In Memory Of...
....Our Sleeping Alumni
The NSU Alumni Mass Reunion Committee would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute and celebrate the memory of our classmates who are no longer with us. If you know NSU alumni who are no longer with us, please email classmate information, including name, attendance dates, birthdate, date of departure, and organizations/major (if known), as well as a photo to nsureunion@sbcglobal.net.
Monty Gibson attended Northwestern from 1990-1993. He worked as a DJ on KNWD and was a Broadcast Journalism major. He was killed in a car accident in 1993.
Loss H. Caston, Jr. attended Northwestern State University, August 1993-May 1997. His birthday is June 21, 1975. He passed away on June 11, 1997. Loss' major was Electrical Engineering.
Jolyne Levingston-Hardy passed away on 05/05/09. She attended NSU betweeen 1993 to 1997. She was member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and she pledged in the Fall of 1994. She also ran track for Northwestern.
Loss H. Caston, Jr. attended Northwestern State University, August 1993-May 1997. His birthday is June 21, 1975. He passed away on June 11, 1997. Loss' major was Electrical Engineering.
Jolyne Levingston-Hardy passed away on 05/05/09. She attended NSU betweeen 1993 to 1997. She was member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and she pledged in the Fall of 1994. She also ran track for Northwestern.
John M. Stephens attended Northwestern from 1984-1988. He currently holds the record for the most Rushing Yards at 3,057. Stephens, selected 17th in the 1988 NFL Draft, played six NFL seasons, reaching the Pro-Bowl as a rookie when he ran for 1,168 yards. He played for the Patriots until 1992, then spent time with Green Bay, Atlanta and Kansas City before retiring with 3,440 career yards and 18 touchdowns. We recently lost John to a car accident on Sept. 1, 2009.
Mark A. Colomb, Ph.D., 45, of Ridgeland, Miss., died Thursday, March 24, 2011 at his residence. Dr. Colomb earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, La.; a master's degree in sociology, a specialist degree in education.
Dr. Colomb's distinguished career in the public health arena began as a graduate assistant with the Jackson State University National Alumni AIDS Prevention Project in 1988. Upon completion of his master's degree in 1992, he began working at the Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of STD/HIV, where he became a division branch director and served until 1999. Dr. Colomb joined the staff of Jackson State University as director of the Mississippi Urban Research Center where he served as project director/principal investigator for 13 federally- and state-funded projects from 1999-2003.
He is credited with garnering more than $9 million, the largest of 12 five-year national grants awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2000. This funding established Jackson State University as a premier HIV/AIDS prevention training agency while serving as the lead entity for four regional organizations providing HIV/AIDS prevention training to African American community-based organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories. Under his leadership, MURC became one of the founding members of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Prior to and during his tenure at Jackson State, Dr. Colomb played an integral role in shaping state and national HIV/AIDS policy legislation, particularly on behalf of African Americans, by working with a variety of constituents from grassroots advocacy groups to national legislative bodies.
Upon retirement from Jackson State University in 2003, Dr. Colomb worked to reduce health disparities and promote well-being in minority populations. As president and chief executive officer of My Brother's Keeper, Inc., a nonprofit organization headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss. with offices in Jackson, Miss. and Atlanta, Ga., Dr. Colomb spearheaded funding from national organizations to conduct HIV/AIDS, heart disease, obesity, breast, cervical and prostate cancer, and childhood lead poisoning prevention education and services projects locally and nationally.
His academic appointments included assistant professor of sociology, adjunct professor and statistical laboratory coordinator at Jackson State University and instructor at Tougaloo College.
Dr. Colomb was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Madison, Miss.; a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and numerous social, professional and academic honor organizations, including, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education.
Dr. Colomb's distinguished career in the public health arena began as a graduate assistant with the Jackson State University National Alumni AIDS Prevention Project in 1988. Upon completion of his master's degree in 1992, he began working at the Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of STD/HIV, where he became a division branch director and served until 1999. Dr. Colomb joined the staff of Jackson State University as director of the Mississippi Urban Research Center where he served as project director/principal investigator for 13 federally- and state-funded projects from 1999-2003.
He is credited with garnering more than $9 million, the largest of 12 five-year national grants awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2000. This funding established Jackson State University as a premier HIV/AIDS prevention training agency while serving as the lead entity for four regional organizations providing HIV/AIDS prevention training to African American community-based organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories. Under his leadership, MURC became one of the founding members of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Prior to and during his tenure at Jackson State, Dr. Colomb played an integral role in shaping state and national HIV/AIDS policy legislation, particularly on behalf of African Americans, by working with a variety of constituents from grassroots advocacy groups to national legislative bodies.
Upon retirement from Jackson State University in 2003, Dr. Colomb worked to reduce health disparities and promote well-being in minority populations. As president and chief executive officer of My Brother's Keeper, Inc., a nonprofit organization headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss. with offices in Jackson, Miss. and Atlanta, Ga., Dr. Colomb spearheaded funding from national organizations to conduct HIV/AIDS, heart disease, obesity, breast, cervical and prostate cancer, and childhood lead poisoning prevention education and services projects locally and nationally.
His academic appointments included assistant professor of sociology, adjunct professor and statistical laboratory coordinator at Jackson State University and instructor at Tougaloo College.
Dr. Colomb was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Madison, Miss.; a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and numerous social, professional and academic honor organizations, including, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education.
Craig was born on May 21, 1959 and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana by his parents Willie Mae and Porter Ryan. Introduced to Christ at an early age, Craig attended the Reeves Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Lake Charles with his family. He was a proud Class of 77 graduate of W. O. Boston High School, where he was a member of the Panther Basketball Team. Craig attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, and later transferred to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Media Studies.
Fueled by his passion and love for music, Craig became the first African-American Program Director of the KNWD Radio Station at NSU. In the Spring of 1983, he was initiated into the Theta Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Craig was also an active member of the Rho Chi Graduate Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In 2012, he received the Rho Chi Citizen of the Year Award for his outstanding service to the Lake Charles community.
Craig embarked upon a 10-year career with the Lake Charles Fire Department and also served as the Street Promotions Director/On-Air Personality at Apex Broadcasting. His career as a first-responder led him to other roles that allowed him to help others, which he believed was his highest calling. Craig served as a Training Coordinator for the Calcasieu Medical Reserve Corps, followed by Homeland Security of Calcasieu Parish under FEMA, Director of Operations for AmeriCorps, and finally served as a Disaster Program Specialist for the American Red Cross until 2019.
Craig’s heart for service was not only demonstrated through his professional career, but also through his many acts of kindness and tireless work in the community. He was a faithful volunteer and Board member at Abraham’s Tent, which serves the homeless community of Lake Charles. Craig also supported numerous charitable organizations and events, including the Alzheimer’s Association, Ethel Precht Cancer Walk, Tournament of the Stars, Child Abuse Taskforce for the Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana, Young Men in Transition (Past President) and Habitat for Humanity (Past President).
Craig’s second home was Natchitoches and the campus of Northwestern State University, where he spent several days a year visiting friends and working with fellow alums to support students and the University at large. He was a founding member of the NSU Black Alumni Alliance, having served as Treasurer and Vice President, and was an integral part of fundraising efforts to establish the NSU BAA Endowed Scholarship. He also served on the NSU Demons Unlimited Foundation Board of Directors (formerly NSU Athletic Association). Craig was an avid supporter of NSU athletics and his love for baseball fueled his enthusiasm to establish the Ryan Family Baseball Scholarship in 2019.
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the NSU BAA, Demons Unlimited Foundation and the gentlemen of Theta Delta will be hosting a celebration of life for Craig beginning at 11 a.m. Greek organizations, NSU alumni and other groups who loved Craig are invited to join us for Craig Ryan Day at the Collins Pavilion on the tailgating field.
In memory of our dear friend, please consider making contributions to the Ryan Family Baseball Scholarship by visiting www.nsudemons.com/craigryan or by calling Dr. Haley Blount-Taitano at 318-357-4278.
“What is your footprint on this Earth? Is it leaving the world better than you found it or a trail of empty liquor bottles and empty promises? Make your mark with a giving heart and good works, you will be blessed beyond measure!” - Craig Ryan