NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

11/09/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -The children of Sadie G. and Charles F. (Red) Thomas of Natchitoches found a special way to honor their parents and help others. For several years, they have made regular contributions to a scholarship fund at the Northwestern State University Foundation set up in honor of their parents. Those donations have added up to a $10,000 endowed scholarship.

The Sadie G. and Charles F. (Red) Thomas Scholarship will benefit education majors at NSU. Of the Thomas' nine children, seven work in the education field.

"My sisters and brothers and I are excited to honor our parents, two distinguished, outstanding educators," said daughter Dr. Elizabeth Walsh, director of Curriculum for Secondary Programs in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. "They each have had a tremendous influence on our lives and on the lives of our children as well as on countless others who have the good fortune to know them as teacher, colleague and friend. This scholarship is a means for the positive impact they have each had on the field of education in general and on students in particular to continue for generations to come."

Both Mrs. and Dr. Thomas arrived at State Normal School (now Northwestern State) in 1939 and remained involved with the university for more than 65 years,

"During my 30-plus years in education I have had the opportunity to honor
many outstanding educators," said son Luke E. Thomas, Ph.D., dean of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. "The most rewarding of these honors has been the establishment of a scholarship in the name of my parents by my brothers and sisters."

"I feel very fortunate to have parents that have been so supportive of my career in education. When I think of outstanding educators my parents come to mind. The recipient of the Sadie G. and Charles F. (Red) Thomas Scholarship could not have better
role models to follow."

Mrs. Thomas graduated from Northwestern in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in home economics. She later earned a master's in 1969. Her career included serving as director of the NSU Child Development Center from 1969 until 1984. She also taught early childhood education in the Department of Home Economics.

"When our children first told us about the scholarship, we thought it was great and appreciated it. But we didn't think about it a lot," said Mrs. Thomas. "Once they continued to contribute and later told us the scholarship was endowed, we were more excited. We are happy this scholarship is something that will go on."

Charles F. (Red) Thomas was a student, coach, professor and administrator at Northwestern. While a student, Dr. Thomas was a standout basketball player and was the school's first All-American in basketball. Dr. Thomas was selected to the Helms Hall of Fame in basketball in 1957 and was named to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1968.

He became head basketball coach at Northwestern in 1950, leading his teams to two conference championships in seven seasons. He left coaching to enter the classroom full-time in 1957.

He was dean of administration before becoming vice president for academic affairs, a position he held for 10 years until his retirement in 1978. After retiring, Dr. Thomas held teaching positions at the University of North Texas and Tulane University. He was named to the NSU Hall of Distinction, the Long Purple Line, in 1993.

"I remember how important receiving a scholarship was to me. It was an athletic scholarship and that scholarship allowed me to go to college," he said. "There is always a need for scholarships to help good students gain an education."

The first recipient of the scholarship is Brittany Graf, a sophomore elementary education major from Natchitoches.

"I am honored to receive this scholarship named for Dr. and Mrs. Thomas because education is very important to them," said Graf. "Receiving this scholarship is important to me. I want to be a teacher and play a role in giving a good education to children. Having this kind of support makes me even more excited about being a teacher."

Graf's mother, Sherrie Graf, was a teacher and inspired her daughter.

"I watched her prepare and work when I was a child. Seeing her made me want to be a teacher," said Graf.

For more information on establishing a scholarship at Northwestern, contact the NSU Foundation at (318) 357-4414.

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