In 1994 the Board of Trustees of Southfield School established the Southfield School Hall of Fame. Portraits of the first three inductees, all distinguished alumni, were hung in the stairwell hall between the gymnasium and the middle school commons area.

Following the establishment of an Alumni Association in 1999, the Association took on responsibility for the Hall of Fame and its related activities. In the meantime, the family of H. Walker Perritt, the father and grandfather of Southfield alumni, donated funds given by family and friends in his memory to refurbish the gymnasium foyer area as a special hall highlighting alumni and honoring those inducted into the Hall of Fame. A beautiful library-paneled area now showcases all Hall of Fame honorees, including four former faculty and staff members who were inducted in 1999, Dr. Mel ('42) and Lea Morton Johnson who were inducted in 2002 and our most recent inductees Imogene Whyte Murphy, William J. (Bill) Atkins and Frances McMillan Schierer who were inducted into the Hall of Fame in May 2005.

The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor alumni and others who embody the spirit and principles of Southfield School for their contributions to community and/or to the Southfield family. Nominations for inclusion in the Hall of Fame may be made by any alumnus of the School and may be sent to the alumni office.

Robert B. Oakley
Robert B. Oakley was born in Dallas, raised in Shreveport, and attended Southfield School. He graduated from South Kent School in South Kent, Connecticut, and Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and history. He served as a U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer in Japan. After military service, he attended Tulane University and entered the Foreign Service.

He is perhaps best known for his service as the President's Special Envoy for Somalia. He had a long and distinguished career in the Foreign Service, including an assignment as Ambassador to Pakistan. He was awarded the State Department Meritorious Award and the State Department Distinguished Honor Award.

J. Bennett Johnston
J. Bennett Johnston was born in Shreveport, attended Southfield School and graduated from C. E. Byrd High School. He studied at Washington and Lee University and the United States Military Academy. He received a law degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge before entering the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant.

He was elected to both the Louisiana House of Representative and Senate before his election to the U.S. Senate in 1972. Senator Johnston served four six-year terms in the Senate before retiring from public service in 1996. While in the U.S. Senate, he served on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Appropriations Committee, both of which he chaired.

Jacques L. Wiener, Jr.
Jacques L. Wiener, Jr. was born in Shreveport and attended Southfield from 1940-1948. He graduated from Byrd High School and received his undergraduate and law degrees from Tulane University in New Orleans. He served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

A partner and co-founder of the Wiener, Weiss, Madison and Howell law firm in Shreveport, he is currently serving as Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Judge Wiener's civic involvement has included serving as president of the United Way, vice president of the Boy Scouts of America, and a trustee of Southfield School.

Josephine G. Carmody Honoree Josephine Carmody is a life-long Shreveporter, leaving only for her college years at Marymount College in New York state. She holds her master's degree plus 30 hours in education and psychology, attending classes for many years while teaching at Southfield School, thus demonstrating the "joy of learning" that was her philosophy to instill in every child.

Teaching a year of kindergarten and two years of second grade, followed by 38 years as a first grade teacher, Miss Carmody touched the lives of many children with her encouragement, sensitivity to individual needs, and spirited approach to learning. She especially enjoyed the sense that Southfield was an extended home environment for each child: giving him security, and developing lasting bonds between teacher, student, and parent.

Hazel Kytle The Headmistress of Southfield from 1941 until 1966, Hazel Kytle laid a strong foundation at Southfield School by enriching the curriculum with French, music, physical education and the study of ancient civilizations. After graduating from the Teachers College at Columbia University she continued to study and pursue her interest in progressive teaching methods. She vigorously recruited the best teachers she could find from colleges "Back East" to bring the finest educational opportunities available to her students at Southfield.

Underlying her every effort, was her desire to instill in every child a "love of reading." To that end, she frequently read to students herself, she encouraged each teacher and parent to make reading an important part of every day, and she assisted in the development of the "Book Fair" which continues to be a Southfield tradition.

Janet Bliss Butcher Mrs. Janet Bliss Butcher began teaching kindergarten at Southfield School in 1946. She taught for three years, took a 13-year hiatus and then returned to Southfield to teach second grade from 1962 until her retirement in 1993. During those years, Mrs. Butcher became well-known for the annual building of "Electric City," and the participation of many classes in the creation of Indian villages, Mayflower ships of paper, milk carton-Plymouth Plantations, and carrying her lunch in a neat little basket with a napkin!

Mrs. Butcher received her degree in Elementary Education from Wheelock College in Boston and was recruited to Southfield by former Headmistress Hazel Kytle. Her teaching philosophy, developed through education and experience, includes these words: "Teachers with personal initiative and imagination can raise the level of teaching with unlimited possibilities."

In her comments at the opening of Back to School night in September of 1989, Mrs. Butcher said, "I am amazed that I am still excited and interested in returning to Southfield each fall. I think about it and realize it's the environment-eager children, interested parents, and working with teachers who love what they are doing. When you visit your child's room tonight, you will see the unique and boundless enrichment that rests within these walls…the core of our philosophy. And to end on a personal note-I can't tell you how very happy I am to have been a part of it all-this Southfield Family."

Manelle Weaver Former history teacher, Manelle Weaver, is truly part of the history at Southfield School. Mrs. Weaver taught Modern, World, American, and Louisiana History to Southfield middle-schoolers for a span of 25 years…from 1963-1988. Her own abiding interest in history and the people and places who made it, brought it alive and created long-term interest in it among many of her students. Her vast collection of slides taken on trips to the places she taught about, was legendary, as was the South Louisiana field trip which she pioneered. Her personal teaching philosophy focused on helping students understand that historical facts were created by real people, influenced by the culture and time periods in which they lived.

Mrs. Weaver received her BFA from the University of Cincinnati. As a young woman, she was a fine dancer, and one of the special memories that many students have of Mrs. Weaver was the incentive of seeing her unpin her long (but always pinned-up) hair and dance! This was only offered for very unusual and outstanding accomplishments! Mrs. Weaver always had very high expectations of her students, and she worked closely with them and with their parents to see that her students reached their greatest potential.

Dr. and Mrs. Melvin Johnson (Lea & Mel) Dorothy Johnson, Dr. Mel Johnson's mother, was one of the founders of Southfield School. He began at Southfield in the 7th grade, in the graduating class of 1942. Lea Morton Johnson was raised in Cambridge, MA, attended the independent Shady Hill School, graduated from Smith College in 1949 and was recruited to teach at Southfield School by Headmistress Hazel Kytle. They married while Mel was in the Navy in 1952 and began their family while Mel was completing his medical residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans.

All of their children--Eric, Neil and Margo--attended Southfield School, where both Dr. and Mrs. Johnson were active supporters and involved especially with the annual Book Fair. Two of their grandchildren have also attended Southfield--Bradford who completed the eighth grade in 2003 and Hannah who completed the eighth grade in 2006. They are the children of Neil Johnson and Rita Hummingbird. As alumni, past parents, and as current grandparents, Mel and Lea continue an over 60 year legacy of involvement with and support of Southfield School.

Imogene Whyte Murphy Imogene Murphy's commitment to Southfield is notable for its length and consistency as both a parent and a grandparent of Southfield students. Imogene has served on both the Board of trustees and the Foundation Board. She has also supported many projects over the years, including most recently, the start of our Archives at Noel Memorial Library, founding of our First Ladies of Southfield group and organizing our Annual Trustee Reunion.

William J. (Bill) Atkins Mr. Atkins has been a pillar of the Southfield community for over four decades, supporting ht School generously in many roles; as a parent, grandparent, Foundation Board Member, Trustee and advisor.

Frances McMillan Schierer As a personal friend of Hazel Kytle and a teacher and parent during Southfield's earliest years, Frances McMillan Schierer is an important link to the School's past. She has been able to bridge the gap across generations for us. She is one of the first and most committed of Southfield's historians.

Judith Meyer Cox Retired faculty member. Inducted January, 2008

James B. Haynes, Jr. Class of 1946. Alumnus, Past Parent, Grandparent, Former Trustee Inducted January, 2008

John B. Hussey, Jr. Class of 1952. Alumnus, Past Parent, Former Trustee Inducted January, 2008

Janet Morrison Burgess Janet Morrison Burgess started her teaching career at Southfield in 1958. She taught only for one year as she became pregnant with her son, Michael Morrison '77, who she then stayed home to raise. Janet returned to Southfield in 1963 as a 4-year-old preschool teacher. Janet said that the teachers were always encouraged to have plays or programs with their students so she and the music teacher, Mrs. Gobig, decided to present the “Maypole” in May of 1969. The “Maypole” had been a Southfield tradition at “Family Nights” in the 1950s, but it was “Miss Morrison” who started the Maypole tradition for the 4-year-old students at Southfield, a joyous celebration that continues today. Janet continued teaching at Southfield until she retired in 1986.

Gene Hamner “Coach Hamner,” as he was lovingly called, was a teacher at Southfield for 21 years until his retirement in 1993. He is best known for his kind and generous leadership as a coach. He was a successful coach of football, baseball and basketball teams at Southfield and a beloved PE teacher as well. Even after his retirement, Coach Hamner spent many days back on campus as a substitute PE teacher. His smiling face and positive attitude were always contagious. A number of Coach Hamner's athletes went on to play college sports and still have a love for sports today.

Aaron Selber, Jr. Aaron Selber, Jr., was in one of the very first classes at Southfield School. In his acceptance speech for his Hall of Fame induction, he fondly remembered his time as a student. He even brought a beautifully carved wooden bowl he made in woodshop at Southfield. After his time at the school as a student, he spent many more hours as a parent leader on the Board of Trustees during the time his four daughters attended: Patty Newton '73, Pam Weston '75, Polly Gleichenhaus '79 and Penny Autenreith '81. Mr. Selber and his wife, Peggy, are generous philanthropists not only to Southfield but to a number of other charitable organizations. He remains an active member of the Foundation Board.