By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE -- In the minds of many people -- many hundreds of people -- Byron McGee is a name synonymous with Louisiana College perhaps because he invested 35 years of his life on the Hill in Pineville. More than that, McGee -- a 1979 LC alumnus -- worked in Louisiana College’s admissions office for more than three decades, also worked in alumni relations, and concluded his tenure with three years as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “In one sense it seems like 35 years have passed, and in another it seems just like yesterday,” said McGee, whose last official day is Dec. 31. “I’ve made some great friends and worked with great colleagues. The people working here now are doing a great job under Dr. Brewer’s leadership.” “The relationships I have made over the years mean the most to me. I met my wife Cay here. All my children went to school here. It’s been a great time. Louisiana College has been my life, and I will cherish the memories very much,” he said. “Byron went from recruiting thousands of students to hundreds of donors,” said Rick Brewer, Louisiana College president. “He’s done a great job. He’s one of the most easy-going people I’ve ever worked with. The past three years of … [Read more...]

BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM)--Pastor Brad Jurkovich reassured members of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, "There's hope today," Dec. 16 during the first Sunday worship service following a devastating fire only days before that impacted about three-quarters of the facilities on the church campus. His message to a packed crowd in the main worship center was consistent with his statements to the media that "God is in control ... we are going to press forward and trust Him," On Dec. 10 a three-alarm fire began at 5:30 a.m., originating with an uninterruptible power supply backup battery for a computer. The flames began in an office space near Faith Chapel -- the original worship center -- and spread quickly to the attic and other buildings including the childcare center and various youth facilities. About 65 firefighters fought the blaze, finally extinguishing it about 3:30 p.m. that same day. The congregation held a meeting in the Bossier Civic Center on Wednesday, Dec. 12, to pray, worship and organize for recovery, but the Sunday service was the first post-fire gathering on campus. There was an extended time for expressing gratitude to first responders and thanking officials for their support, but Jurkovich … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE -- Robert E. "Bro. Bob" Anderson, longtime pastor of Parkview Baptist Church and the founder of one of Louisiana’s largest private schools, Parkview Baptist, passed away on Dec. 13. The 84-year-old Anderson, who had battled Parkinson's disease for seven years, died at his home surrounded by family. Born April 29, 1934, his mother Edith died of tuberculosis just eleven months later. Bob and his brothers were taken in by his paternal grandmother. A Shreveport native, Anderson committed his life to Jesus Christ at a crusade meeting led by the Rev. Billy Graham in 1951. He graduated from East Texas Baptist University, received his masters of divinity from Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from the International Bible Institute and Seminary. In 1951, 17-year-old Bob went with his Fair Park High football team to hear a young evangelist named Billy Graham speak in Shreveport. "I went forward and gave my heart to Christ," he said later. "Jesus became very real to me." So real, in fact, he answered the call to become a minister. His team won the state championship the next year. This began a life of winning from winning the heart of his high school sweetheart, Rochelle Reeves, whom he … [Read more...]