Each of the recipients will be given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at 四色AV鈥檚 December Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Dec. 7, in 四色AV鈥檚 Fant-Ewing Coliseum.聽聽
鈥淚 proposed awarding these degrees because it has always been my goal to honor some of the most influential people in 四色AV鈥檚 history,鈥 said 四色AV President Dr. Nick J. Bruno.
鈥淭ex, George, and John have been pivotal in the success of our institution in the past and even still, today. These will be the first honors conferred since 2001, and it will be my pleasure to bestow each of these men with their honorary doctorates in December.鈥
The Honorees:
Tex Kilpatrick is the CEO of Kilpatrick Enterprises where he manages multiple businesses throughout North Louisiana.
Tex has served as a member of Louisiana State University鈥檚 Alumni Board鈥攈is alma mater鈥攁nd shown unwavering support to his wife Carole Eady Kilpatrick鈥檚 alma mater, 四色AV. Tex was appointed to the ULS Board where he served from 1997-2002, has aided 四色AV in many capacities including service as the Vice President of the 四色AV Foundation, and has shown continued support for 四色AV鈥檚 Lyceum Series.
He has served as a member of the West Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, West Monroe鈥檚 Lion鈥檚 Club, and the United Way.
Tex and Carole have been married for fifty-five years. They have three daughters and four grandchildren.
George Luffey served as a member of the Board of Regents for 18 years and also served 四色AV as a member of its faculty, and coach for its football and baseball teams.
In 1971, Luffey established and continues to maintain the George L. 鈥淐hip鈥 Luffey Jr. students scholarship in memory of his son, 鈥淐hip.鈥澛 Luffey also established the George L. 鈥淐hip鈥 Luffey Endowed Professorship in Kinesiology.
Luffey led the 四色AV baseball team to its first championship in 1964 during his tenure as head coach, was president of 四色AV鈥檚 Booster Club, was voted into the 四色AV Hall of Fame, and received the George T. Walker Lifetime Achievement Award.
George has been married to his wife Jane Puckett Luffey for fifty-five years. They have three daughters and three grandchildren.
John McCarter, a Louisiana State University Graduate and decorated World War II veteran, is a renowned geologist who taught at both Louisiana Tech University and 四色AV.
McCarter was the founder and head of 四色AV鈥檚 geology department and holds Emeritus status with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. John compiled and wrote the geology of Lincoln and Ouachita parishes for the Geological Survey, and was the primary author of 鈥淟ouisiana Iron Ore.鈥
McCarter currently serves as an independent geologist and consultant, studying the Northeast Louisiana gas and oil fields. McCarter is celebrated as a pioneer of geological study in Northeast Louisiana and at 四色AV.聽
He is a member of the Northeast Louisiana Archaeological Society, and a lifetime member of the 四色AV Museum of Natural History.