Bryson Daily and Hayden Reed each rushed for over 100 yards and combined for four scores to lead the No. 22 Army Black Knights to a 27-6 win over Louisiana Tech at the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in Shreveport.
The Black Knights (12-2) set a program record for wins in a season behind a rushing attack that amassed 321 yards on the ground — the most surrendered by Tech this season — as Daily scored on runs on 15, 8 and 3 yards against a Bulldog defense playing without a number of starters.
“I am proud of the way we fought tonight, but we just didn’t do enough especially offensively to give ourselves a chance,” said Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie. “I thought we fought, and I’m disappointed in the outcome of the game.”
After allowing two relatively quick scoring drives to Army on the Black Knight’s first two possessions, the Bulldogs defense settled in. However, after Drew Henderson’s 27-yard field goal with 14:15 to play in the second quarter cut the deficit to 14-3, Army showed why it’s one of the national leaders in time of possession and rushing.
The Black Knights used 21 plays to march 75 yards and took 12:21 off the clock as Daily’s 8-yard TD run made it 21-3 with 1:54 to play before halftime. Tech had multiple opportunities to get off the field on the drive, but Army converted three fourth downs on the drive and capitalized on a dropped interception and an offsides penalty.
“They have one of the best offensive lines in the country,” said Cumbie. “I thought we adapted to the speed of the game after the opening two drives, but they are just so methodical. Against a time like Army, you can’t afford penalties and missed opportunities to get off the field and we had a few of those tonight.”
Offensively, the story of the night like the story of the season for Tech was the Bulldogs inability to score TDs. Tech’s first seven offensive possessions of the game (7 of its 8) saw the Bulldogs move the ball past midfield, including three drives inside the Black Knights 15-yard line.
However, Tech managed just a pair of Henderson field goals (27, 44). Trailing 27-6 early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs had a first and goal from the Army 2-yard line after a 26-yard hookup from Evan Bullock to Tru Edwards.
But the Bulldogs couldn’t push it across the goal line as a third down pass was dropped in the endzone and on fourth down Bullock threw just his third interception of the season.
“I hope we will use this as motivation,” said Cumbie. “Our players got a taste of a bowl game, but they also learned that you have to play and execute at a high level in order to win against really good teams in bowl games. Army is a really good team, and they showed why tonight.”
Army had the ball for almost 40 minutes of the contest as Daily finished with 127 yards rushing on 27 carries and Reed added 114 yards on 20 totes. Daily finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting this season.
Tru Edwards caught eight passes for 92 yards for Tech, finishing just 11 yards shy of 1,000 on the season. Bullock completed 14-of-28 passes for 169 yards and one interception.
Zach Zimos and Jacob Fields led Tech with 10 tackles each while former Ruston High stars Jadon Mayfield and Christian Davis each totaled four stops for a Tech defense playing without three starters along its defensive line and minus leading tackle Kobe Fields.
The Bulldogs are now 3-2-1 all-time at the Independence Bowl.
Suewilla Armour Sutton Bullock, age ninety-five of Ruston, Louisiana, went to be with the Lord on December 27, 2024. She was born on December 10, 1929, in Haynesville, Louisiana. She was saved and born again at an early age at the Haynesville Methodist Church, and later joined the Baptist faith as an adult, was baptized, and was a member of the Felker Free Will Baptist Church near Valliant, Oklahoma, for many years.
The youngest of the three Armour girls, she was preceded in death by her parents Gus W. and Mattie (Garrett) Armour, her sisters Franceil O. Walden and Marjorie Grimmett McDougal, her husband Cecil O. Bullock, and a granddaughter Kimberly Dawn Sutton.
As a young mother she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and she was a Cub Scout Den Mother. She worked Civil Service for several years on two separate occasions and had various other jobs, but she found her life’s work as an entrepreneur. She and Cecil owned and operated a convenience store and rental property business in Valliant, where she resided for over forty years and made many dear friends.
She is survived by her three sons and their families: Richard K. and Bel Sutton, John W. and Kay Sutton, both of Ruston, and Stephen W. and Kay Ray Sutton of Coushatta, as well as step-son Cecil (Cobby) Bullock Jr.; five grandchildren (Chris Sutton, Timothy Sutton, Keith Sutton, Kenneth Sutton, and Scott Sutton), plus Tommy Bullock, Colby Bullock, and Shelby Bullock, and many great-grandchildren (Madison Sutton, Davis Sutton, Elise Sutton, Tyler Sutton, Brittany Gay, Kennedy Freese, Sarah Sutton, Parker Sutton, Kendall Sutton, and Emarie Sutton).
Special thanks to Premier Hospice (especially Jackie Wyatt and Erica Johnston) for their care over the last two plus years, and all the sweet ladies who sat with her during her illness over the past thirteen months, but especially Mrs. Janie Bowden and Mrs. Evelyn West Rushing, who both were with her on her journey home for the last thirteen months and became more than caregivers.
There will be a graveside visitation period starting at 11:00 AM, followed by the graveside service and burial beginning at 11:30 AM at Shady Grove Cemetery just west of Haynesville, Louisiana, on Tuesday, December 31, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston. Shady Grove Cemetery is located on land once owned by her Bond and Garrett grandparents and is situated a mile from the house in which Suewilla was born. Memorials made in her name may be given to the Shady Grove Cemetery, Inc. or the charity of your choice.
Melba Jean Boyd Sumlin, 96, went to be with her Lord on December 27, 2024. Melba was born in Ruston, LA on Oct. 10, 1928, to David Harvey Boyd and Bessie Jones Boyd.
She attended A.E. Phillips, Ruston High School and Louisiana Tech University. Melba retired from Willamette Industries in Ruston, and she was a longstanding member of Temple Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughters Dianna Sumlin Stone (George) of Ruston, Carole Sumlin Sexton (Edison) of Baton Rouge, and son James Robert Sumlin Jr. of Richardson, TX . She was very proud of her grandchildren Ashley Sexton Gordon (Chuck) of Baton Rouge, Melissa Sexton Gomez (Wade) of Baton Rouge, Lauren Stone Torrey (Scott) of Madison, MS, Andrew Sexton (Ashley) of Fulshear, TX, and Suzanna Stone Reneau (James) of Sterlington; and great-grandchildren Charles, Elizabeth, Christian and Sarah Gordon, Davis, Lawson, Wyatt and Walker Torrey, Olivia and Hannah Sexton, Ireland Bailey, Andrew and Everett Gomez, and Adair, Davis and Jack Reneau.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years James Robert Sumlin, her parents and her sister Gloria Boyd McGuire of Corpus Christi, TX.
Melba loved to read, enjoyed Bible studies, worked crossword puzzles and relished being visited by her family. She supported numerous philanthropies for the betterment of others. Special thanks to her caregiver Sonya Dufour who took amazing care of her toward the end of her long life.
A private graveside ceremony will take place on Sunday, Dec. 29 in Simsboro. Officiating will be Rev. Dale Oden.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in her name to one of her favorite organizations, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A Memorial Graveside Service for Johnny Dalton Wright, Sr., age 74, of Dubach, LA will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, December 30, 2024, at Hamilton Cemetery in Dubach, LA. Officiating the service will be Bro. Doug Stewart.
Johnny was retired from the Oil Field. He was an avid fisherman and loved to grill on the grills he made. He was very mechanically minded and loved to work in his shop welding.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, George and Bonnie Madell Hunter Wright; brother, Randy Hall; and grandchild, Kallie Wright.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 53 years, Ida Wright of Dubach, LA; daughter Cassandra Gilbert and husband Daniel of Calion, AR, sons Johnny Wright, Jr, and wife Misty of Dubach, LA, and Adam Wright and wife Whitney of Bernice, LA; 5 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren, as well as numerous family and friends.
Johnny Dalton Wright, Sr. October 31, 1950 – December 27, 2024 Cemetery: Hamilton Cemetery, Monday, December 30, 2024, 2:00 pm
Charvez V Crawford Wednesday 11/14/2001 — Thursday 12/26/2024 Visitation: Friday 01/03/2025 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Family Hour: Friday 01/03/2025 5:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 01/04/2025 3:00pm at King’s Funeral Home
Bobbie Jo Mohn February 16, 1976 – December 24, 2024 Private service
Bryson Daily and Hayden Reed each rushed for over 100 yards and combined for four scores to lead the No. 22 Army Black Knights to a 27-6 win over Louisiana Tech at the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in Shreveport.
The Black Knights (12-2) set a program record for wins in a season behind a rushing attack that amassed 321 yards on the ground — the most surrendered by Tech this season — as Daily scored on runs on 15, 8 and 3 yards against a Bulldog defense playing without a number of starters.
“I am proud of the way we fought tonight, but we just didn’t do enough especially offensively to give ourselves a chance,” said Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie. “I thought we fought, and I’m disappointed in the outcome of the game.”
After allowing two relatively quick scoring drives to Army on the Black Knight’s first two possessions, the Bulldogs defense settled in. However, after Drew Henderson’s 27-yard field goal with 14:15 to play in the second quarter cut the deficit to 14-3, Army showed why it’s one of the national leaders in time of possession and rushing.
The Black Knights used 21 plays to march 75 yards and took 12:21 off the clock as Daily’s 8-yard TD run made it 21-3 with 1:54 to play before halftime. Tech had multiple opportunities to get off the field on the drive, but Army converted three fourth downs on the drive and capitalized on a dropped interception and an offsides penalty.
“They have one of the best offensive lines in the country,” said Cumbie. “I thought we adapted to the speed of the game after the opening two drives, but they are just so methodical. Against a time like Army, you can’t afford penalties and missed opportunities to get off the field and we had a few of those tonight.”
Offensively, the story of the night like the story of the season for Tech was the Bulldogs inability to score TDs. Tech’s first seven offensive possessions of the game (7 of its 8) saw the Bulldogs move the ball past midfield, including three drives inside the Black Knights 15-yard line.
However, Tech managed just a pair of Henderson field goals (27, 44). Trailing 27-6 early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs had a first and goal from the Army 2-yard line after a 26-yard hookup from Evan Bullock to Tru Edwards.
But the Bulldogs couldn’t push it across the goal line as a third down pass was dropped in the endzone and on fourth down Bullock threw just his third interception of the season.
“I hope we will use this as motivation,” said Cumbie. “Our players got a taste of a bowl game, but they also learned that you have to play and execute at a high level in order to win against really good teams in bowl games. Army is a really good team, and they showed why tonight.”
Army had the ball for almost 40 minutes of the contest as Daily finished with 127 yards rushing on 27 carries and Reed added 114 yards on 20 totes. Daily finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting this season.
Tru Edwards caught eight passes for 92 yards for Tech, finishing just 11 yards shy of 1,000 on the season. Bullock completed 14-of-28 passes for 169 yards and one interception.
Zach Zimos and Jacob Fields led Tech with 10 tackles each while former Ruston High stars Jadon Mayfield and Christian Davis each totaled four stops for a Tech defense playing without three starters along its defensive line and minus leading tackle Kobe Fields.
The Bulldogs are now 3-2-1 all-time at the Independence Bowl.
Sonny Cumbie (middle), Evan Bullock (left) and Zach Zimos (right) talked about the Bulldogs bowl match-up against the Black Knights during Friday’s press conference.
by Malcolm Butler
These Bulldogs are truly an underdog.
Louisiana Tech (5-7) will head into Saturday night’s match-up against the No. 22-ranked Army Black Knights (11-2) as a two touchdown underdog as kickoff for the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is set for 8:15 p.m. at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.
Heck, just two weeks ago, the Bulldog players had cleaned out their lockers and were preparing for off-season workouts … that is until the 11th hour announcement on December 14th that Tech would replace Marshall in the postseason game.
It’s Tech first bowl appearance since the 2020 New Orleans Bowl.
Despite taking the road-less-traveled into the game, Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie said his team is excited and is embracing the opportunity for a 13th game.
“It is unconventional a little bit on how it worked out for us and for our football team,” said Cumbie. “However, in terms of the bowl system, bowl games, and the impact they have on student athletes, I wish you could have heard the excitement and joy, in particular the 16 seniors that chose to come back and play in this game when given the opportunity to come back and play together. They were ecstatic and very excited, and we are grateful to be here.”
The appearance will be Tech’s sixth in Independence Bowl history, and its first since defeating Miami 14-0 in 2019.
Tech (5-7) had a roller coaster season that saw the Bulldogs fall short in heartbreaking fashion far too many times. However, each and every week, the Dogs came back and played with the same level of intensity and effort despite what was on the line or who the opponent was or what the outcome was the previous week.
It’s that mentality and closeness in the Bulldogs locker room that senior linebacker Zach Zimos pointed to during Friday’s press conference.
“I’ve never been on a more close-knit team,” said Zimos. “So, it has been a fantastic opportunity, I’m super grateful. But the main thing is to win. We’re not here to play an extra game and get the extra practices. The plan is to win and obviously play really well.”
Winning will not be easy for Tech. The Bulldogs face an Army team that has lost just two games all year and that won the American Athletic Conference. It’s been a historic season for Army who hopes to put an exclamation mark on it with a bowl victory.
“(Jeff) Monken has done a great job everywhere he has been,” said Cumbie.” In terms of coaching football, when you watch teams play, that’s all you need to do is watch teams play. You don’t need to listen to commentators, you don’t need to listen anything that goes on in terms of tv, just watch teams play and see how hard, violent, and cohesive Coach Monken’s team plays. You see that for the 12-13 games that we have studied this year.”
Although Monken knows that Tech will be minus a number of key components from its regular season two-deep due to injury or the transfer portal, the Black Knights coach isn’t taking the Bulldogs for granted despite being a 14-point favorite.
“It was mentioned, three overtime games and five games by one score or less, they’ve got a tremendous football team and it’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us,” said Monken. “So, very athletic football team, very big football team, very fast football team we’re going to face, so we’ve been preparing as well as we can over the last couple of weeks with limited practices.”
As a team, Army averages almost 300 yards per game on the ground (298.9), but will have to try to run against one of the top run defenses in the country. Louisiana Tech allowed just two opponents this season (Jacksonville State – 191, Arkansas – 233) to eclipse the 175-yard mark rushing as the Bulldogs give up just 120 yards per game.
“They (Tech) are very unique,” said Monken. “They are salty. Physical, play hard, tough, well coached and a unique scheme. As much as everyone talks about us having a unique offensive scheme, they’re very unique defensively and poses a unique challenge for us.
“A lot of times you go into football games as an offense having no idea what we’re going to see from the opposing defense because we are different and unique and align differently and have different schemes. We often see a defense the opposing team hasn’t played all year. So, we don’t know. I tried to ask coach Cumbie what they were going to line up in but he wouldn’t say.”
The contest can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with Malcolm Butler, Teddy Allen and Jerry Byrd providing the call of the game. The pregame show will begin at 6:45 p.m.
It will be Louisiana Tech’s 12th bowl game since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) ranks in 1988, including its fourth appearance in Shreveport during that time. Tech also played in the Independence Bowl in 1977 and 1978. Tech is 3-1-1 all-time at the Independence Bowl.
Tech FBS Bowl History
1990 Independence Bowl – T, 34-34 vs. Maryland
2001 Humanitarian Bowl – L, 49-24 vs. Clemson
2008 Independence Bowl – W, 17-10 vs. Northern Illinois
2011 Poinsettia Bowl – L, 31-24 vs. TCU
2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl – W, 35-18 vs. Illinois
2015 New Orleans Bowl – W, 47-28 vs. Arkansas State
2016 Armed Forces Bowl – W, 48-45 vs. Navy
2017 Frisco Bowl – W, 51-10 vs. SMU
2018 Hawaii Bowl – W, 31-14 vs. Hawaii
2019 Independence Bowl – W, 14-0 vs. Miami (Fla).
2020 New Orleans Bowl – L, 38-3 vs. Georgia Southern
A man struck by a vehicle and killed in Ruston last Monday night has been identified.
Rodney Whiteside, 37, of Bossier City was identified as the pedestrian, according to Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers. Whiteside is the third pedestrian fatality in the city in just over two months.
Whiteside was struck and killed in the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 between exits 84 and 85 on the evening of December 23.
Rogers said Whiteside stepped out in front of a vehicle, although its not completely known if it was intentional.
Two other pedestrians have been struck and killed and another injured in Ruston since October.
Omari Lee Johnson and Jailin M. Jones were arrested for obstruction of justice for allegedly concealing evidence in the Thursday shooting of Charvaz Crawford. 17-year-old Yanni Potts, 17 (photo not available) has been charged with second degree murder.
A Ruston man was shot and killed Thursday afternoon at a local apartment complex.
Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers said officers were dispatched to a “shots fired” call at the Cinnamon Square Apartments off South Farmerville Street about 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
Officers learned a gunshot victim had been taken to the nearby Northern Louisiana Medical Center. Rogers said the 23-year-old victim, Charvaz Crawford, died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Investigators worked on the case through Thursday night into Friday morning, including executing a search warrant which located Yanni Potts, 17, who has been charged with second degree murder.
Two Ruston men, Jailin M. Jones and Omari Lee Johnson, both 18, were arrested for obstruction of justice for allegedly concealing evidence in the case, Rogers said. They were booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and bail was set at $10,000 each.
Potts was arrested in the same apartment complex in July when Ruston Police spotted him on Martin Luther King Drive after a report of a man brandishing a handgun. Potts was chased by officers into the Cinnamon Square Apartments where he was arrested. A Glock 43 9mm pistol was recovered in that case.
Three of the four individuals named in the incident have gun or drug charges pending in Third District Court.
Ruston High School placed four Bearcats of the Louisiana Sports Writers’ Association Class 5A All-State team, which was released Friday morning.
Senior Sam Nations earned the honors on the offensive line, while sophomore Ahmad Hudson was named all-state as a tight end.
On the defensive side, senior Zheric Hill was named all-state at the linebacker position, while senior Aidan Anding earned the honor as a defensive back.
Three Bearcats were named to the honorable mention list: senior Jack Elliott as a kicker, senior Payton Bell on the defensive line, and senior running back Jordan Hayes.
See the full team listed below.
LSWA CLASS 5A ALL-STATE CHART
OFFENSE
WR Kenny Darby, Airline, 6-1, 175, Jr.
WR TaRon Francis, Edna Karr, 6-1, 205, Sr.
TE Ahmad Hudson, Ruston, 6-7, 230, So.
OL Ervin Smith, Catholic-BR, 6-2, 285, Sr.
OL Lionel Prudhomme, Captain Shreve, 6-3, 295, Sr.
OL O’Ryan Mosely, Terrebonne, 6-3, 295, Jr.
OL Sam Nations, Ruston, 6-2, 287, Sr.
OL Leon Noil, Edna Karr, 6-4, 275, Jr.
QB Ben Taylor, Airline, 6-1, 185, Sr.
RB J.T. Lindsey, Alexandria, 5-11, 185, Sr.
RB Nate Sheppard, Mandeville, 5-10, 190, Sr.
RB Jamarcea Plater, Captain Shreve, 5-9, 180, Jr.
PK Asher Murray, C.E. Byrd, 5-11, 160, Jr.
ATH Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian, 5-11, 185, So.
DEFENSE
Pos player school ht. wt cl.
DL Corey Adams, Edna Karr, 6-4, 250, Sr.
DL Richard Anderson, Edna Karr, 6-4, 320, Jr.
DL DK Mays, Central6-5, 255, Sr.
DL Dylan Berymon, Ouachita, 6-3, 305, Jr.
LB KD Mays, Central, 6-0, 195, Sr.
LB Zheric Hill, Ruston, 6-0, 220, Sr.
LB Xzavier White, Alexandria, 6-1, 220, Jr.
LB Damari Drake, Evangel, 6-0, 215, Sr.
DB Jayden Reed, Neville, 5-11, 175, Jr.
DB Aidan Anding, Ruston, 6-0, 170, Jr.
DB Jacob Bradford, Catholic-Baton Rouge, 5-11, 190, Sr.
A man was struck by a vehicle and killed in Ruston Monday night, the third pedestrian fatality in the city in just over two months.
Ruston Police Deputy Chief Chad Hamblin confirmed a man was struck on westbound Interstate 20 and killed on December 23.
Identity of the man was not available at publication time and Hamblin said the investigation is continuing.
Two other pedestrians have been struck and killed in Ruston since October.
Luis Alberto Esparza Rios, 41, of New Orleans, was struck by several vehicles as he tried to cross Cooktown Road about 9:20 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16.
Three days later, Jack Mitcham, 21, of Ruston and Sterlington, was struck by a vehicle on the South Service Road about 2:15 a.m. on October 19. Mitcham later passed away in a medical facility. Abby Sterling, 20, of Shreveport was arrested for first degree vehicular negligent injuring but that charge was later upgraded to vehicular homicide. A second man was also struck and received moderate injuries.
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One of the largest and best known salsa companies in the world has its roots in north Louisiana.
The progeny of Claiborne Parish stock, born and raised in Lincoln Parish, and taught to be an entrepreneur in Ouachita, David Earl Pace found success with his Pace Picante Sauce, “the original picante.”
His parents, Amos Gideon “Gid” Pace and Effie Fomby Pace were the second generation of their respective families to live near Athens in Claiborne Parish. Gid engaged in a host of endeavors, from farming and timber to land speculation.
Tragedy befell many of the Pace children. The firstborn, Selwynne, lived only 24 days. His sister Camille, died at age eight. Their brother Amos Paul Pace lies entombed within the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, a victim of the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. His widow, Connie Manning Pace, enlisted in the Navy and served as an aviation machinist’s mate.
The elder brother, James Ward Pace, died on a hunting trip in 1953. He drowned while trying to use a self-operated ferry and his jeep fell into a north Louisiana bayou.
Only David Earl (79) and Imogene (81) lived into their senior years.
Gid always seemed to look for something better for his family. After Selwynne and Camille died, the Pace family moved to Simsboro in Lincoln Parish sometime between 1910 and 1914 to try their fortunes. David, the future top dog of Pace Foods, and Amos were born there.
Sometime after 1920, the family moved on to Ouachita Parish. Gid first operated a produce and egg business in West Monroe. Gid moved into making syrup. Not just syrup but at least 13 varieties of syrup from Sunny Gold Corn & Cane Syrup that sold for 40 cents to Pace’s Grade “A,” the company’s most expensive at $1 each.
The company peddled its products across north Louisiana and delivered it to stores in Mississippi and southern Arkansas. Gid experienced a problem every entrepreneur envies—the company constantly outgrew its facilities. He moved his manufacturing plant several times to progressively larger buildings to meet demand.
David Earl learned the process of experimenting with recipes and developing new products. With the help of David and James, Gid opened his final location for the Pace Syrup Company about six miles west of West Monroe just off U.S. 80.
After working for the family syrup business, playing football at Tulane, and serving as a pilot in World War II, David settled down in San Antonio, Texas, the home of his wife Margaret. There he continued to improve an old family recipe for the perfect salsa.
Pace began his own food business of bottled syrups as well as jellies and jams. The products were made, packed, and shipped out of a small back room of a liquor store David and Margaret rented. Over time, he expanded the business to a variety of other condiments. In 1947 he decided the real “syrup of the Southwest” was a Mexican salsa or sauce.
Starting with a basic recipe, he experimented with different blends of ingredients. He tested the results on golf buddies before settling on one mix of jalapeños, onions and tomatoes. He named his creation “picante sauce,” after the Spanish for “piquant,” meaning “flavorful” or “spicy.”
It was truly the original picante sauce since no picante sauce existed before David Pace coined the term.
While continuing to sell some 58 assorted condiments, he continued modifying his picante sauce formula for the better part of a decade. As demand grew, Pace dropped the rest of the company’s lines and focused on the Picante sauce. Using a $150,000 loan from Margaret’s mother, the couple expanded and built their production facility in 1951.
Pace’s entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond salsa. He patented an executive chair in 1967 that could be opened flat for naps and created the Pace Chair Company.
A man who worked that hard needed an afternoon nap. He had come a long way since his 1914 birth in Simsboro.
Pace Foods remained a family-owned company until it was sold in 1994, a year after David’s death, to the Campbell Soup Company for $1 billion.
You read that right. One billion dollars.
Campbell changed little of the operation, retaining Pace’s 471 employees. The sauce is still made in Texas, now by 900 Campbell employees.
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David Earl PaceThe image of a jar of Pace Picante Sauce appears on David Earl Pace’s gravestone.
And yes, I believe that was the greatest decade for a teenager to grow up in (although many of my like-aged friends agree the 1950s were probably a close second from what we can gather).
Proud Ruston High graduate of 1989. So, I truly did grow up in the ’80s.
And maybe everybody believes this about their decade and their high school, but what a wonderful time it was across the board.
The past few weeks I had a couple of opportunities to catch up with some old high school classmates in Kirk Hollis and Rajiv Kandyil, both members of the Class of 1989. And I also had a chance to run by Ruston High a couple of times for business-related reasons.
I can tell you the RHS campus is in beautiful shape and the original building that houses the vast majority of the classrooms is absolutely nostalgic. In fact it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The combination of being on campus and visiting with some old friends brought back memories. And as with many things in life, the older you get, the more you appreciate those memories and the people that helped create them.
Ruston High in the 1980s was arguably the best ever when it comes to Bearcat Athletics. Three state championships in football (1982, 1986, and 1988 … with a fourth on the horizon in 1990) under the legendary Jimmy “Chick” Childress. During my four years walking the RHS campus the Bearcats lost a grand total of four football games.
I can still hear B-E-A-T N-E-V-I-L-L-E echoing through the halls of the firmly founded.
A state title in boys basketball (1988) under one of the best to ever do it in North Louisiana in Jack Thigpen. Anyone who was around the gym that year will never forget the one-two punch of Anthony “Bear” Dade and Al Thurman, who I still believe was a better player than his little brother Scotty (and all Scotty did was lead Arkansas to a national title).
And although my memory is a bit sketchy, I’m pretty sure we garnered a state title in boys golf and cross country and maybe even tennis during those four years. And had plenty of success in other sports on both the boys and girls sides.
The RHS administration, faculty and staff during the late ’80s was a Who’s Who of wonderful people. From administrators like Gerald Cobb, Dickie Hinton and Ronnie Suggs to teachers like Loyce Miller, Gary Green, Hilda Perritt, Jane Tatum, and Jackie Whitlock, to coaches like the aforementioned Chick Childress, Jack Thigpen, George Stone, Doc Belding, David Crowe, Howard Whitlock and so many more.
It was truly an all-star cast of fine folks.
Those people and their colleagues made being a Bearcat even more special (although at the time, I’m not sure I completely appreciated their impact on my life).
And then add in the movies and the music from the 1980s. I am bullish on the fact the music from the big hair bands of the 1980s was some of the greatest ever.
Bon Jovi. Def Leopard. Chicago. Journey. Madonna. Michael Jackson. Bryan Adams. Prince. U2. Bruce Springsteen. Van Halen. Cindy Lauper. Tina Turner. Billy Joel. The Police. Phil Collins. Boston. Survivor. Asia. Guns-n-Roses.
We were never at a loss for great songs that shaped our high school days. I’m still an ’80s music guy as the songs pepper my playlist and bring back so many great memories. I can still remember going to see Bryan Adams and Survivor perform at the Thomas Assembly Center in the mid-80s.
How about a good flick from the 1980s?
Breakfast Club. Rocky IV. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Die Hard. Revenge of the Nerds. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The Terminator. Dead Poet Society. Risky Business. Back to the Future. Beverly Hills Cop.
One summer during high school I am pretty sure I watched Beverly Hills Cop every single day. I could recite all the words to the movie by the time the summer was over … and still can in parts of it. Eddie Murphy is one of my all-time favorites.
Yes. The 1980s (especially the second half of the decade) was arguably one of the best times to be a teenager growing up. And all of the things above made times at Ruston High so memorable.
But the overwhelming aspect of high school that was so great were the friends I made.
I came from AE Phillips. Class of 30 people. I remember walking to RHS with my buddy Andrew Murad on the very first day of class my freshman year. At the time it was a record-sized freshman class of just over 400 wide-eyed rookies that stuffed into the auditorium.
It was a bit intimidating. But as I made more and more friends and developed a close knit group that would become my running party so-to-speak during my four years of high school that feeling of intimidation quickly turned into one of happiness and contentment.
Although I will never be 16-years-old again, I still have the ability all these decades later to go back in time (in my mind) to Ruston High in the late-80s and remember all the fun moments and the great people that made those times so special.
I was lucky to be a part of the firmly founded during those times.
(Brian Estes, center, with daughter Caroline and paramedic Adrian Brouillette)
Brian Estes has always had a heart for the Ruston Bearcats.
A lifelong Ruston resident and graduate from the class of ’88, Brian has seen many state championships for the Firmly Founded over the years, preferring to attend as many Bearcat football games as he possibly can ever since he was a child.
One state championship eluded him however: the most recent one in 2023, despite him being in the stands with 20 minutes to go before kickoff.
You see, it was that same heart for the Bearcats that would commit the act of ultimate betrayal: it would stop for 20 minutes in the Super Dome, sending his friends’ and family’s world upside-down for a terrifying four days where the outcome would be anything but certain.
A true miracle man, Brian is thankfully still with us. But the family shared the tumultuous time from the stadium, to the ambulance, to the emergency surgery, to the road to recovery.
Their terrifying weekend began on a Friday morning with Brian and two of his children, Taylor (RHS, ’13) and Caroline (RHS, ’23) heading down to New Orleans for the 2023 Non-Select, Division I state title game, where Ruston High would be making a repeat trip after falling short in 2022 on a quest to win the first title in over three decades.
Brian and daughter, Caroline, on the night before the championship gamein New Orleans
After arriving in New Orleans, the family checked themselves into the hotel at the Harrah’s Casino and did some normal exploring downtown.
“We changed clothes, went down to the French Quarter, and ate pretty good,” Brian said. “We ran into some other Bearcat fans and talked to them– we ended up doing that for a couple of hours. Nothing eventful. Then we woke up the next morning and went for beignets.”
Saturday morning, they realized they had walked a pretty good bit (and sometimes in the wrong direction). It was then Brian started feeling like something was wrong but figured he was just a little tired.
“It got to where I thought that I really needed to go back to the hotel and lay down a minute,” Brian said. “And then I started feeling better, so we decided to go to Champion’s Square where everybody was setting up.”
It was on that walk that Brian began experiencing chest pains again, sometime around 3 p.m.
“He didn’t want to use the words ‘chest tightness’ because it would scare everybody,” Taylor said. “We all kept thinking it was heartburn or indigestion.”
After they visited with others and snacked on some jambalaya, the Estes crew headed toward the Super Dome. Slowly but surely, Brian began feeling worse.
“It felt like somebody was just lightly hitting me in the chest,” Estes said, blaming a bowl of jambalaya that he had eaten earlier. “At this point, I see the front door of the Super Dome and I’m planning to go in and get a water. But after that, I started feeling a little worse and worse.”
The group was finally making their way to their seats, as the plan for Brian all along was to meet up with Shane and Callie Grubb, two close friends who had planned to watch the game next to the Estes in the ‘Dome.
Still not getting any relief, Brian and Caroline both made their way to a first aid station, hoping that an antacid would be the cure-all.
“I told her to just come with me and don’t say the words ‘chest pains,'” Brian said. “So we walked up the steps and I asked somebody where first aid was. Thankfully it was close by, so we walked in. They made me sit down immediately and ran a test.”
Brian was tested with a portable EKG, which the EMTs decided to run two times.
“The first time, the results looked funny,” Caroline said. “And the guy was a little concerned because it didn’t look like it’s normally supposed to. But most EMTs would have run with it and would have called it a day. But he had a weird feeling and called his supervisor.”
That supervisor would be Adrian Brouillette, a paramedic for Acadian Ambulance Service.
“Just upon looking at him, he didn’t seem right,” Brouillette said of Brian. “His color was off a little bit– he was clammy and sweaty. And then he told me something that really piqued my interest: we had the air conditioner on in the room and it was chilly, but he said that he was very, very hot and started fanning himself. That’s very unusual. We started digging a little deeper and we put him on a cardiac monitor.”
By this time, the tests were starting to be conclusive: Brian was in the early stages of a heart attack. Caroline herself admitted that reality of this was not setting in.
“I was just kind of having a good time,” Caroline said. “I was just sitting there, music was playing, and I was like, this is so fun, you know? Dad’s going to be fine, and then we’re coming back (to the game).”
After they talked it over with the first EMT, Brouillette then calmly told the family that they need to go to the hospital. Dumbfounded, Brian tried pleading his case to not be put on the gurney and that he would walk over to the ambulance.
“I was not going to have people seeing me on a gurney,” Estes said and followed with a laugh. “So I grabbed my wires, and Adrian walks behind me and has his hand on my back. And there was the ambulance.”
At this point, the family met emergency medical technician Justin Calderon, who admitted to being irate that a man in the early stages of a heart attack is up and walking around.
“I got pretty heated because he wasn’t on a stretcher or in some type of wheel chair,” Calderon said. “At this point, you’re exhausting the heart even further. We put him in the truck, and I hop in the back to start doing my own assessment. Maybe a minute goes by, and he starts saying that he feels really, really dizzy. And then he just passed out in front of me.”
Up in the front of the ambulance, Caroline was sitting in the passenger seat, waiting to be transported with her father to Tulane Medical, right next to the Superdome.
All of a sudden, she felt the ambulance begin to shake.
“I didn’t think anything of it, at first,” Caroline said. “But then, Adrian opens the door and puts his hand on my leg.”
Brouillette then delivered Caroline the terrifying news: Brian was in the beginning stages of a heart attack and now unresponsive. The ambulance shaking was the beginning of a 20-minute effort to revive him and get him back.
“I just looked at him blankly, and then it all finally hit me,” Caroline said. “I completely broke down.”
Brian and EMT Justin Calderon
Grubb had his suspicions a few weeks earlier that something just wasn’t quite right.
One of Brian Estes’ best friends, Grubb and Callie have made fall Fridays ritual with the Estes family to watch the Ruston High Bearcats play on the gridiron.
And it was at a pregame tailgate at West Monroe, five weeks prior to Brian’s heart attack in the Superdome, that Grubb’s curiosity piqued.
“He was complaining of heartburn that night,” Grubb said. “And now, putting it together, we know it was likely his heart (showing early signs).”
It was at the end of the first quarter in the state championship game that the Grubbs started realizing, again, something just wasn’t quite right.
After seeing Brian and his kids prior to the game, the plan was simple: Shane and Callie would go to the seats and Brian would join them soon after.
Throughout the first quarter, Brian’s seats were empty. And not one to miss a Bearcat game, especially one of this magnitude, Brian’s absence gave Grubb enough pause. Those suspicions were confirmed when Brian’s oldest son, Taylor, ran by their seats on the phone.
“He said that he’d call me in two seconds,” Grubb said. “I didn’t know what was going on at the time, so I got up and found him. He told me what was going on.”
At this point, Brian had undergone20 minutes of chest compressions and six shocks from a defibrillator in the back of the ambulance by Calderon and another EMT, Jasmine Smith.
“He was having the big one,” Calderon said later. “It’s known as the ‘Widowmaker’ — the one most people do not survive.”
Brian and his daughter Caroline were transported to Tulane Medical near the Superdome, and his son Taylor was trying to find his way out of the stadium to follow his dad and sister, after he notified Brian’s wife Jennifer and his brother Will of the situation. Taylor described feeling like a caged animal trying to break free.
“I just need someone to get me out and point me in the right direction,” Taylor said. “I take off running, trying to push everybody out of the way and run as fast as possible. And I look behind me, and Shane is with me.”
They finally got to the waiting room and met with Caroline and her boyfriend Ashton. Callie would join her husband Shane, soon after with the rest of the group.
Caroline recalled seeing Calderon for the first time in the waiting room, who came in to update the family and friends on Brian’s situation.
“Out of nowhere comes a big, huge guy with tattoos and piercings, and he just sits down in front of me,” Caroline said. “I have mascara down my face and I’m in tears, and I look up and there is this calm person who is radiating good energy. He said, ‘Your dad is one strong man.'”
Calderon proceeded to walk through everything the medical staff did to keep Brian alive and get him to Tulane Medical to begin work on an artery that had a 100 percent blockage.
Not out of the woods yet, Brian’s family and friends were in the waiting room listening to an audio stream of the Ruston High championship game. Over the loud speakers, they heard a call for a Code Blue, and Taylor and Caroline immediately and correctly sensed what it meant: Brian had coded yet again for the second time in two hours, this time from a failed stint.
“The worst part during that time was the waiting game,” Caroline said. “There was just no news and we were sitting for hours after hearing that. Finally, a nurse stopped in and let us know that (Brian) was okay.”
Around midnight, Brian was moved to the ICU and was fully sedated. The group could now go visit him in a room.
“I had a lot more peace now that I could see him,” Caroline said.
Jokingly, Taylor leaned over to Shane and asked how he thought Brian will feel in the morning knowing that they all saw him like this. Near this point, Jennifer and Will have arrived, and the family was getting ready to rest for the night.
Over the course of Sunday, Brian gradually began to wake up and regain consciousness. Too weak to fully communicate, Brian was given a pen and wrote “RHS?” on a piece of paper, wanting to know if Ruston won the state championship. Taylor responded, “Yeah, Dad. They won.”
“I gave a thumbs up,” Brian said, “and I laid back down for 20 minutes and fell asleep. And my thumb stayed up.”
Taylor gives his dad a signed football from the Ruston High Football Team
Throughout the rest of the his stay in New Orleans (he was discharged the Thursday after the game after multiple successful stint procedures), Brian would meet with two of his heroes from the episode: Calderon and Adrian Brouillette, who both worked diligently to save his life and still check on him to this day.
For Calderon’s work on Brian, he earned a meritorious service award, though what he will remember the most is the hug Brian gave him, knowing that for every story like Brian’s, there are so many more who do not survive, let alone have a full physical and mental recovery.
“I go in and see him, and he has the biggest smile on his face,” Calderon said. “It made me cry; I haven’t felt that kind of hug. Thinking of it right now gives me tears. We have so many people go into cardiac arrest; when you have to work on someone for over 15 minutes and shock them six times, they normally don’t make it.
“When I saw him, I was like you are the luckiest, unluckiest (person) I’ve ever met. You were in cardiac arrest at the right time.”
In the aftermath, and nearly 30 pounds lighter, Brian can’t help but reflect on the sequence of events that led to him to still being here today. He received the best quality care one could ask for with the type of heart attack he experienced: Tulane Medical. Had Ruston not made the championship game, he would not have been in New Orleans. Had he returned to his seat instead of seeking help, Brouillette and Calderon would likely have not had the few precious seconds they needed to bring him back. Brian admits it’s evidence from the Lord above watching over him.
“The Lord was with us all the way, from where the first aid was located in the Superdome to the time we got to the hospital,” Estes said.
Brouillette will forever remember Brian’s story, as well. In fact, he now teaches what is know as the Brian Estes Scenario for reminding first responders to not just go with the first scan if they have any hesitation. And he wants to use Brian’s example as a means of precaution for other people to not ignore potential symptoms.
“The signs to look for are any chest pain associated with nausea or vomits and a general feeling that something is not right,” Brouillette said. “Don’t just push it aside if it’s concerning enough that it makes you think about it. Get it checked out.
“I’ve been doing this for 17 years — he’s only the third person (I’ve worked on) that has had these types of results in recovery. He’s indeed a miracle.”
Sophomore Ruston High student Melissa Le brought home the crown Sunday afternoon as she was named Miss Louisiana’s Teen, winning $8,000 worth of tuition scholarships in her two years of competing.
Le, who also held the title of Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival’s Teen, will compete nationally later this year for the title of Miss America’s Teen.
She said she was in complete shock when she was named Miss Louisiana’s Teen.
“This has been my dream for the past two years, and I have worked so hard in order to achieve such an honor,” Le said. “I was so grateful to God, my family, the judges, and my friends at that moment, as well as extremely proud of the work I had put in.”
Le said she cannot wait to serve the state in this role.
“I want to utilize the platform I have been given to spread my community service initiative, STEM to Bloom: Investing in STEM Education for All and promote the Miss Louisiana Opportunity’s goals of empowering young women and providing scholarships,” she said.
Le said she has is grateful for being able to compete and work with the Miss Louisiana organization.
“(This) is an absolutely amazing experience,” she said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed growing my self-confidence, communication and leadership skills.”
She added that the friendships she has made through the Miss Louisiana organization are priceless to her.
“The girls I have had the privilege of competing alongside made this experience so sweet because we bonded and uplifted each other,” Le said. “Every single step, from competing at my local preliminary competition to appearances to competing at Miss Louisiana’s Teen has been magical.”
At school Le is a part of the swimming team, National Honors Society, Student Council, speech and debate team and FBLA. Le is also a Junior Co-Chair on the National Girls Collaborative Project’s STEM Youth Advisory Board. She is interested in increasing STEM-related extracurricular activities as part of her platform.
“With the title of Miss Louisiana’s Teen, I will have more opportunities to travel the state of Louisiana and promote my community service initiative in order to cultivate the future generation’s interest in STEM education,” she said. “I will utilize social media and appearances to maximize my outreach and influence as many people as possible.”
In addition to the crown, Le also won preliminary competitions of talent and fitness. She, along with two other Ruston residents Catherine Williams and Averie Moon, represented Lincoln Parish in the state pageant.
“I hope to make as many appearances as possible to promote my community service initiative, STEM to Bloom, and Miss Louisiana Opportunity, perform my talents and serve the state of Louisiana,” Le said. “This year is going to be an incredible journey, and I am so ecstatic to begin.”
Lane Burroughs has poked fun at himself a number of times over the past few weeks when he has gotten emotional talking about his Louisiana Tech baseball team.
He did it again Saturday during the post-game press conference after his Bulldogs saw a historic season come to a close in the Fayetteville Regional.
“You ready to see a grown man cry,” Burroughs asked the media prior to his opening statement.
He wasn’t kidding.
Burroughs has shed a tear or two-hundred the past few weeks, and each time he has mentioned his late father, Lavelle “Rube” Burroughs.
“As my dad got older, he used to always get emotional,” said Burroughs. “I used to be like, ‘You need to get a hold of yourself.’ But I know why now.”
So do we, Lane.
The tears were real. They weren’t orchestrated. They were genuine, and they showed Burroughs’ deep care and compassion for the young men he coaches on a daily basis.
“These guys mean a lot to me,” said Burroughs, choking back the tears. “I love them. They are like my own kids. I am extremely proud of them.”
In a day and age where college athletics is becoming more and more transactional and losing its interpersonal side due to things such as Name, Image, Likeness (NIL), collectives and the transfer portal, it’s this type of coach-player relationship that has allowed Louisiana Tech baseball to stiff-arm any type of major losses to the portal.
Men like Lane Burroughs and Mitch Gaspard and Cooper Fouts and Matt Miller have done such a stellar job of creating a program where guys want to stay for the entirety of their careers. Not an easy task in the current climate.
“I think culture is such a buzz word, and everybody uses it,” said Burroughs. “I am a huge team chemistry guy. I want our guys to like each other. I want them to love each other. I know a lot of coaches don’t put much stock in that.
“I always said when I am a head coach, I want our players and I want our coaches to pull up to the facility and want to go in there. I have been at programs as an assistant where you pull up and your don’t really want to go in. It’s not fun.
“Our guys are at the facility all the time. We run a player driven program. We tell every recruit that they have a voice. It’s not one of these my-way-or-the-highway type deals. Our guys have a voice. My door is open. Those guys come in there all the time. I let them have a voice.”
Some of those voices spoke about what their skipper meant to them during Saturday’s post-game.
“(Coach Burroughs) believed in me, and I can’t thank him enough for that,” said senior Adarius Myers. “I got a big place in my heart for Louisiana Tech and Coach Burroughs.”
“Coach has a special place in my heart,” said senior Ethan Bates. “He recruited me two years ago, and I am forever grateful for that. I would run through a wall for that guy right there. “
As the video of Burroughs’ emotional opening statement circulated throughout the social media world Saturday evening, even former Bulldog players talked about their feelings for LB23.
“This man and the coaches around him helped me be who I am, and I thank God for it every day,” said Cade Gibson.
“I can’t thank God enough for leading me to Louisiana Tech go give me the opportunity to play for this man right here,” said Parker Bates. “He’s a true selfless leader who cares about the well being of his players and strives to make them better men”
Even parents of current and former Bulldog players made their thoughts known.
“(Lane Burroughs) is one of the good ones,” said Lacy Knight, mother of former Bulldog Tanner Knight. “I will be forever thankful (Tanner) got the opportunity to play under him.”
“This man right here … my family and I are forever grateful for him,” said Stacy Young, mother of Taylor Young. “Taylor had the most incredible college career and it was all because of (Lane Burroughs). Baseball needs more leaders like L.B.”
“This is just a glimpse into why our boys would run through a brick wall for this man,” said Teri Netterville, mother of former Bulldog Steele and current Bulldog Slade. “He not only builds and develops them in this game that can sometimes bring you to your knees, but he builds and strengthens their character by his own example. We absolutely love and revere him.”
Strong endorsements from both the player and parent perspective.
Burroughs has now led the Bulldogs to three regional appearances in the past four years, and he has done it while graduating some of the most decorated players in program history.
He was the first to admit on Saturday that next year’s team “will have a different look” with the loss of guys like Bates, Myers, Cole McConnell, Jorge Corona, Reed Smith, Sam Brodersen and others. However, Louisiana Tech baseball has the right leader in place to groom the next crop of Bulldog greats.
“I want everyone out there to know how proud I am of this team,” said Burroughs. “And how proud I am to be the head baseball coach at Louisiana Tech. It’s one of my highest honors of my entire life.”
As a 1994 Louisiana Tech alum and a 25-year employee of the University’s athletic department, I appreciate not only the tremendous success in a challenging time, but even more so, I appreciate Lane’s genuine investment in his players and the Ruston community.
He is proud to be our coach. I, for one, am awfully proud he is. Tears and all.
Change can bring excitement or anxiety. Change can bring needed relief, new opportunities, and a renewed sense of optimism. It can also lead to uncertainty that increases stress, diminishes confidence, and elevates worry. While change is a part of life, effectively navigating through change can make a big difference in our quality of life.
After a thirty-plus year career with International Paper, I decided to make a change and do something different. Now that’s a pretty big change that I elected to pursue. I chose to leave a known salary with benefits, a manageable set of challenges, and a great group of people, to start a coaching and speaking business with no clients, no guaranteed income, and a lot of potential for failure.
The decision to make that change didn’t occur overnight and was something that I contemplated for quite a while. The key elements of that process that I went through to make that decision as well as some key observations that I have witnessed along the way might just be helpful to you.
Whether you are evaluating a potential job change, retiring from a long career, starting a business, changing schools, moving to a new community, joining an organization, getting help with a problem, or any number of other potential changes, here are a few thoughts on navigating the difficulties of change in our lives.
Don’t be a victim to predictability: Too many of us will settle for a predictable bad situation rather than risk a change to a possible better. The reason is that the change could lead to something worse. So, we settle for bad. We embrace the concept that at least we know what to expect. We live predictable, unhappy lives because we fear change.
Don’t play the long game too long: Many of us tell ourselves that if we just keep hanging on to a less than desirable situation, that it will eventually pay off, get resolved, or improve. In many cases, we just lack the courage to seek a better opportunity and hide behind false hope. Time will always be more valuable than money, recognition, or rewards.
Run to something not away from something: Be careful not to overreact to an unpleasant situation, difficult boss, or tough challenge. Those things aren’t always a bad thing and often get resolved. In the short-term, don’t run away from tough things. However, when you clearly have something to run towards, change takes on an entirely new focus. Change is a positive step when you are running towards something.
Trusted counselors are a blessing: Find people that you trust to talk things over with regarding changes you are contemplating. These people are the ones that make sound choices, ask good questions, and are willing to have hard discussions with you. Be selective and careful who you listen to for advice.
Focus on direction, not comfort: Will this change enable you to take the next step in living the life you desire? Will this change move you toward the impact you want to have? Far too many of us seek change for comfort rather than challenge. Comfort may feel good in the moment, but it may lead to regret in the longer-term.
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you will ultimately go, they merely determine where you start. What changes do you need to consider to start living, impacting, and experiencing the life you desire?
While I have appreciated the thought behind this phenomenon for some time, I have never actually singled out anyone to receive this tangible demonstration of love for one’s fellow humans.
And to my recollection, until last week, no one had singled me out for such kindness either.
But last week as I stood in the line at Walmart, everything came into place for me to enter into this realm of reciprocity.
I had amassed a small stash of items while journeying through the store, and when I approached the cashier, I nonchalantly pulled out my wallet to retrieve my credit card. But … oops … no card appeared.
I must admit: I’ve experienced this occurrence more than I would like to admit, but usually after a few moments of panic, the wayward card surfaces from beneath a stash of other cards or tattered receipts – or even from one of my pockets. Not so this time. I pawed, I rooted, I rummaged through my wallet.
The sweet young woman who was checking me out even offered tips as I fretted. “Maybe it’s somewhere else in your purse,” she offered. But again … nothing.
“I guess I’m going to have to call the credit card company,” I finally mumbled. “Is there anywhere you can keep this while I go home to get the card?”
“I can take it to the customer service desk,” she said, “and you can pick it up there.”
When this fiasco started, I had been grateful that the line was empty. But during all my frantic searching, a woman had quietly appeared in the checkout area behind me. She was minding her own business, discretely looking at the chewing gum and candy bars, but then suddenly, without my realizing it, she somehow circled behind me and appeared at the card reader with a piece of colorful plastic in her hand.
I was temporarily confused. What was she doing?
It soon became clear.
“I’ve got it,” she softly told the cashier.
Our eyes met, and I could barely get out the words. “You are so kind,” I said with as much expression as I could without crying. “Thank you SO much.”
I wanted to hug her, but I didn’t think it was appropriate. Still, I wanted to do or say something to connect us in a more meaningful way, so I blurted out, “I’m Sallie.”
“I’m Cindy,” she returned.
And that’s all I remember. I think I thanked her again, and then I took my two deodorants and my eight taper candles that I needed for an upcoming ceremony and left.
Now, as I ponder the incident, I feel the urge – the need – to pay it forward with someone else.
Not only that, but I realize that even though said I had never been the recipient of a Pay It Forward Encounter before, that is incorrect. And if you think that you have not been the recipient of such a blessing, then your thinking might need adjusting, too.
More than 2,000 years ago the most significant Pay It Forward Event of all time happened. Jesus paid it forward – and backward – so that our sins could be forgiven. Yet we can never pay it forward enough to repay what he did for us. There’s simply no way. No way to pay him and no way to pay others enough to equal that.
We simply have to accept his offer of that payment, listen to his voice through the Bible, and obey what he has asked us to do. Oh, life won’t always be easy even when we do this, but the ultimate gift in the Pay It Forward and Backward Scheme is worth it.
Instead of merely getting to say “thank you” and wanting to reach out and hug someone in Walmart, those of us who accept and act on this plan will get to spend eternity with the ultimate Pay It Forward Master.
Meanwhile, here on Earth, we, too, can make someone’s day a bit better by doing what Cindy did.
Or asking, as the saying goes, “What would Jesus do?”
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
A Ruston man was arrested last week after he was stopped by Louisiana Tech Police for driving the wrong way on a one way street and was allegedly found to be impaired.
Mose D. Russell, Jr., 49, was arrested for DWI and traffic charges after he was observed traveling the wrong way on Railroad Avenue on the Tech campus about 10:30 p.m. on December 20.
Tech officers saw a beer bottle on the front passenger floorboard of Russell’s vehicle and detected the smell of alcoholic beverages. A records check showed Russell had not been issued a driver’s license. He was wanted for failure to appear in Ruston City Court.
A Louisiana State Police trooper responded to the scene and conducted field sobriety tests. The trooper’s report noted Russell performed poorly on the sobriety tests and was arrested. A breath test showed Russell’s blood alcohol concentration to be .11g%. He was booked for first offense DWI, no driver’s license, open container, wrong way on a one way street, and the City Court warrant.
Bail was set at $3,500.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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An usher was escorting visitors to a seat in the sanctuary. As they walked down the aisle the usher inquired, “Clapping or non-clapping?” You can stir up some hot mess debates about clapping in the church, especially when the clapping follows a musical selection. Congregations have been applauding children’s programs and Choir cantatas as we roll through this season. Applause breaks out every Christmas season, even in the most staid of congregations.
I think we should add applause to our Christmas celebrations.
A brief history of applause tells us that it became a more formalized cultural convention in the early days of the theater. Roman theater audiences, for example, were told “Valete et plaudite!” “Goodbye and applause” at the end of every performance, which was the ancient equivalent of today’s “Give it up for “Your favorite home team” as they enter the arena!
Given that the theater was the only place in those days where you could gather the bulk of the people, politicians also used applause as a form of early polling data, gauging the crowd’s reaction when they entered the venue and took their seats. Once, when the Roman emperor Caligula attended a performance, a certain actor received more applause upon his arrival than had the emperor himself when he arrived at the venue. The maniacal emperor Caligula reportedly muttered (while fingering his sword, no doubt), “I wish that the Roman people had one neck.” Whether it’s in an ancient theater or in a modern arena, the strength of applause is still the thing that can make or break a performer or a politician.
The Romans, in fact, had three categories of applause that further made its connection to the sounds of the material world. “Bricks” was the flat-handed clapping of polite applause, while “roof tiles” or the clapping of cupped hands meant that the audience liked you a lot. The best type of applause, however, was the sound of “bees” — a cacophonous buzz that included not only clapping hands but shouting voices as well. Listen to a modern audience clapping and you can definitely tell the difference between the smattering of applause that sounds like raindrops and the full-throated roar that sounds like thunder. In Europe especially, synchronized applause is common.
And applause is accompanied by vocal acclamation, i.e., cheering.
One part of the Christmas story reads: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Do you suppose the angels were also cheering? The angels were sharing “good news of great joy” for all of humanity. For some reason I don’t see or hear them announcing this good news with an orotund delivery. I hear joyous applause and cheering.
It is like the joy of a child on Christmas morning.
Go ahead, “Let’s give it up for Jesus!”
Merry Christmas!
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Alivia Lee scored 11 points for the Lady Cougars. (Photo by Darrell James)
by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek outscored Homer in every single period as the Lady Cougars registered their 11th win of the season with a lopsided 65-24 victory over Class 2A Homer Thursday in the first day of the 2024 Doc Edwards Invitational.
Playing at Bossier High School, the Lady Cougars (11-2) jumped out to a 14-3 lead after the opening eight minutes and then pushed its advantage to 23-9 at the half against the Pelicans, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped.
Any chance of a Homer (6-6) comeback was doused in the third and fourth quarters when Cedar Creek outscored the Pelicans 42-15 over the final 16 minutes of action.
Nine different players got into the scoring column for the Lady Cougars led by sophomores Mary Grace Hawkins (13 points) and Alivia Lee (11 points).
Creek hit 27 field goals, including five three-pointers, compared to only six field goals made by Homer.
The Lady Cougars will face Class C Hornbeck today at 10:30 a.m. at Airline High School.
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Cedar Creek Scoring: FG(3)-FT=Total Points
Alivia Lee 5(1)-0=11; Mary Grace Hawkins 4(2)-3=13; Britton Bennett 2-0=4; Caroline James 2-1=5; Mallory Smith 3(1)-2=9; Taylor Martinez 3-0=6; Zoey Venters 3-0=6; Kennedy Hall 1(1)-0=3; Avery Ryan 4-0=8. Totals 27(5)-6=65
