Remembering Former Centenary Athletics Director Colonel Walter C. Stevens Jr.
Former Centenary Athletics Director Colonel Walter C. Stevens Jr. passed away last month and served as AD at the school for 13 years.
Shreveport - Former Centenary Athletics Director Colonel Walter C. Stevens Jr. passed away last month.
Stevens Jr. USAF (R) died on May 7 at the age of 93. He was born January 25, 1929, in Macon, Georgia. Walt graduated from Lanier High School in Macon, Ga. where he was Croet Colonel of Lanier High School ROTC. He attended the Virginia Military Institute before entering the United States Naval Academy in 1947. Walt graduated with the class of 1951 and elected to be commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Known as Steve at the U.S. Naval Academy, he spent his entire 30-year Air Force career in military intelligence, except for 4 years as ROTC Professor of Air Science at Georgia Tech, and attendance at several military schools. While at Georgia Tech, he coached the freshman basketball team for 3 years. He received a Master of Arts Degree from Louisiana Tech University while stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
Walt's career included tours in Georgia, Japan, Germany, Vietnam, Hawaii, and Washington, DC. At Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii, he commanded the 548th Reconnaissance Technical Group which was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. At the Pentagon, he was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency and was instrumental in the production of military intelligence for the White House, JCS, the Secretary of Defense, and the military services. His last assignment was Deputy Chief of Staff Intelligence for 8th Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, LA. Walt's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bonze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal. Following Air Force retirement, he was appointed Athletics Director at Centenary College and held that position for 13 years. He was responsible for the Intercollegiate Athletics Program, for then, the smallest Division 1 school in the country.
During his tenure at Centenary, he significantly improved the athletic facilities and started the Division NCAA Program for Women. He also served as the President of the Trans America Athletic Conference for 2 years. Walt was a member of the USNA Alumni Association, the USNA Athletic Association, the Air Force Academy Athletic Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and the First United Methodist Church of Shreveport. He was an avid sportsman who particularly enjoyed playing golf and vacationing at his family condo in Sandestin, Fla.. Walt was preceded in death by his loving wife of 71 years, the former Caroline Stillwell Stevens, of Macon, Georgia and his brother, Dr. Ed Layfield Stevens.
He is survived by his sons, Dr. Walter C. Stevens III and William Stillwell Stevens; his daughters, Norma Buteau Tarver, Paula Stevens Frierson, and Katherine Stevens Lewis; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
