Notables to be recognized at East Ridge Oct. 17

The 2019 Hall of Fame Luncheon will be held Thursday, Oct. 17, at East Ridge Country Club at 11 a.m. Tickets are $30 per person. For more information, please call Marilyn Prothro at 318-364-5455.

Honorees to be recognized by C.E. Byrd Alumni Association are:

Thomas (Mac) Bosley, M.D., class of 1968, lives in Villanova, Pa. Dr. Bosley is currently the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. After receiving his B.A. from Yale and his M.D. from Stanford, he completed a neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed fellowships in neuro-ophthalmology at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and in neurochemistry at the Institute of Neurology, Queens Square, London. Upon completion of his training, Dr. Bosley joined the neuro-ophthalmology unit at Wills Eye Hospital. He practiced at Wills Eye Hospital and other teaching hospitals in the Philadelphia area for the next 15 years.

Dr. Bosley and his family also lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he became the only full-time neuro-ophthalmologist in the Middle East. Through this experience he became interested in genetic issues and helped to describe three previously unidentified genetic problems, together with the responsible genes, including one now known as the Bosley-Salih-Alorainy syndrome.

During his career, Dr. Bosley has been chief at different times of two neurology departments and two neuroophthalmology divisions. He has been the director of two neurology residency programs and also founded a neurology residency program and neuroophthalmology fellowship program. He has co-authored more than 200 articles and chapters.

While attending Byrd, Dr. Bosley was president of the Student Medical Association, V.P. of Science Club, a member of the National Honor Society, elected to Pelican State, as well as a National Merit Semi-Finalist.

Ann Caulkins, class of 1980, lives in Charlotte, N.C. She is currently the senior vice president of Novant Health and president of Novant Health Foundations. She previously had a 34-year career in the newspaper industry. Her newspaper career began at the Fort Worth Telegram and took her to Lexington, Ky., where she worked at the Herald-Leader. Ms. Caulkins spent four years as president and publisher of The State in Columbia, S.C. She served 12 years as president and publisher of The Charlotte Observer.

She was Knight Ridder’s first female publisher of a major metro newspaper and also received the Excellence Award in Journalism and Technology Innovations. In 2012 Ms. Caulkins was awarded the Charlotte Business Woman of the Year.

During her time at C.E. Byrd High School, Caulkins was on the High Life staff, a member of the National Honor Society, a varsity cheerleader and on the homecoming court. After graduation, she attended Baylor University and Simmons College Graduate School of Business, Executive MBA Program.

Dr. Ryan C. Holmes, class of 1996, resides in Coral Gables, Fla. Dr. Holmes serves as associate vice president of student affairs and dean of students at the University of Miami, Fla. He oversees the policies and procedures governing student conduct, Greek life, student crisis, alcohol and drug education, veterans’ services and the chaplain’s association. Dr. Holmes is a sought-after speaker and consultant on topics on social justice, bias, conflict resolution and entitlements.

Dr. Holmes’ twin professional passions and commitments are to community and music. He has worked with the New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center & the Boys Hope/Girls Hope (New Orleans). He created and chaired both the La Salle University Community Building Team and the “Meet the Neighbor” program. Dr. Holmes sang the national anthem for President Barack Obama in El Paso and has performed and opened for many national acts.

Upon graduation from Byrd, Holmes enrolled in Loyola University (New Orleans) and majored in music and minored in history. Throughout his time at Loyola, he worked with the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble on his horn and also performed vocally with the Loyola chorus and chorale as a baritone and bassist. He also enjoyed performing soul, hip-hop, blues and R & B at night at venues such as Tipitina’s and House of Blues. As an upperclassman at Loyola, Holmes served as Student Government Association president.

While attending Byrd High School, Holmes was drum major of the Byrd Band, in the Key Club, and was selected to District Honor Band in 1992-1996 as well as the Three-States Honor Band.

Mary Joris, class of 1957, lives in Shreveport. Ms. Joris is an actor, director, producer and educator. Her professional career has taken her from Dallas, New York and back to her home state of Louisiana. Ms. Joris’ professional work in NYC as an actor and director expanded over three decades, including the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park and the Venture Theatre. She worked and studied with actors such as Burl Ives, Zero Mostel and Greer Garson and originated roles in several well-known plays.

Ms. Joris returned to her hometown of Shreveport in the early ‘90s and became a founding member of The Company at East Bank Theatre. She currently acts and directs at Shreveport Little Theatre. She also shares her talents and passion for the arts with many local agencies including Mercy Center, VOA Lighthouse, Philadelphia Center and Rutherford House. Joris also conducts workshops and acting classes for children and adults.

While attending Byrd High School, Joris was a member of the Drama Club and Latin Club. She performed the lead role in Byrd’s play, “The Night of June 16.” Upon graduation, Joris attended Baylor University, where she studied theatre. She also attended Baylor’s graduate program at the Dallas Theatre and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC.

Thomas Fuller Ruffin, class of 1942, was a resident of Shreveport until his death in 2009. He worked as a stockbroker for over 40 years. His passion was history, and he wrote and published over 75 articles on the Ark-La-Tex region. Mr. Ruffin also wrote several history books for his church, Noel Memorial United Methodist. In addition, he wrote the text for “Under Stately Oaks: A Pictorial History of LSU” released in 2002 and 2006. During his 83 years, he served on many civic committees including Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Shreveport Symphony, the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and Volunteers of America. He also served as the president of the LSU Alumni Association (Baton Rouge), state president of the Louisiana Jaycees and the national vice president for the U.S. Jaycees.

While at Byrd he was a part of the Debate Team and ROTC. He studied mechanical engineering at LSU in Baton Rouge and graduated in 1947. He was a World War II veteran in the U.S. Navy.

Robert A. Crosby is the Byrd Faculty Inductee for 2019. After graduation from Bethune Jr./Sr. High School in 1972, Mr. Crosby earned his math education degree in 1976 from Southern University in Baton Rouge. In 1998 he received his Master of Education degree from LSU- Shreveport.

In 1976 he began his career at C.E. Byrd High School. Mr. Crosby taught mathematics, physical science, computer literacy and applied algebra. In addition to teaching, he also coached boys’ basketball, boys’ soccer and boys’ and girls’ track. For many years he served as the athletic business manager and SADD faculty advisor. Crosby became Caddo Parish School System’s first administrative discipline coordinator and created the Save Our Students (SOS) program to deter gang violence in our schools.

In 2008, Mr. Crosby retired from the City of Byrd. He continues to help and assist the youth of our area by volunteering his time through mentoring and scholarship programs.