Southwestern Louisiana Institute - Lacadien Yearbook (Lafayette, LA)

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just as the railroad laid the economic foundation for modern Lafayette, so did Raymond Blanco help lay the foundation for a better university and increased pride in the area. Raymond Blanco was born in Birmingham, Alabama and received most of his educa- tion at private schools, including the seminary. He began coaching at Catholic High in New Iberia in the late 1950s. In 1962, he began at USL as a graduate assistant to the foot- ball coach. Almost immediately he became a permanent member of the staff. When he was recruited, so were many of his students from Catholic High and together with the pride that was increasing all over the Acadiana area, they brought USL to one of their first championship teams in the conference history. In the late 1960s with much student unrest at schools all over the United States, Southwestern needed an energetic, young man to become the Dean of Men. Blanco accepted the responsibility and more. He was instrumental in the changes in upper administration on campus to make the deans more accessible and useful to the students. One such change deleted the titles of Dean of Men and Dean of Women making both him and Mary McPhaul Personnel Deans who could work with any student who needed their help. In September of 1982 his title changed to vice president of Student Affairs. Like the city and culture he has become so much a part of, Blanco is a mixture of the old and new, city and country, religious and secular He never forgets a friend, and old friends and former students are always popping in to say H i, Coach! But he rarely turns down a chance to learn new things and to change peoples attitudes for the better and more progressive. Hes modern in his thinking - always coming up with new ways to help the university which keeps him on the move, yet he still retains the kind of Welcome, come in and sit a spell attitude the rural areas of Acadiana have developed so well. In addition to his fun-loving, life-loving attitude at the university, he is also a devout Catholic. He and his wife, Kathleen, work to help raise money for the diocese through the Bishops Services Appeal in Lafayette and surrounding parishes. He has the traditional love of the land most Cajuns have-enjoying duck hunting, trout fishing and shrimping. He also loves the food made famous by the Cajuns. Blanco had developed the pride in the Cajun way of life of the natives. He was instrumental in helping Cajuns realize their heritage and express their pride in it by encouraging the name of USLs sports teams to be Rajun Cajuns. And his love of family and friends is truly worthy of the title Cajun -from his close-knit large family of his wife and six children to his huge and ever growing circle of friends. Anyone who knows him feels the special closeness, pride in his culture and school and friendliness he embodies. It is a pleasure to work with him and USL has a great future with people like him to guide it and keep it on a future forward looking road. USL thanks you, Dean Blanco, and hopes your memories and future are as bright as you shine in our hearts today.

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Memories . . . This is just the beginning and still it is the end. The beginning-of the book, of many special moments that the staff tries to capture and of much work. The end, for me, of my editorship, of my college life and of many friendships. As the work on the book closes, it marks the closing of a very important time in my life, the time I 've spent in college. Here I made some lifelong friends, met the man I will spend the rest of my life sharing with, and also made a few good contacts for the future. It took five looong years for all of this to happen and as graduation nears, I am glad I have finally made it, but sorry that it comes so soon. This is the sixth yearbook I 've worked on and it is one of the most precious to me. My editorship has taught me a lot, including bringing me much closer to some very special people and I would like to say thanks to them. Thanks . . . Charlie, for two things in particular For one thing, I appreciated that you always took the time to answer my questions and gave advice when I really needed it. Secondly, thanks for never forcing my decisions. I will always appreciate the help you gave me when I needed a smile, a bit of stea- dying and a shoulder to cry on. Cheryl, don't think I would have stuck it out, without cropping off a few heads, if you hadn't been around. So often we've anticipated each others needs and read each others minds that I hope you can do it now. In practical words - thanks for always making time to talk by putting aside reading, working, sleeping, etc. You'll always be a special friend. Matt, you've been great. I 'm glad we had a chance to meet and I 'll always appreciate the time you took to encourage me. But, most of all, thanks for being organized, patient and a good friend. And to Gregory, we've done a lot of work C and probably even more fighting? but we always ended up doing what was best for the book and stayed friends. Thanks for your help, support and multitudinous ideas. G. G., thanks Greg for the use of your camera and for understanding. You had more trust in my ability than I did. Thanks too, for not getting angry about the camera, shall we say someone had to find the bugs in it and I sure did. Sherry and Prank, if I stopped to thank you for everything you'll did, this book would never get published. I appreciate yo .ir expert eye when the book was out of hands. I knew that when you'll had it, it was safe and well cared for Thanks too for your genuine friendliness whenever we called or visited, and your encouragement in general. Moss, much thanks. A few hours here, a trip to town there, and working on yearbook when I should have been listening to class. I know I asked for a lot and so with a deep dramatic bow thanks This would never have been completed if you hadn't given so much. And of course-the staff deserves much more than thanks. Wayne-having pages in by deadline was a luxury I rarely got. Thanks for the work and concern. Skip and Scott-thanks for the creativity you added, and Iacky and Marty-thanks for coming through when it was needed. Sally, john, and Rob your time and concern were not only needed but appreciated, thanks. Last but not least-special thanks to my family for their concern and help, especially you Phlip. I am sure there are many that have given of their time and labor to get this creation out and although you are not mentioned you are appreciated.