“In the Spotlight”

One of the things I enjoy most about my work is seeing  people I know today as they were years before. Sometimes this is funny–hair styles, strange clothing, etc.–but other times the remarkable thing is how much they have stayed the same. I was stopped cold by this phenomenon the other day.

Back in the 1930s and ’40s The Owl magazine used to run a regular feature called “In The Spotlight.” It highlighted several students each issue, explaining why they were in the spotlight and giving a little personal snapshot. I was truly delighted to find this one.

I felt a shock of recognition when I read the first line. Both Demaris (’42) and her husband Hank Hudspeth (’40) have spent their lives willing to do the hard work for Rice without thought of recognition. Listing their contributions would be more work than I can bite off right now, but I remember especially Demaris’s years spent helping foreign students learn English. It’s heartening (but not surprising) to see that she’s always been the same fine person.

Bonus: Shepherd School bunny. See it hiding there just left of the bush? They’re everywhere, I tell you, and they seem to be getting quite large.