Foundation Ties Harriet and D.C. “Chick” Green • Donors • D.C. “Chick” Green Professorship in Mass Communication
TRUE BLUE
While its surname denotes a different color, the Green family’s blood runs “true blue.” The late D.C. “Chick” Green, wife Harriet, five children and three grandchildren are avid McNeese supporters.
Harriet and D.C. “Chick”
Green
Chick enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17 upon graduating from DeRidder High School. After 18 months of service, he returned to the Lake Area in 1948 and enrolled at John McNeese Junior College. He was commissioned an Army lieutenant from McNeese’s ROTC program in 1952 and pursued a military career for the next 25 years. While stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., Chick met Harriet Ann Baird. Harriet was at the base visiting relatives. They married in 1958 and raised five children: twins Ron and Don and Laura, Donna and Meg. Chick served in Korea and Vietnam and in Germany during the construction of the Berlin Wall. In 1967, he retired with the rank of Major. Chick’s last stop before retirement was teaching in McNeese’s ROTC program. He loved the University, particularly its sports program. He and Harriet attended every home football game for 30 years and rarely missed an away game. They supported basketball almost as faithfully. Harriet and Chick both received graduate degrees from McNeese. Chick, who had attended McNeese as a junior college, a state college and a university, completed a master’s degree in education in guidance and counseling in 1971. Harriet completed a doctorate in education in 1981, one of the last classes to do so before the doctorate program was eliminated. Chick was president of the McNeese 100 Club, the Cowboy Club and the Alumni Association. He was a charter member of the Football Club and the Pinch Hitter’s Club and was a member of the Foundation President’s Circle, the Alumni Founders 100 Club, the Tip-off Club, the Cowgirl Club and Friends of the Library. Chick served as police juror for five terms. He influenced many students through his teaching at Oak Park Middle School, Lake Charles High, Lake Charles-Boston, Westlake and Sam Houston high schools and his counseling at LaGrange High School. He retired from the school system after 22 years and died in 1997. “The D.C. ‘Chick’ Green Professorship in Mass Communication was used for faculty to travel to a conference in order to keep up with fast moving developments in the field. I sincerely thank Harriet for the professorship, especially in light of McNeese’s financial constraints which do not allow for travel.”
Carrie Chrisco, Ph.D. Head and Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communication 12 12
To honor Chick was to honor his lifelong commitment to McNeese. The D.C. “Chick” Green Professorship in Mass Communication was created by the family to raise awareness of the power of the media and the importance of good ethics and training for those entering the field. “The University is important to our region in providing a quality education on a very tight budget. Many people think that they are not rich enough to give and that philanthropy is only in the realm of the wealthy. Each contribution, no matter how small, is valuable,” stated Harriet. Donna and Meg are McNeese graduates and Ron, Don and Laura attended. Grandsons Manny and Gunner Busch are currently students. Cousin Benji Owens will enroll in the spring.