Tech University, as assistant director of alumni affairs and served as alumni director at the University of North Texas for six years prior to his work at LSU.

"Anyone in a public relations job needs to keep constant contact with people off-campus," Gustwick said.

Gustwick has received several honors and held membership in many organizations, including Eagle Scout, First Methodist Church, and Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, which awarded him the fraternity's Distinguished Service Award. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and was the first chairman of Southwest District IV of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and is a recipient of the District's Distinguished Achievement Award. Gustwick was appointed an honorary admiral in the Texas Navy by former Texas Governor Preston Smith.

Gustwick is past president of the College Alumni Directors of Texas and was a member of the Louisiana Alumni Executives. He is currently serving on the board of directors of the Association of the United States Army (Fort Polk Chapter) and is past president of the Bon Temps Dance Club.

Locally, Gustwick serves on the board of directors of the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce and is past member of the board of the Wesley-Westminster Foundation. He is past president of Methodist Men and the Natchitoches Rotary Club and is a member of Natchitoches Business and Professional Women's Club. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is a Shriner. He is a charter member of the Krewe of Dionysos and will serve that organization as captain next year.

Gustwick said involvement in community organizations was dual purpose.

"The more you do on the outside, the more people you meet. Fund raising and alumni is a people business and you can't raise funds sitting in your office. You've got to meet people and get to know them and where their interests lie. You may meet an alumnus who was a business major who is not interested in contributing to the business department; instead, they may want to support the symphony."

During Gustwick's tenure at Northwestern, fund raising increased from $180,047 in 1994 to $1,555,520 inn 2004.

"Good people on the Foundation Board made the experience such a pleasure," Gustwick said. "It's been a joy to work with them."

A native of Yoakum, Texas, Gustwick earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Industrial Management from Texas Tech in 1962. Upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps and served on active duty 28 months. He received an honorable discharge as a captain in 1968.

Gustwick is married to Linda Tillman and has two grown children living in Texas an a step-daughter living in New York.

In retirement, Gustwick will remain active in many civic and social groups, but said he is looking forward to a flexible schedule and perhaps putting in a garden.

"It's good to know we don't have to do anything," he said.

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