LOU'S CITATION BY DR. KEN DAVIS
I have still not processed my photo cards of the last two meetings, but I wanted to post the comments that Dr. Davis made when Lou received her Fellow plaque from the Texas Folklore Society.
Lou Halsell Rodenberger: Fellow of the Texas Folklore Society
I am honored to speak to Lou Halsell Rodenberger and this distinguished gathering of Paisanos. The Texas Folklore Society is at its best when it recognizes one of its own.
Lou Rodenberger earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from Texas Woman’s University in 1947; then some 20 years later she earned an M. A. in English from Texas A&M University and in 1975 she earned the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English. She is professor of English Emeritus at McMurry University where she was twice named Outstanding Professor. The title of her dissertation reveals much about her life long interest in the lore of the folk. Here is that title: “Caroline Gordon, Teller of Tales; Influence of Folk Narrative on Characterization and Structure of Her Work.”
Lou has excelled in many areas. The words wife, mother, friend, journalist, author, editor, speaker, teacher, leader, and enabler all apply to her. I will focus on only two of the many qualities she possesses: Leadership and scholarship. Because we all know so well that she is a great wife, mother, and grandmother, there is no need for comment on these outstanding traits. The presence of so many members of her family attests to those roles.
As a leader she has been president of The Texas Folklore Society and the West Texas Historical Association. She is a Regent for the Texas Woman’s University. She is on boards of the Texas Institute of Letters and of Western Writers of America. She was secretary of the Texas Woman’s University Foundation Board. She has received numerous honors. She is a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association and is an Honorary Life Member of the West Texas Historical Association. She is a distinguished Alumna of Texas Woman’s University. She has spoken at the White House Conference on Writing. And there are numerous other honors.
As scholar, she has read many papers at TFS meetings and at other scholarly and professional meetings. She published writings are far too many to mention here, but I will note that she co-edited with Sylvia Grider two anthologies: Let’s Hear It: Stories by Texas Women (TAMU Press) and Texas Women Writers: A Tradition of Their Own (TAMU Press). She also edited 31 by Lawrence Clayton (McWhinney Press) and Her Work: Stories by Texas Women (Shearer Publishing). She authored two genuinely significant studies of Texas novelist Jane Gilmore Rushing. One is titled simply Jane Gilmore Rushing (Boise State University Western Writers Series) and she wrote an acclaimed critical biography also titled Jane Gilmore Rushing, published by TTU Press. She is first editor for Writing on the Wind, an anthology of West Texas writers published by the TTU Press. She has done numerous consultancies, reviewed books for scholarly presses, and served on countless boards and committees. And she is valued as friend, advisor, and encourager.
Recognizing genuinely superior achievements is an ancient folk tradition. Tonight in presenting Lou Halsell Rodenberger this plaque commemorating her being named Fellow of the Texas Folklore Society, we continue the great tradition. And in so doing we honor the long history of the Society and its loyal and talented members.
March 21, 2008
I have still not processed my photo cards of the last two meetings, but I wanted to post the comments that Dr. Davis made when Lou received her Fellow plaque from the Texas Folklore Society.
Lou Halsell Rodenberger: Fellow of the Texas Folklore Society
I am honored to speak to Lou Halsell Rodenberger and this distinguished gathering of Paisanos. The Texas Folklore Society is at its best when it recognizes one of its own.
Lou Rodenberger earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from Texas Woman’s University in 1947; then some 20 years later she earned an M. A. in English from Texas A&M University and in 1975 she earned the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English. She is professor of English Emeritus at McMurry University where she was twice named Outstanding Professor. The title of her dissertation reveals much about her life long interest in the lore of the folk. Here is that title: “Caroline Gordon, Teller of Tales; Influence of Folk Narrative on Characterization and Structure of Her Work.”
Lou has excelled in many areas. The words wife, mother, friend, journalist, author, editor, speaker, teacher, leader, and enabler all apply to her. I will focus on only two of the many qualities she possesses: Leadership and scholarship. Because we all know so well that she is a great wife, mother, and grandmother, there is no need for comment on these outstanding traits. The presence of so many members of her family attests to those roles.
As a leader she has been president of The Texas Folklore Society and the West Texas Historical Association. She is a Regent for the Texas Woman’s University. She is on boards of the Texas Institute of Letters and of Western Writers of America. She was secretary of the Texas Woman’s University Foundation Board. She has received numerous honors. She is a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association and is an Honorary Life Member of the West Texas Historical Association. She is a distinguished Alumna of Texas Woman’s University. She has spoken at the White House Conference on Writing. And there are numerous other honors.
As scholar, she has read many papers at TFS meetings and at other scholarly and professional meetings. She published writings are far too many to mention here, but I will note that she co-edited with Sylvia Grider two anthologies: Let’s Hear It: Stories by Texas Women (TAMU Press) and Texas Women Writers: A Tradition of Their Own (TAMU Press). She also edited 31 by Lawrence Clayton (McWhinney Press) and Her Work: Stories by Texas Women (Shearer Publishing). She authored two genuinely significant studies of Texas novelist Jane Gilmore Rushing. One is titled simply Jane Gilmore Rushing (Boise State University Western Writers Series) and she wrote an acclaimed critical biography also titled Jane Gilmore Rushing, published by TTU Press. She is first editor for Writing on the Wind, an anthology of West Texas writers published by the TTU Press. She has done numerous consultancies, reviewed books for scholarly presses, and served on countless boards and committees. And she is valued as friend, advisor, and encourager.
Recognizing genuinely superior achievements is an ancient folk tradition. Tonight in presenting Lou Halsell Rodenberger this plaque commemorating her being named Fellow of the Texas Folklore Society, we continue the great tradition. And in so doing we honor the long history of the Society and its loyal and talented members.
March 21, 2008
posted by Dr. Rodenberger at 7:41 PM
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