Agnes Edwards was already known for her "gentle and persuasive guidance" when she stepped off the train to take over as dean of women at the Southwestern Louisiana Institute in 1928.

She stayed for nearly 30 years, announcing her retirement 50 years ago this week. She said her life and tenure at the school had been "a wonderful experience," but that it was time for her to go home to her native Florida and do some fishing in the Gulf."

Before coming to Lafayette she'd worked with disabled World War I veterans, teaching them, among other things, English, French, mathematics and agriculture. The soil studies she gave to the veterans "resulted in flower boxes billowing with blooms" at the Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, where she worked with "her boys."

She'd also worked with blind veterans in another program, before returning to her native Florida to become dean of women at Florida State University for Women at Tallahassee.

She came to SLI from that job.

SLI (UL today) "was young and struggling" when she arrived, she said in a newspaper interview in 1957, "and the budget was austere."

"I was most impressed during my early days here by the spirit of friendliness and helpfulness that prevailed among the members of the small faculty," she said.

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Jim Bradshaw
Acadiana Diary