(November 6, 2013)

Alumni honored at awards luncheon

SHREVEPORT, LA — As part of the 2013 Homecoming and Parents & Family Weekend, the National Alumni Association recognized alumni who have gone that extra step to serve and become leaders at Centenary College and in the Community. The honorees received their awards during the Alumni Awards Luncheon on Friday, November 1, in the Whited Room.

Alumni Hall of Fame
C. Walter Dobie '54 was in the Centenary Choir and is a former Board of Trustees member. He is a prominent geologist in the Lafayette area. His wife, Ann, Professor Emeritus at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette is an honorary alumna of the College. Dobie joins a long list of other family members who also graduated from Centenary.

Young Alumni Leadership Award
Robert Rubel '01 was a member of TKE, played on the baseball team, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business and Finance while at Centenary. Rubel now works as a sales representative at Fire Tech Systems. He is currently the Athletics Affinity Chair of the Alumni Council and was recently elected as Vice-President/President Elect of the Alumni Association.

Alumni Loyalty Award
Cindy Gleason Johnson '81 participated in the choir and was a member of Chi Omega during her time at Centenary. Johnson is an Account Executive for KMSS FOX 33 and recently started her own coffee business, Camellia Coffee. She is a past president of the Alumni Association and has been an active member of the Alumni Council for many years.

Honorary Alumnus Award
Charlton Lyons will be inducted into the Honorary Alumnus Hall of Fame. Lyons is a long-time supporter of Centenary and served as a trustee and as secretary to the Board of Trustees. Lyons initiated the Charlton H. Lyons Summer Faculty Research Award that carries the name of Robin Vincent Fell, a Centenary student who was killed in action in May 2005. Lyons is a playwright, author of two books, and actor.

Athletic Hall of Fame
Robert Decker '37 will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. "One of the most popular athletes the school has ever had," Decker was a two-sport letter winner for the Gents football and basketball teams. A prominent, starting, offensive tackle for the football team, Decker helped lead the Centenary football teams of the mid-1930s to wins over Texas A&M, Texas, TCU, Baylor and Mississippi. The retired Lieutenant Colonel coached the 1937 Gents freshman football team.

Cecil Rhodes '59 will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. During his recruitment, Cecil had numerous scholarship offers in all three sports (including offers to play at LSU) but elected to stay close to home and attend Centenary. Rhodes was a four-year letterman in basketball and played one season on the Gents baseball team. He played with the 1955-1956 squad that holds the school record for consecutive wins.

Honorary Athletic Letter
Dennis Boddie '81 has served as the Voice of the Gold Dome since 1981. The boisterous, deep voice has brought in-game entertainment and excitement to various events at Centenary, including men's and women's basketball games and gymnastics meets in his more than 30-year career with the Ladies and Gents.

Bentley Sloane Award
Britney Winn Lee '09 was enrolled in the Christian Leadership Center throughout her Centenary career. As a student she went on a trip to Haiti to visit an orphanage. Lee became passionate about sponsoring orphans and began working with First United Methodist Church Shreveport to develop an international mission team dedicated to Haitian orphanages.

Centenary's National Alumni Association is proud to honor a select group of distinguished alumni each year during Homecoming. If you would like to nominate someone to receive an Alumni Award, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@centenary.edu or call 800.259.6447.