Corinne Ohlsen Randazzo – Elementary Education, 1954

Corinne B. Ohlsen Randazzo, 1954

Major:  Elementary Education

Minor:  Library Science

                Yeah, Rouge!  Yeah, Blanc!  Yeah, Bulldogs!  Allons!

                Buchanan Hall, Miss Soulier and her cowbell.  Freshman curfew hours Monday through Thursday, 8:00pm, Friday – 10:30pm, Saturday – 11:00pm.  PDE – ASK Socials.  Stunt night.  Football games and Excursions by Train.  Basketball games.  Red Jackets and Miss Mac.  Big Band dances in the gym.  Camellia Pageant and Jamboree.  Father Sigur, Catholic Student Center and Newman Club.  Long walks to classes in Little Abbeville.  Harris Hall and our large first floor room.  Professor ice skating on Cypress Lake.  Student Council and Women’s Student Government and our trips to Florida State and Texas Women’s University.  Student teaching at Hamilton Training School.  Deans:  Abel, Roth, Edwards, Hamilton and Doucet.  Teachers:  Miss Carstens, Miss McMillan, Mr. Monk, Mr. Bernard (I.A.).  Mr. Bercegay, Dr. Eyster.  Adminstrators:  Mr. Kit Carson and President Fletcher.  Off campus spot (a no-no) was Voorhies.  Beautiful camellias.

                After graduation, I was employed as librarian at St. Martinville High School until May, 1959.  During this time I completed my M.S. in Library Science from L.S.U. and married Samuel Randazzo of St. Martinville.

                In 1959, we moved to my hometown of Vidalia, and I began my 36-year career as librarian at Natchez High School (Natchez, MS) and later as Supervisor of Library/Media Services for the district.  In 1961, my only child, a daughter, was born.  Sam served as Mayor of Vidalia for eight years–so I served and enjoyed being the first lady.

I completed my Specialist degree at the University of Southern Mississippi.  In the summers, I taught library science at University of Southern Mississippi, University of Oklahoma and University of Tennessee (8 summers).  Under my supervision the Natchez School libraries were the first to be computerized in the state of Mississippi, and the elementary libraries were chosen in the “Top 10” for Encyclopedia Britannica awards in 1969.

I am now retired and enjoying the accomplishments of my daughter, her husband and my twelve-year-old grandson.  We have traveled; although Sam now limits his, but that doesn’t limit mine.  I volunteer in two schools and work with the Concordia Council on Aging and with my church, Our Lady of Lourdes.

I am still active and still possess my happy character.  My wonderful years at S.L.I. will forever be some of my most memorable ones.

Corinne O. Randazzo