FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (1/06)
Contact: David Henington, Director of Alumni Relations, 318-869-5151, or Lynn Stewart or Kelsey Johnson, Centenary News Service, 318-841-7265

Centenary to Award its Highest Alumni Honor to Hal Sutton, Recognize Rosemary Seidler, Brad McPherson, and Gene and Charlotte Bryson at Feb. 2 Banquet

SHREVEPORT, LA -- Professional golfer and PGA champion Hal Sutton, Class of 1981, is the 2006 inductee into the Centenary College Alumni Hall of Fame. The award is the highest honor given by the Alumni Association and it recognizes Centenary graduates who have distinguished themselves in both their profession and in service to others as well as the college.

In addition, the Alumni Association will also present its Honorary Alumna designation to Dr. Rosemary Seidler, its Honorary Alumnus designation to Dr. Brad McPherson and its Alumni Loyalty Award to Gene and Charlotte Bryson, both members of the Class of 1963.

All five honorees will be recognized at the Centenary Alumni Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 in the Centenary Fitness Center. The event is a highlight of the College’s annual homecoming, held this year Feb. 2-5. The cost to attend the banquet is $25 per person. To reserve seats, contact Amanda McCarter, Office of Alumni Relations, at 318-869-5028 or amccarte@centenary.edu.

	Hal Sutton, Alumni Hall of Fame

Alumni Hall of Fame: Hal Sutton '81
A professional golfer since he graduated from Centenary in 1981, Hal Sutton has won numerous PGA tournaments, including the PGA Championship and the Player of the Year Award in 1983. He has played on four Ryder Cup teams, serving as captain in 2004.

At Centenary, he played golf from 1976-80, during which he won 14 tournaments, was an All-American, led the Gents to the NCAA Tournament and finished ninth nationally. He won the 1980 U.S. amateur championship and was named the NCAA College Player of the Year and Golf Magazine’s College Player of the Year.

Sutton invests in community service initiatives and established the Hal Sutton Foundation in 2001 to meet the health care needs of children in the Ark-La-Tex region. He and his wife, Ashley, have four children: Samantha, Sadie, Sarah and Holt.

	Rosemary Seidler, Honorary Alumna

Honorary Alumna: Rosemary Seidler
Dr. Rosemary Seidler, professor emerita of chemistry, retired in May 2005 after serving as a member of the Centenary faculty for 39 years.

A recipient of Centenary’s Outstanding Teacher Award, she was also one of 12 recipients nationwide of a 1993 Outstanding Advising Award from the National Academic Advising Association. She advised hundreds of students as the pre-medical and pre-dental advisor, having as many as 45 to 50 advisees per year. She also served on every major College committee and advised the Honor Court, Omicron Delta Kappa and the Student Government Association.

A New Orleans native and lover of the outdoors, Seidler often invited students to camp out at her parents’ home during Mardi Gras. She is an avid bird and butterfly watcher.

	Brad McPherson, Honorary Alumnus

Honorary Alumnus: Dr. Brad McPherson
Brad McPherson, professor emeritus of biology and inaugural holder of the Mary Warters Endowed Chair, retired in May 2003 after joining the Centenary faculty in the fall of 1971. He continues to team teach a May Module in Nicaragua. Numerous students have traveled with him and studied in Costa Rica, where he has done research for 40 years.

Students and colleagues recognized him as Outstanding Teacher in 1983. He served as sponsor to the Biology Club and member of Alpha Epsilon Delta medical fraternity. He received the first Summer Research Grant given by the Alumni Association and earned the grant again three years later. Both times, he involved students in the research these grants supported. In 2004, his former students recognized him with the Brad McPherson Study Lounge in Mickle Hall.

McPherson and his wife, Kay, split their time between Shreveport and their farm in Nicaragua. He enjoys nature, gardening and hiking.

	Gene and Charlotte Bryson, Alumni Loyalty Award

Alumni Loyalty Award: Gene '63 and Charlotte Stodghill '63 Bryson
The Brysons have been active with various alumni programs since graduation. Gene Bryson has served on the Board of Trustees since 2000 and has retired as the chief judge of the 1st Judicial District Court, State of Louisiana. He currently serves as the judicial administrator and special judge with the 1st Judicial District Court.

Charlotte Bryson, a retired educator, is a member of the Centenary Women’s Endowment Quorum and the Centenary Muses, organizations that support student projects.

They have both served terms as president of the Alumni Board and are supporters of the C Club and the Centenary College Choir. They have hosted a number of class reunions and Centenary College Choir reunions and are active members of First United Methodist Church in Shreveport.

The Brysons' family includes son Doug, a 2003 Centenary graduate, son Gene Jr., daughter-in-law Stephanie and grandson Connor.

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