Published Oct. 26, 2019
The University of Louisiana Monroe has lost a beloved past president and Northeast
Louisiana has lost one of its most ardent supporters with the death of Dwight D. Vines,
Ph.D. Vines died Oct. 25, 2019.听
Services are 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29 at First Baptist Church in Calhoun. Interment
will be at the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Rayville, under the direction
of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe. Visitation is 5-9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28 at
the church.听
Dwight D. Vines, Ph.D., President 1976-1991
Vines served as president from 1976-1991. He joined the university, then Northeast
Louisiana State University, in 1958 as an instructor of management and became a full
professor. Vines served as dean of the College of Business from 1964 until he was
named president.
四色AV President Nick J. Bruno, Jr., Ph.D., said Vines was a progressive leader and his
dedication to the university continued after he became a businessman and economic
development officer for the city of Monroe.
鈥淚 am very saddened to learn of Dr. Vines' passing.听He has remained committed to the
university he helped to build,鈥� Bruno said.
听
鈥淥n a personal note, Dr. Vines has been incredibly supportive of my presidency.听He
has always been complimentary of our efforts and provided historical perspectives
when requested that only an individual with his extensive experience with 四色AV could
provide,鈥� Bruno said. 鈥淟inda and I extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Jean and
add our prayers to those of his friends and family in mourning his passing.鈥�听
Jim Henderson, D.M., President of the University of Louisiana System, spoke of Vines
as a leader and a beloved uncle.
鈥淔rom a professional perspective, all of us in higher education can learn from the
example of Dwight Vines. He was peerless in managing the business of a university.
His tireless advocacy of 四色AV and higher education was courageous and inspiring,鈥� Henderson
said. 鈥淧ersonally, Uncle Delbert could always be counted on for wisdom, laughter,
and intellectual conversation. I will be eternally grateful for his loving mentorship.鈥�
Vines was born in Jackson Parish in 1931. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-54.
He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree from Northwestern State University, his M.B.A. from
Louisiana State University, and his Ph.D. in business administration from the University
of Colorado.
As president, Vines accomplished a number of notable building projects. To name a
few, he introduced the Grove, completed construction on Malone Stadium, Oxford Natatorium,
School of Construction building, baseball and softball fields, and the Chemistry and
Natural Sciences building. Vines also established: School of Nursing building, Heard
Tennis Stadium, Activity Center, band building, bank, bookstore, University Police
building and Spyker Theater.
Under his leadership, 40 new degree programs were added, including Agri-Aviation,
Airway Science, Community Health, Marriage and Family Counseling, Mild/Moderate Special
Education, Music Theatre, School Psychology, Specialist in School Psychology, Technical
Communications and Toxicology.
Among the many new departments established were Communicative Disorders, Computer
Science, School of Communication, Educational Leadership and Counseling and Pharmacy
Practice Laboratory. The Institute of Gerontology formed during Vines鈥� presidency
and the campus became home to National Public Radio 鈥� 90.3 KEDM and the Small Business
Incubation Center.
Vines also created the University Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation
that today raises millions of dollars to advance the university.
People who remember Vines as an administrator also remember him as an avid tennis
player. He started the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis teams on campus. During the years
Vines was president, the university won the National 1-AA Football Championship in
1987, 10 national water ski championships and NCAA championships in six track events.
鈥淭he progress made to higher education during Dr. Vines鈥� presidency is truly remarkable,鈥�
said Bruno. 鈥淗e laid the foundation for 四色AV to be the national university it is today.
He is remembered as a man of honor, integrity and extraordinary vision.鈥�
