Shreveport sightings

Another great NSU Alumni Association reception was held last evening, this time at Savoie's Catering Center in Shreveport, and there was a great turnout of Shreveport-Bossier supporters, including many former athletes. Someone recently asked me what part of my job I enjoyed the most and I responded that it was meeting student-athletes when they arrive on campus for the first time (or even on their recruiting trip) and watching them develop personally through their college career. Even more pleasing is meeting them at alumni functions like the one last night and learning about their job and family.

I sat at a table with former NSU football teammates Mike Pool and Tony Papa, along with Mike's wife, Sherri. Also joining us were Terry Moore, brother of "Top 100" Demon and former NFL player Robert Moore and Alumni Association Board member and avid Demon fan Leonard Endris. I still can remember Leonard, his wife, Robbie, and their two sons sitting on a bus as it traveled across I-20 to the NSU-Tech State Fair game in the mid-1980's. Those Endris boys have grown up, I might add, and made their parents proud.

Among other former NSU athletes - and with apologies if my memory omits some - were Wayne Earp, who stays in touch with former Demon and NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Smith in St. Louis; Steve Gaspard, whose brother Kim and father wore the purple and white; former NSU SID Pesky Hill and his wife, Carol; John McConathy and wife, Corene, who listened to another great message from their son, Mike, our outstanding head men's basketball coach; and Demon teammates from the early 1950's, Ty (and wife, Sue) Sibley and M.D. Ray.....allow me to clarify that I was not here for their recruiting visits! And, of course, the location for this alumni event is owned by none other than former Demon Gerald Savoie, always the gracious host.

And how remiss would I be for not mentioning Jeff and Karen Shideler, proud aunt and uncle of Jace Prescott, Demon offensive tackle from Haughton; and the representation from NSU's great College of Nursing, including Dr. Norann Planchock and her husband, Jerry, and Maxine Johnson and her husband, Smokey.

Finally, all of those from the NSU Athletic Department enjoyed seeing former Senior Woman's Administrator and Academic Advisor Julie Lessiter. A two-sport athlete herself at NSU, Julie is now living and working in Shreveport after dedicating nine years to our coaches and student-athletes.

Suffice it to say that with Savoie's catfish and crawfish in abundance, and the company that was kept, a good time was had by all!

Greg Burke, Athletic Director