Originally published in The News-Star newspaper, January 15, 2006

In the summer of 1931, Superintendent T.O. Brown contacted Doak Campbell at George Peabody Teachers College in Nashville and asked for recommendations to fill the presidency of Ouachita Parish Junior College. Campbell (who had known C.C. Colvert at Central College in Arkansas and who in 1941 would become president of what is now Florida State University) asked Brown if he wanted a list or simply the best man. Brown stated he wanted the best man, and Campbell recommended Colvert.

Clyde Cornelius Colvert, called simply "C.C.'' or "Colvert'' by those who knew him well, guided what is now the University of Louisiana at Monroe through the first 13 years of its development. Colvert was born in Clarksville, Texas, on Sept. 29, 1899, to Walter and Lou Ella Colvert. The family later moved to Eagle Mills, Ark., where he attended elementary and high school. After attending one year at Ouachita College in Arkadelphia, Ark., Colvert taught for one year in a small rural school. He returned to Eagle Mills, where he spent the summer grading lumber but returned to teaching for another year, this time in his hometown. Colvert spent the next few years alternating between studying at the University of Arkansas and working in the schools of Van Buren, Marion and Carlisle, Ark.

In 1924, he married his college sweetheart, Lottie Mae Melton, whom he called "Jack'' during their 67-year marriage. Colvert was an honor student and received his A.B. and his M.A. in education from the University of Arkansas in 1929 and 1930, respectively. He earned his Ph.D from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn., in 1937 while on leave from Northeast Center of Louisiana State University.

On Oct. 31, 1944, after he had worked a full day at Northeast Junior College, the Colverts drove to Austin, Texas, arriving at 3:30 a.m. Nov. 1, for him to assume his responsibilities as professor and consultant in Junior College Education at the University of Texas. Colvert went on to establish what was to become a premiere doctoral-level program in community college leadership, and he directed that program from 1944 until his retirement on Jan. 1, 1971. He died on Oct. 18, 1991.

Those of you who knew the Colvert's might be interested in the following information received from Kenda Nelson, editor of the Refugio County Press in response to an e-mail about their daughter, Marguerite who is living in Refugio, Texas.

"I called Marguerite Freeman who is now living with her husband in Refugio Manor and Rehab Center, and she was extremely pleased that there are people still thinking of her. Among her remarks she said, 'I love that junior college, it meant so much to me and my family. I appreciate friends there in Monroe who are still thinking of me. I went to high school in Monroe and graduated there. I still think a lot about my friends back in Monroe.'"

Have a great day at ULM!

Dr. John Knesel, ULM Professor

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