Originally published in The News-Star newspaper, August 13, 2006

August is the quietest and in some ways the cruelest month. Summer school is over and the students have departed. Much of the class of '06 has graduated, and now another part of our legacy is out in the world, leaving us all a bit lonely.

August represents not only a time of leaving for students, but also a time for realizing that some of the ULM faculty members will not be returning - some have retired and some have taken positions elsewhere. Suddenly we realize that some of our colleagues, mentors and friends will no longer be here to make their oh-so-valuable and sweet contributions to our ULM. It, leaving, has always been so at colleges, but nonetheless it is impossible to minimize the loss. I believe that in a way, ULM weeps at the changes in her faculty, grieving at the loss of each and every one.

In 1944 the college saw another leaving, that of C.C. Colvert. In the summer of 1944, the University of Texas at Austin had convened its second "Junior College Laboratory Conference" and wanted Colvert to have an important role. According to Thomas Hatfield in "A Junior College Man," President Homer Rainey wanted to bring an outstanding junior college leader into the university to develop the field of junior college education. When he asked the group at the conference who would be the best man, they answered, "Colvert." Then Rainey went after him.

At the end of the conference, Colvert came home intending to stay. One of the things he felt was that he wanted to be there when "my boys come home from the war." He sought the advice of his wife, friends at Louisiana State University, members of his church and spent several weeks of soul searching. At the end, for lots of reasons, he chose to accept a position at the University of Texas.

The Sunday Oct. 1, 1944, Monroe Morning World carried the announcement of his departure. He worked until the end of the day Oct. 31, got in his car and left for Austin. True to form he was ready for work on Nov. 1.

One of the things he did on that first day was send a handwritten letter to his secretary in Monroe. We see this in "A Junior College Man":

Dear Miss Read:

After a lovely moonlight trip we arrived in Austin 3:30 in the morning.

I am getting set up in my new office - but I miss N.J.C.

An editorial in the Monroe Morning World called him "someone who trod an unprospected path" and "a pioneer." It noted with pride that we now have one of the finest junior colleges in the country, with graduates in the professions, business and politics, and noted proudly that fully 1,000 men and women from this college are fighting all over the globe.

I believe that in a way, NJC wept on that October day of leaving, just as ULM does today.

Have a great day at ULM.

Dr. John Knesel, ULM Professor

75th articles page