NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu)
Director of Informational Services
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
news.nsula.edu
5/8/2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University is pleased to announce the foundation of the Carolyn Bellue Holly Distinguished Professorship in Teaching and Learning. This endowment was made by her husband, Dr. James L. Holly, in loving honor of his wife and companion.
Mrs. Holly is a native of Louisiana, growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a life-long desire to be a mother and a teacher. Dr. and Mrs. Holly graduated from Northwestern in 1965 where Mrs. Holly served the University as a Purple Jacket, a distinguished group of young women who were ambassadors and hostesses for the University. She was active in the Baptist Student Union and in her Christian faith. Her father visited her often at the University and developed a deep friendship with another student, Larry Holly.
After the couple married August 7, 1965, Carolyn began her teaching career in Golden Meadow Louisiana, followed by teaching experience in Waco and West, Texas and in San Antonio Texas. Fulfilling her second goal Carolyn had two children, Carrie and Richmond, each of which had four children. All of them were present for this presentation, except the oldest who is serving in the United States Army Special Forces. Even though Carolyn spent most of her life nurturing her family, her love of teaching was expressed in her seven-year experience of home schooling her children and in her mentoring many young women and her five granddaughters and three grandsons.
Dr. and Mrs. Holly have always sensed a “debt of gratitude” to the Universities they attended and it is an important part of their stewardship of the blessings which God has bestowed upon them to honor and partially repay that debt.
At the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, they have made numerous financial contributions to the school among which are:
- The Dr. and Mrs. James L. Holly Distinguished Chair of Patient-Centered Medical Home.
- The Wirt Everett Bellue, Sr. and William Richmond Holly, Sr. Distinguished Annual Lectureship in Patient-Centered Medical Home (Mrs. Holly’s and Dr. Holly’s fathers)
- The Veritas Program for the mentoring of the next generations of medical students
- The President’s Development Council
- The Danny Duke Annual Music and Medicine Lecture at the Center of Medical Humanities & Ethics
- The Endowment of the Primary Care Institute for promoting primary care in the United States
Dr. and Mrs. Holly have also received numerous honors at the Health Science Center including:
- The Dr. And Mrs. James L. Holly University Auditorium
- Membership on The University of Texas Chancellors Council
- Dr. Holly being named the 2012, Distinguished Alumni of the School of Medicine
While their professional foundation was formed in San Antonio, Dr. Holly chose the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their graduation from NSU and the 50th Anniversary of their marriage to honor his wife and to express their gratitude to Louisiana, to Natchitoches and to Northwestern for the foundation laid in their life by these institutions.
In addition to the Distinguished Professorship endowment, Carolyn and Larry have honored their mothers with:
- The Marie Cobb Bellue Scholarship in Teaching and Learning
- The Irene Woodruff Holly Scholarship in Health Care Education
Neither had the opportunity to attend college which is why the scholarships are part of the Louisiana State and Northwestern First Generation Program. This means that the recipients of the scholarships will be the first of their family to attend college. Also, due to Mrs. Irene Holly’s life-long support of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe, if a resident of the Children’s Home qualifies for either scholarship, they will be given preference in its being awarded. Mrs. Bellue attended the ceremony and is proud of her daughter and of this acknowledgement of her service, through her daughter to the education community.
As Dr. Holly said, “We came to Northwestern as children and we left as young adults on our way to making a contribution to our community and country. At Northwestern, we were mentored, encouraged and fashioned by our professors and friends.” “Northwestern is where Carolyn and I met and fell in love,” Dr. Holly said.
“We are so honored and so grateful for Dr. and Mrs. Holly’s generosity of spirit that led them to establish this professorship and these scholarships in honor of Dr. Holly’s wonderful wife and mother-in-law, and in memory of his beloved mother,” said Dr. Chris Maggio, vice president for External Affairs and executive director of the Northwestern State University Foundation. “These gifts will enable two deserving students who are the first in their families to attend college to attain their educational goals and it will enable a professor in our College of Education and Human Development to pursue goals to aid in the training of future educators.”
Dr. Connie Melder, director of Field Experiences in NSU’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development, is the first recipient of the Carolyn Bellue Holly Distinguished Professorship in Teaching and Learning. Student scholarships recipients will be announced after selections have been made.
Following the luncheon, Dr. and Mrs. Holly and their 1965 classmates participated in afternoon commencement exercises and were awarded their 50-year diplomas from Northwestern State.
Holly Cutline:
Dr. James Holly, left, surprised his wife Carolyn Bellue Holly with the creation of the Carolyn Bellue Holly Distinguished Professorship in Teaching and Learning during Friday's Golden Jubilee for Northwestern State University graduates of 1965. In addition to the Distinguished Professorship endowment, Carolyn and Larry have honored their mothers with the Marie Cobb Bellue Scholarship in Teaching and Learning and the Irene Woodruff Holly Scholarship in Health Care Education. They are pictured with family members, NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson and faculty from NSU's Gallaspy Family College of Education and Human Development.
Dr. and Mrs. James L. Holly
Pictured Above:
Dr. James L. Holly
Mr. Bill Holly
Mrs. Jennifer Owens Holly
Mr. and Mrs. Richmond Holly’s Four Children
Mr. Richmond Holly
Mrs. Carolyn Bellue Holly
Dr. Henderson
Dr. Connie Melder
Mrs. Marie Cobb Bellue
Mr. Sam McMahan
Mrs. Kandie Bellue Distefano
Mrs. Carrie Holly McMahan
Dr. Vickie Gentry
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