Memories of our College Friend

Originally published in The News-Star newspaper, December 24, 2006

The semester is almost over and we are tired of studying. Finals are after Christmas so let's take a study break. Let's go to the College Friend tonight! As their ad says, "Make a date with the College Friend. Snappy Service. Good Food. A Houseful of Friends." Since they are open 7 days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., we have plenty of time. It is the early 1940s and much of the life at Northeast Junior College is centered at the College Friend.

As we enter, we find warmth and light and a greeting from owner Jack Rushing as well as from some of our classmates at NJC who are working tonight. There is a counter at the front and booths on the other three sides of the room. In the center is a large dance floor. To eat, we can have hot dogs for a nickel or hamburgers and a malt for a dime apiece or something called a "Won Up" for a nickel to drink. If anyone were flush, they could get a steak and potato for 35 cents. In the corner stands a juke box with the latest big band music records from Zeagler's. The night belongs to us "kids," the students of NJC.

The morning belonged to the likes of Lewis Slater who taught chemistry and physics and would later become Northeast Louisiana State Collge's first President, William Honeycutt who taught history and Buel Hamner who taught English and would later become the Registrar. They came in for coffee almost every day. And to Lady Stahl - familiar to all who were involved in journalism in any way - who was a frequent visitor, as well as to Coach Malone, "fixing" his wife's breakfast to take next door. But tonight is ours.

After eating, we could join others on the dance floor. However, if Berta Harper from St. Joseph and a partner were doing the jitterbug, we would just have to step back out of the way in awe. Can you just imagine, or in the case of so many, remember being there dancing, music, good food, talk of the war? And romances - dates made, love found and maybe even a proposal or two made. Love lost, love regained and a life's path taken. There might have even been someone studying! If we think about it - and we should - each person who entered or worked at the College Friend is part of ULM's story.

So as we visit that time and place long ago, let's do think about the College Friend and what it meant to generations of students and faculty and to friends made and remembered for life. We could learn a thing or two from the numerous kindnesses of Jack Rushing and his cooks Addie and Essie Mae and from those memories made so long ago. Memories made so long ago but not really ... just made yesterday at the College Friend.

Merry Christmas.

Have a great day at ULM!

Dr. John Knesel, ULM Professor