Bearkat Football: A Brief History

Color drawing of Bossier High School by Louisiana artist Stan Routh

            The Louisiana Department of Education recognized Bossier City High School as an accredited school in 1917. The Bossier City school itself was established in 1900, and in 1915 taxpayers approved a 3.5 mil property tax to raise funds needed to add a wing onto the school to provide high school level classes and meet the requirements for accreditation.

Since the high school began during the first world war, there were only female graduates for the first three years. By 1920 the number of graduates began to increase along with the number of students attending the school. The school continued to grow, and by 1926 it fielded its first football team.

With the school colors, kelly green, and white, already having been selected in 1925, all the team needed was a mascot. Arthur Ray Teague was the team’s first fullback, and he is credited with choosing the bearcat as the mascot. Buzz Wojecki explains in an article published in the Bossier Press-Tribune in 2006, “The spelling changed from ‘Bearcats’ to ‘Bearkats’ about 1938. There is good reason to believe it was to differentiate Bossier High from the Ruston High Bearcats on the sports page.”

In 2006 Bossier High School alumni, school officials, and Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker unveiled
a sign at Bossier Elementary School commemorating 80 years of Bearkat football.

The first Bearkat football players were: Pue L. Wilson, Pat Stevens, Willie Chambers, James Nelson, Charles Hoyer, Harry Bumgardner, Briscoe Marlar, Tap Waller, David Wallace, Arthur Ray Teague, Maurice Birdwell, Pete McCall, Virgil Gleason, Julius Whisenhunt, and Mack O’Quinn. Stuart Storey, a former freshman coach at Louisiana College, was the first coach for the Bearkats, leading them to victory in their first game on the gridiron, defeating Doyline High School by four points; final score 18 to 14.

That first year the team played seven games and tied three, lost three, and won two making a total of seven touchdowns. The first three touchdowns were made by Harry Baumgardner, who also made one more during that season. Arthur Ray Teague made two, and Maurice Birdwell made one. Not bad, considering they were a first-year team.

The Bearkat football team had a perfect season in 1933; they were undefeated and unscored on that year. They won the Louisiana State Class "A" Championship in 1942 and again in 1948.

The Shreveport Times Aug. 4, 1995

Some star players went on to college and then to the pros, such as Eugene “Red” Knight, a fullback who graduated in 1943. He went on to Louisiana State University, and then he played for the Washington Red Skins, the Chicago Cardinals, and the San Francisco 49ers during his professional career.

Then there were the Walker brothers, Wayne, a 1962 graduate, and Randy, a 1969 graduate. Both were kicking stars that went on to Northwestern State University and then to the pros. Wayne played for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Houston Oilers, and the Texas Titans. Randy played for the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Learn more about the local high schools and football teams by visiting the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, your leading source for local history. We are located adjacent to the Central Library branch at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City. Whether you want to learn about local history or research your family history, we are here to help.

By: Amy Robertson

Bossier Parish Library Turns 80

The first Bossier Parish Library building was formerly the Post Office in Benton, La. c. 1950s.
Bossier Parish Library Collection: 0000.001.009.

The earliest record of a public library in Bossier Parish dates back to 1857 when U. S. Congressman Col. John M. Sandidge supplied books to establish a library in Bellevue. It is unknown when this library stopped its operation, but Bossier Parish began to work towards opening a public library system in 1926. These efforts were stalled as the United States went into the Great Depression in the fall of 1929. 

In response to the need for relief, reform, and recovery from the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the New Deal, a series of programs, public work projects, and financial reforms and regulations. The primary focus of these programs was to provide relief for the unemployed and poor, recover the economy back to normal levels, and reform the financial system to prevent a repeat depression. 

A New Deal agency, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939, employed 8.5 million people between 1935 and 1943. One initiative of the WPA was to sponsor nationwide, state-level library demonstration projects to encourage the development of library services to underserved populations and to extend rural service while simultaneously providing temporary work for the unemployed. 

The meeting minutes establishing the first Bossier Parish public library system appeared in the Bossier Banner on July 11, 1939, which stated that the library would be located at the Parish seat in Benton, La. and that the library would be supported at the expense of the entire parish. The first Library Board of control was established in that meeting. The first members of the Bossier Parish Library Board were Bossier Parish Police Jury President J. H. Mercer, H. H. Mahaffey, J.J. Waggoner, W.B. Wilbourn, A.L. Bundy, and D.E. Barnett. 

This announcement did not mention that the library would be open on a demonstration basis with support from the WPA for the first year, and then a vote of the taxpayers would be required to keep it open. The Police Jury appropriated $1250 for the public library demonstration project, the WPA provided several assistant librarians, and the Louisiana Library Commission supplied the books. After a year of the demonstration library in operation, it was decided by a vote of the taxpayers to keep the Bossier Parish Libraries in operation. 

Fourteen months later, the first public library opened its doors to the citizens of Bossier Parish in 1940. The first three branches opened between Sept. 20-23, with the Benton and Haughton branches opening on the 20th, Plain Dealing on the 21st and Bossier City on the 23rd. A bookmobile was put into operation to serve the parish’s more rural areas in addition to these branches. It was discontinued due to mechanical problems Nov. 1967. It was grounded and converted into the first Koran branch from 1968 to 1987.

Bossier Parish Library Bookmobile (1957-1967). Became Koran's first library branch (1968-1987). Bossier Parish Library Collection: 1997.037.004

While Bossier Parish was the second demonstration library started in Louisiana, it does boast many firsts. In 1976, the Bossier Parish Library was the first public library in North Louisiana to establish regular Sunday service hours. It was the first public library system in Louisiana to computerize all branches to access information and eliminate card catalogs (card files used in the 1800s and 1900s to access books manually). The first public library in Louisiana to provide private study rooms for individual and group study activities.

Bossier Parish Library was the first public library in Louisiana to offer a parents’ area in the children’s department, children’s play and activity area, and children’s eye-level picture book shelving and display. The first public library to offer extensive staffing and building wing for parish-wide local history. And, the first public library in Louisiana to provide free full internet access with graphics and hypertext linkage at all branches.

The Bossier Parish Library has proudly provided access to an array of materials, programs, and technologies that inform, educate, and entertain the residents of this great parish for the past eighty years. To learn more about the Bossier Parish Library’s history, visit the History Center at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City.

By: Amy Robertson

Barksdale: From Field to Air Force Base

Construction of Barksdale Field. Philip & Vickie Hardin Collection; 2011.053.001-45.

In 1931, construction began on the world's largest airfield (over 22,000 acres), Barksdale Field. In the fall of 1932, the 20th Pursuit Group arrived from Mather Field as Barksdale Field's first combat organization. The formal dedication ceremony for Barksdale Field was Feb. 2, 1933. Just before its fifteenth anniversary in 1948, it was announced that Barksdale Field would be operating under a new name.

Bossier Parish Library History Center Collection; 2001.007.171.

The following announcement appeared in the Jan 29th issue of The Planters Press, "As announced officially, the permanent military base adjoining Bossier now is officially 'Barksdale Air Force Base' its name having been changed from 'Barksdale Field,' which it bore for years, since 1932, to be exact, until January 22, 1948.

"The change is in accord with a general order from Washington, redesignating all of the U.S. air force air fields to U. S. air force bases, according to notice from First Lieut. John W. Hassard, public information officer, Barksdale Air Force Base, received by The Planters Press.

"The base is now the headquarters of the air training command, and the location of air force advanced multi-engine and instrument flying schools.

"The air force is no longer known as 'Army Air Force' but 'United States Air Force.'

"In order to be accurate, the readers of The Planters Press are urged from now on to refer to the base in Bossier, one of the largest on earth, as 'Barksdale Air Force Base.'"

Bossier Parish Library History Center Collection; VF2019.023-11.

The general order mentioned in the article was the National Security Act, Sept. 18, 1947, which established the United States Air Force as an independent branch of the United States military. Since 1941, it had been known as the U.S. Army Air Forces, and from 1926-1941 it was the U.S. Army Air Corps. The first major U.S. aviation combat force was created during WWI, known as the Air Service, U.S. Army from 1918-1926.

Barksdale Air Force Base is 87 years old and has a long record of outstanding service to its credit. After the second world war, Barksdale became a peacetime training center, becoming home to the Air Training Command. After the name was changed, it became the first Air Force all-jet strategic reconnaissance/bomber aircraft, the North American RB-45 Tornado, and the 2nd Air Force headquarters, bringing Barksdale into the Strategic Air Command.

More recently, Barksdale was called upon by the National Command Authority to spearhead the global war on terrorism shortly after the terrorist attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001. To this day, Barksdale's men and women continue to serve both at home and abroad to support the global war on terrorism. Since Barksdale's beginning, it has contributed vital human resources and facilities to our nation's military.

As the nation celebrates the United States Air Force's 73rd birthday this Friday, this writer would like to recognize Barksdale Air Force Base for 87 years of defending liberty. Thank you to all the men and women of yesterday, today, and tomorrow for your sacrifice and dedication in defending our freedom.

To learn more about Barksdale Air Force Base, visit the Bossier Parish Library History Center, 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City. We have many photographs of and relating to Barksdale Air Force Base in our collection, including aerial photos, aircraft, architecture, celebrations, and the original postcard collection of Barksdale Field.

These images and more can also be accessed online by visiting the Bossier Parish Library History Center Collection online database at https://bossier.pastperfectonline.com/. Select keyword search, then type in "Barksdale Air Force Base" (be sure to use the quotes) and enjoy.

By: Amy Robertson

Remembering a 'Woman of the Century'

In celebration of the Women's vote centennial, each month, a woman who made a difference in Bossier Parish has been spotlighted in this column. This month, Marguerite White Hudson is in the spotlight. Hudson was born in Pitkin, Louisiana, in 1929. After high school, she went to Northwestern University, where she earned her BS in Physical Education and met the love of her life, Plain Dealing native Billy Brooks Hudson, who was also a teacher.

In 1961 their careers brought them to Bossier City, where they both began teaching at Bossier High School. As many teachers do, Hudson continued her education and obtained a Master's degree in Education and a Master's degree in English. Hudson taught at Bossier High School until 1970 when she became one of the charter teachers for Bossier Parish Community College as an English teacher.

Even after "retiring" in 1979, Hudson continued to teach English at the Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Louisiana Tech, and Centenary for the next ten years. After forty years of teaching, she decided to focus on how she could better serve Bossier Parish schools outside of the classroom. She ran for a seat on the Bossier Parish School Board, which she was elected to in 1991.

In an interview with Shreveport Times reporter Fred Powell, Hudson asserted, "I intend to see that the quality of the classroom's environment is foremost." She served two terms on the BPSB and was elected as vice president and then president. Though she decided not to run for re-election in 1998, she kept on doing things to better the parish where education is concerned, which is why she started campaigning for the expansion of the Bossier Parish Library system.

She believed that the history of Bossier Parish needed to be preserved and accessible to the people. She organized a history presentation with Dr. James Hudson and Dr. Tom Carleton, including the archeological history of Bossier Parish, emphasizing the need for a history center and an archives repository. Along with her husband and three other couples, the Bossier Parish Historical Foundation was re-activated. She was instrumental in the school board's decision to lease the old courthouse site in Benton to the Historical Foundation and having the Hughes House moved and restored.

Hudson has served the community in many other ways, such as serving as chairwoman of the Bossier Parish Citizens' Advising Committee on Corrections. This 12-member committee sought answers to corrections problems, including persistent overcrowding at the parish Jail in Benton. She was a volunteer for Project R.E.A.D. sponsored by BPCC, which matched non-reading adults with volunteer tutors.

In 2000, she was recognized by the Women's Business Council, an affiliate of the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, selecting her as a Woman of the Century. Her lifetime of devotion to education and public service found her inducted in the Bossier High School Hall of Fame in 2012.

Hudson co-authored a cookbook Crème de la Crème with Geri Cope and Pat Maxwell, and she was the author of two other books. Her first book was Emmet Cope: A Tribute of Remembrance, a tribute to Emmett E. Cope, former principal of Bossier High and Superintendent of Schools of Bossier Parish. The second book is Whiskey Chitto Woman: A Civil War Novel, which is a historical fiction novel based on the lives of her great grandparents, Aaron and Ellen Johnson, during the civil war.

To learn more about Hudson and other women who made a difference in Bossier Parish, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City. While you are here, you can view an exhibit on some of these women or suppose you are interested in reading books by Hudson. In that case, both books are available at the Bossier Parish Library History Center on the reference shelves, or they can be checked out from any location. (Crème de la Crème is not available.)

By: Amy Robertson

Ford Makes First Presidential Visit Here

On April 2, 1976, Congressman Joe D. Waggonner of Plain Dealing announced that the United States President Gerald R. Ford accepted his invitation to visit the Shreveport-Bossier area on April 27th during the 28th annual Holiday in Dixie Festival. This visit from Ford was the first formal visit to Northwest Louisiana from any incumbent President. 

Lyndon B. Johnson, technically came to Barksdale AFB before Ford did. However, his stop was only a few minutes long as President Johnson and the First Lady, better known as Lady Bird, arrived by helicopter only to board the Presidential jet, which was being refueled at Barksdale AFB. They had just been to Texarkana for the funeral of Mrs. Wright Patman, wife of a Texas democratic congressman and then to Karnak, Tx, Lady Birds home town. For those that know of Johnson's deep disdain for Shreveport, it is no surprise that he was here for just those short few minutes and could hardly be considered a formal visit.

At the Bossier Parish Library History Center, we have the daily diary of President Gerald R. Ford for that day, in our collection, showing all the details of his very busy day, which started at 7:10 a.m. with breakfast. After many appointments and meetings, he traveled by helicopter to Andrew Air Force Base, where he boarded the "Spirit of 76" a.k.a. Air Force One and flew to Barksdale AFB, where he was greeted by Governor Edwin Edwards, along with other local and government elected officials, and an estimated crowd of well over 35,000.

President Gerald R. Ford addressing the crowd shortly after arrival to BAFB, April 27, 1976.
Source: www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov

Shortly after landing at Barksdale AFB, Ford addressed the crowd gathered for his visit, stating that he was "delighted to be here" and to participate in the Holiday in Dixie festivities that day. During his speech, he took the time to mention that Waggonner was "a very old and very dear friend," and he thanked him for his friendship. 

Ford also proclaimed that "Barksdale Air Force Base stands as a shining example of national security at its very best and as a tall, tall monument to the cooperative efforts of the citizens of this area and of the military." "As the home of the Strategic Air Command's 8th Air Force, Barksdale serves as one of the cornerstones of our defense system."

After the rally, Ford was escorted to the Barksdale Guest Quarters, where a sign, made especially for his visit, read "Welcome to the Louisiana White House" was hanging on the lawn of the guest quarters. After a short rest, the President attended two question and answer sessions. One with the press at the guest quarters and then another at Hanger 1-A auditorium, which was hosted by Bossier City Mayor James Cathey and Shreveport Mayor L. Calhoun Allen, Jr. for local elected officials from throughout Louisiana.

President Gerald R. Ford and Rep. Joe D. Waggonner
April 27, 1976, BAFB Guest House. Source: www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov

That evening Ford was honored at a VIP reception at the Ellerbe Road estate of Dalton Woods, the chairman of the Ambassadors Club, where he was made a Holiday in Dixie Ambassador and presented with an ambassador medallion. There were approximately 180 people in attendance, including the leadership of the Ambassadors' Club and local officials.After the VIP reception, the President attended a general reception on the lawn with nearly 1,000 guests.

The last stop during his visit, Ford attended the annual Holiday in Dixie Military Ball at the Shreveport Convention Hall. This ball is sponsored by the Louisiana National Guard Officers' Wives Club and is a salute to the military. Here, Ford addressed a crowd of about 1,000 people before leaving. He returned to Barksdale AFB, where he boarded the "Spirit of '76" at 9:45 p.m. for a flight to Texas to campaign ahead of the primaries.

To read Ford's daily diary for April 27, 1976, along with notes from his questions and answers events, and his speeches given that day while visiting the Shreveport Bossier area, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City, LA.

By: Amy Robertson

This Month In Bossier Parish History

 September: Through the years

Sep. 2, 1920:  Weekly news from 100 years ago

*   First cotton of the season was ginned.

Left: Bossier Banner

Right: Bell and Sentell Cotton Gin 

on Lynch Street in Plain Dealing. 

The gins would run day and night, 

ginning cotton. It was said that farmers would 

sleep in their wagons to save their place in line.

1997.054.121   Findley Collection 

Boyd Montgomery was on the sick list.

Left: Bossier Banner

Right: Bank of Benton Officials

L to R: V.V. Whittington (Pres),

A.M. Wallace (V.P.), 

J.A. Dunnan (cashier),

Tom A. Tidwell (director)

Boyd Montgomery (director)

1998.046.085  Price Collection

         

Crouch and family made their way through town in his car.

Left: Bossier Banner

Right: Charlie Ivy Crouch, his wife

Ellen Mae Currey Crouch, and 

daughter Carrie Belle Crouch 

Sep. 12, 1972: Tim Dement arrived home from competing in the Munich Olumpic Games. He was greeted by family, friends and fans.  He was the first Louisiana Boxer to represent the United States at the Olympics since 1932. 

*All images are from the Bossier Press

Sept 20—23, 1940:  Happy Anniversary Bossier Parish Libraries….Celebrating 80 years of service in our community.

Bossier Banner: Sep. 26, 1940