List of Events

Alumnus & Friend of the Year Honorees 2011

 At the October 14, 2011 NHS football game against West Ouachita, we introduced our 2011 Alumnus and Friend of the Year honorees.



Alumnus of the Year 2011 - Dr. Janet Hood-Hanchey '66
Nominated by: Dana Tucker Jefferson '66
Presented by: Mike Jackson '81, Alumnus of the Year 2010

Not long ago I was honored in our local paper for the work I have done for Neville High School through our alumni organization. I was happy to have the accolades in order to shine light on the work we all do to promote our beloved Neville High.

Un-known to most, however, is a very important person without whose prompting me, NAFA would not exist.

Dr. Janet Hood-Hanchey, class of 1966, was the impetus and the force behind my having the courage to begin our organization. If it were not for Janet's constant encouragement and pushing, I would neither have started nor continued in my efforts to bring the alumni of Neville High School and its many friends back to support our wonderful school.

But Janet's influence has never stopped. She didn't just suggest that I begin, she continues to bring new ideas and projects she finds successful elsewhere through her extensive work in public schools (Educator and Administrator for over 40 years in LA & Texas). It was Janet's idea to start the Excellence Banquet as she had experienced a similar affair in the Grapevine-Colleyville School District where she served for many years as assistant superintendent. It is Janet we call to help investigate any and all new hiring done by ourselves at Neville and at the Monroe City School Board. Janet is the person I consult on projects such as the 75th anniversary celebration and the consequent remodeling of our auditorium. She is my "go to" when I need advice on scholarships and awards. She suggested that we honor our first alumnus of the year, Wally McMakin, after he provided the seed money for our organization through the collage painting and prints by Jack Jaubert.

Janet must send me thousands of emails with new ideas she finds through her current school district, Lewisville Independent. Her latest was a wonderful video of students describing their "first day" (freshmen) of school and also their "first LAST day" (seniors). It is a good idea and one we might employ to encourage new students.

If she sees anything that she thinks might work for us, she always lets me know. Janet has been a consistent Black & Gold NAFA member from the onset. Her continued loyalty and contribution to the well being of Neville through NAFA is the model for us all to follow.

Janet graduated from Neville in 1966 and received her bachelor degrees in English and Art Education and her M.A. in English with Thesis from NLU (ULM). She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the The University of Texas, Austin where she was awarded the National and International award for Dissertation of the Year. Janet had her first teaching assignment right here at her alma mater! You can see why I call her my “smart friend” as well as my very “best” friend!

Janet constantly brings me great ideas. She is truly what we love to honor as Alumnus of the Year! NAFA has been in existence for 20 years mostly due to the pushing of my dear friend on her "lifelong" friend to DO SOMETHING!!!

Congratulations, Janet Hood-Hanchey, Alumnus of the Year 2011!


Dana Tucker Jefferson '66
NAFA Executive Director





Friend of the Year 2011 - Randy Morris
Nominated and presented by: Joe Farr '71

The Neville Tigers couldn’t ask for a better friend than Randy Morris.

For the past 20+ years Randy has been on hand quietly and mostly anonymously giving of his time and dollars to support Neville High School in every way.

It was Randy Morris that donated the new gates at the stadium leading into the weight room and the old football dressing room. It was Randy Morris that donated the tiger which greets all visitors in the entrance of Neville. Randy has been a table sponsor for our Excellence Banquet every year since it started in 2002.

When the Tigers need anything, Randy is always generous and helpful. He is on hand at nearly every Neville event, social, sports or academics. He is a true Neville Tiger although he never took a class at our school.

He did raise 2 wonderful Tigers, however, Megan, who attended Neville for 2 years and graduated an Oak Grove Tiger 2001 and Anya Morris Fulco '98 married to Preston Fulco NHS 2001. Anya was an award winning Bengal Belle and worked as choreographer/sponsor for the Lee Regals for about 6 years. She now teaches at Lee Junior High and is raising Randy’s pride and joy granddaughter, Presley Fulco. Randy is married to Cherry Antley Morris and has 2 step children, Chris and Jana Antley and two step-grandchildren, Jordan & Jacob.

Our Tiger gratitude and admiration are yours tonight!

Thanks for being our friend, Randy Morris!


Dana Tucker Jefferson '66
NAFA Executive Director



Also honored at the half-time of the West Ouachita Game —
THE 1961 UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPION NEVILLE TIGERS

The 1961 undefeated Louisiana state championship football team celebrated their 50 year anniversary. They beat Lee High of Baton Rouge with a score of 7-0 under the phenomenal coaching of Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Ruple, Hall of Fame Coach Charlie Brown, Hall of Fame Coach Chick Childress, Coach Buck Stewart and Coach George Davis. 1961 was the first undefeated crown won by the Tigers in the 60's, the second in the following year 1962. The Tigers also won state championships in Baseball & Track in the school year of 1961-62.

Educators & Students Excellence Awards Banquet 2011

 On Tuesday, February 22, 2011, NAFA and Neville in conjunction with the University of Louisiana Monroe hosted our 10th annual Educators and Students Excellence Awards Banquet at the Library Conference Center atop the beautiful ULM library. The educators and students were treated to a wonderful night of recognition and a delicious dinner along with the parents, administrators and NAFA board members. Our 2011-2012 president, Susan Weaver served as master of ceremonies and did a very fine job.

Due to illness, our guest speaker and Ouida McGee Award founder, Mr. Tom McDade of Houston, was unable to attend. However, he sent his very well received words to the banquet via the voice of our wonderful Head of Mathematics, Mr. James Rogers. Dr. Janet Hood-Hanchey, banquet founder, came from Dallas to introduce our speaker and we were very grateful for her presence and kind words. Our current benefactors, Mr. Mike McGee and Mr. Ron Factor were also unable to attend, but sent their kind regards and donations to the award. Our benediction this year was given by Top Tiger, Anna McMullen, who did a lovely job of blessing our gathering.

The 2010 Ouida McGee Award winner, Kathy Rasco, proudly presented this year’s award to Beth Cummings, one of Neville’s excellent English. She was very surprised and thrilled to receive her $5,000 cash award. Tears were shed!!

The Educators honored for 2011 were:

Susan Breard, Ann Brown, Beth Cummings, Ronald Donn, Eric Herndon, Jennette Hunter, Kathy Rasco, James Rogers, Katherine Sandifer, Jessica Smith, Sherry Stephens, Jeff Tannehill, Mary Tucker, Pat Turner, & Chris Waters.

Our Top Tigers were given beautiful medals from the university which read: “ULM recognizes Excellence in Education”. These medals will proudly be worn at graduation. The video presentation was a hit as usual as the Top Tigers spoke directly to their honored educators to let them know how much they are appreciated!

Very special thanks go out to our table sponsors and centerpiece donors for helping make our banquet the special night it was! We encourage all to patronize our loyal supporters of the Excellence Banquet.

Table sponsors for this year’s banquet were:

Linda & George Campbell, Shelia & Frank Nettles, Kathy & Frank Elkins, Creed & Creed Attorneys, Danette & Mike Sager, Progressive Bank, Louisiana Orthodontic Specialists, Scholastic Sales, Inc., Dr & Mrs. Albert F. McMullen III, West Carroll Health Care Systems, Lisa & David Cole, Dorothy & Johnny Patterson, Jr., Rayne & Jay Adams, Ronald E. Hogan, Holly & doug Ratcliff, Grace Episcopal School, Net Tech, Kathy & Bill Patrick, Dr. & Mrs. Scott Zentner, Gloria & Stewart Carroll, Angie & Bernard Sager, Melinda & Darren Butler, Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Carson, The MAC, Louisiana Pain Care & Centurylink, Inc.

Centerpiece donors were:

Thurman’s Food Factory, Genusa’s Restaurant, Tonore’s Wine Cellar, The Muffin Tin, Dailey Harvest, JoLeigh’s Boutique, Pearl Pumphrey’s, Louisiana Purchases, Vee’s Flowers, Her toggery, The Cotton Patch, herringstone’s, Fiesta Hutrition Center, Wavelengths, Vieux Carre’, Pie Works, Aspirations, Chauvin Grocery, Jos A Bank, Quizno’s, Brooklyn & Co., & The Creamery.

The Top Tigers of 2011

 Our 2012 Educators' & Students' Excellence Banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 7pm in the ULM library conference center. If anyone would like to participate by being a table sponsor or centerpiece donor, please download the appropriate form and letter and return to the NAFA office by January 31, 2012.

To download a copy of our table sponsorship form, please click here.
To download a copy of our centerpiece donor form, please click here.


Our 2011 Top Tigers are left to right standing:
DeAndrea Harris, Mac Zentner, Sean Adams, Jasmine Gipson, Johnetta Patterson, Olivia Elkins, Virginia Barham, Dan Coenen, Holton Hinchliffe, Katie Hogan

Seated, left to right:
Caroline Grubbs, India Patrick, Kaitlin McKinley, Emma Sager, Marley Fechter, Cara Cole, Anna McMullen, Taylor Anne Ratcliff, Mazie Martisius, Kristen Goldman, Lauren Carroll

Not pictured: Shaterrica Sampson

2011 Ouida McGee Award Winner

Mrs. Beth Cummings

Tiger Scramble

2011 Tiger Scramble Golf Tournament held on June 3, 2011 at Black Bear Golf Club in Delhi, LA.