Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 4/29/99
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   1
Editors: Photo accompanies release
SLU TO NAME BUILDING FOR FORMER PRESIDENT LUTHER DYSON
     HAMMOND -- In a 3 p.m. ceremony on May 11, Southeastern Louisiana University will
name the building that houses its administrative offices for the late Luther H. Dyson, the longest-
serving president in the university's almost 75-year history.
     Dyson, a native of Amite, was Southeastern's president from 1953-1967 and was a
member of the administration for more than two decades.
     "Dyson devoted his entire 37-year career to the field of education, working his way up
from the elementary school level to president of Southeastern Louisiana College," President
Sally
Clausen said. "During his tenure as president, he wisely guided the university through
tremendous change and growth, laying the foundation for the excellent reputation and quality
programs Southeastern is noted for today."
     "Not only was Dr. Dyson a dedicated and outstanding educator," Clausen said, "he was a
man of high moral character and integrity   a true gentleman in every sense of the word. It is as
much an honor for Southeastern as it is for Dr. Dyson to have our Administration Building
named for him."
     While Dyson was president, Southeastern's enrollment jumped from a little over 1,000 to
more than 5,000 students, and more than two dozen major facilities were built to handle growth.
One of those buildings was the marble-facaded Administration Building built in 1960 at the
western end of Friendship Circle (Western Ave.), the historic heart of the campus. Designed by
Burk, LeBreton and Lamantia Architects and Engineers, the building was constructed by
McClendon Building Services General Contractors for $340,000.
     Dyson's wife, Ruth Kemp Dyson, and daughters, Dr. Connie Dyson Pirsig 
and Libby Dyson Peyton, will be among the special guests at the dedication ceremony, which 
will be held at Twelve Oaks, one of the buildings constructed during Dyson's presidency. Retired
                             (MORE)
DYSON HALL DEDICATION   Add One
Southeastern history professor C. Howard Nichols, who was a student and a faculty member
during the Dyson presidency, will discuss Dyson's career and contributions to Southeastern. The
public is invited.
     Dr. Dyson was born and reared in Amite and attended Amite High School, graduating in
1926. He received his bachelor's,  master's and doctoral degrees from Louisiana State University.
     His teaching experience began in Tangipahoa Parish, where he taught various grade
levels from 1930-34 and served as parish supervisor of instruction from 1935-37.
     In 1937, Dyson accepted a position at Louisiana Normal College (now Northwestern
Louisiana University) as director of student teaching and principal of the Elementary Laboratory
School. He became head of the Department of Education, remaining at NLU for eight years.
     In 1945, the newly-appointed president of Southeastern, Gladney Jack Tinsley, recruited
Dyson for the multi-faceted position of Dean of the College, Dean of the Division of Education,
and Head of the Department of Education. Dyson worked closely with Tinsley to earn for
Southeastern prestigious Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation and to
develop and improve Southeastern's faculty and academic programs.
     Following Tinsley's death, Dyson served as acting president from December 1951 to July
1952, returning to his position as Dean of the College during the one-year presidency of Clark L.
Barrow.  He became Southeastern's sixth president in July 1953.
      To accommodate a student body that grew 500 percent during his 14 years at the helm,
Dyson worked diligently to increase both the  budget and the faculty. Twenty-six new buildings
were constructed, including Cefalu Coliseum, the War Memorial Student Union (TWELVE
OAKS) and a number of dormitories. The Alumni Association also was revived and the
Southeastern Development Foundation created.
     Under Dyson's careful planning and sensitive administration, Southeastern peacefully
became an integrated institution in 1965. Dyson also inaugurated master's and advanced
Educational Specialist degree programs, and divisions of Graduate Studies and Nursing.
     After his retirement in 1967, Dyson remained a dedicated supporter of Southeastern,
saying,  "My heart is with the College." He died in 1994. The board of supervisors for the
University of Louisiana System approved Southeastern's request to name the Administration
Building in his honor on Feb. 26.
                            - SLU -
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www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp99.htm