By Kathy Hegwood Overturf, Louisiana College Alumni Director
PINEVILLE – Louisiana College’s 2015 Homecoming Celebration kicks off Oct. 1 at a chapel service in Guinn Auditorium honoring this year’s class of distinguished alumni, which is a diverse group of individuals from the fields of business, education and full-time ministry.
Don Hill (64), a former student body president; Becky Brown (76), a member of the first women’s basketball team, the Wildcat mascot and the 1976 homecoming queen, and Dr. Gretchen Lower Hanson (81) are the three alumni who will be honored.
After graduating from LC, Hill, a businessman from Dallas, Texas, received a Masters in Statistics from Florida State University. He went on to have a successful career in the financial industry.
He was instrumental in creating the first Credit Reporting Resources Guide. He is also one of ten people who established Salt Grass Steakhouse and later Lupe’s Tortilla, two very successful restaurant chains. He and his wife Terry have been married since 1967 and they have one daughter.
Upon graduation, Brown, who is from Richland, Miss., received graduate degrees from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where she remained on staff for 20 years. In 2000, Becky founded Little Brown Light Ministries.
She is a published author, songwriter, musician, and well-known inspirational speaker. She has spent the past 14 summers as Bible study and worship leader at Judson Baptist Retreat in St. Francisville. She is staff evangelist at First Baptist Church, Richland, and works with the Baptist Global Response of the International Mission Board.
Dr. Hanson, who earned a degree in biology from LC, received her PhD from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She began her teaching career in California and served as a faculty member at McNeese State University in Lake Charles before returning to her alma mater.
She taught anatomy, physiology and biology during her tenure at LC, while helping to prepare students to take the MCAT. Since 2002, Gretchen has been a full-time homeschool teacher and administrator. Dr. Hanson has been married to her husband Steven since 1982 and they have two children. They reside in Bryan, Texas, and are members of First Baptist Church.
The Distinguished Alumni will be honored again on Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. in the Granberry Conference Center along with this year’s inductees in the LC Sports Hall of Fame.
The inductees in the sports hall of fame are Ben McLaughlin (10) – football; Debbie Dixon Brasher (80), women’s basketball, and for only the second time in LC history, we are honoring an entire team. The 1978-79 Wildcat Basketball Team and manager will be inducted along with their legendary coaches.
Come join us for all of the events of Homecoming 2015. If you would like tickets to any events or need more information, call Kathy Hegwood Overturf at 318.487.7301 or email kathy.overturf@lacollege.edu. You can also find information on our website at www.lacollege.edu.