William David Garrett

William David "Red" Garrett died Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Mr. Garrett was born Aug. 31, 1926, in El Dorado, Ark. He graduated from Forest High School, served in the Air Force, attended Northeast Junior College and the University of Southwestern Louisiana, from where he graduated in 1953. He began his career in vocational education in 1955 at Louisiana Vocational School in Winnsboro. In 1958, he was named guidance counselor and assistant director at the Sullivan Campus in Bogalusa. While in Bogalusa he and his wife, Catherine "Cat," were proprietors of the "Corner Cash." An appointment to director in 1969 brought him to the Baton Rouge Louisiana Technical College campus. During his tenure, Baton Rouge became the second campus in the state to receive accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2005, Mr. Garrett was awarded the status of director emeritus of Louisiana Technical College District II. Mr. Garrett's professional and personal memberships included the Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors, president of the Civitan Club, Louisiana Director's Association, America Vocational Association and Louisiana Vocational Association. While residing in Bogalusa he was lecturer and director for Christian doctrine at Annunciation Catholic Church. He had been a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church for 40 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 5530, having served as a Fourth Degree Grand Knight. He and his wife loved dancing especially at local nursing homes and retirement centers. Mr. Garrett was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Estelle Garrett; and two brothers, Charles Garrett Jr. and Jimmy Garrett. He was a loving husband to Catherine Fury Garrett, his wife of 60 years; and a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather to his daughters, Cathy Garrett Olsen and husband Clifton, of Bogalusa, Marla Garrett Weaver and husband Rusty, and Rose Marie Garrett, of Baton Rouge; his grandchildren, Hans David "Turk" Olsen, Judy Marie Weaver, Derek Adam Olsen and David Dean Weaver; and his great-grandchildren, Peyton James Plaisance, Ruston Paul Allain and Cooper Dean Lambert. The visitation will be on Saturday, March 20, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church from 10 a.m. till the time of the rosary at 11 a.m. and followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Mr. Garrett's family request in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Louisiana Special Olympics, an organization he supported with all of his heart.