Martha Jeanne Hoover Crombie – Social Studies Education, 1976

Martha Jeanne Hoover Crombie

Social Studies Education – 1976

Dear Dr. Dugas:

I am Martha Jeanne Hoover, a 1976 graduate of the USL College of Education with a major in secondary education/social studies.  Many of my fondest memories of USL involved the wonderful opportunities given to me as a member of what was then known as A, the Student Louisiana Teachers Association, and Kappa Delta Pi.  During those years, I made life-long friends and met Dr. Roland Broussard, Mr. Bruce Holmes and Dr. Clayton Arceneaux (A) and Mrs. Mary Ducharme (Kappa Delta Pi).  I’m sure we gave them more than a few headaches over the years, but they persistently encouraged us to stay involved and set tough goals for ourselves.

In SLTA, Kermit Rogers and I held state offices and my friends Stephanie Broussard, Mary Vincent, Jacques Lasseigne, Bill Miller and Merrill Dowling all held USL chapter offices.  We learned how to plan, organize and execute programs and events (banquets,  conventions) that were attended by hundreds of college students and dozens of faculty.  A was my first “trial balloon”  in collegiate activities.  I am grateful for the encouragement I received and the friendships I made.

Kappa Delta Pi was another great experience I had never before (nor since) traveled with seven friends and luggage packed into a station wagon (university issue, of course) for the fourteen hours trip to a national convention!  Our friend, Madeleine Broussard was a national officer, and she had gone ahead with Mrs. Ducharme to Orlando by plane.  To this day, they had no idea the experiences they missed by flying.  These included:

Nearly running out of gas and having to wait in the wee hours of the morning for a rural Alabama gas station to open at daybreak;

Laughing at Rick Elliot’s jokes for 14 hours and then threatening him with his life if he dared tell another; and

Talking through the night about our youthful dreams and aspirations.

To this day, I am moved when I remember that trip and how Jacques Lasseigne shared with me that he would be the first person in his entire family to graduate from college.  He described in whispered, hushed tones what it would be like on graduation day, when his entire Catahoula/St. Martinville family–parents, grandparents and cousins–would be in Blackham Coliseum for his graduation.  I could imagine hearing their cheering, seeing their pride.  And best of all, it came true.

This was what USL was for me:  a place where students from all kinds of families, with all sorts of backgrounds could come together on a level playing field to try for the brass ring:  a first-class college education – a brass ring each one of us would reach.  In that environment,  it didn’t matter whether we were rich or poor, large or small, black or white, exceptional or average we could reach our goals if we worked, and yes – even played – hard.

            Although nothing on my resume would indicate I have been a classroom teacher, my education at USL did shape me into a teacher of people:  an observer of human nature, an empathetic person who works hard to see the potential in every person.  Following my USL years, including five years as a staff member, I held a fellowship and earned my masters degree in organizational communication at The University of Texas at Austin.  My career took me into the hospital industry where I have served as a director of marketing, a vice president for strategic planning and business development, and now, a healthcare management consultant.

            Along the way, I’ve managed to stay in touch with USL, serving as president of the Alumni Association in 1990 and 1991.  I’ve also been a community activist for public education through various adopt-a-school programs and citizen panels.  I owe much of my career and my worldview to the strong roots planted and so lovingly nurtured for me by the USL College of Education.

Sincerely,

Martha Hoover Crombie