Richard Hall Galloway

The beloved patriarch of our family, Richard Hall Galloway passed away on October 19, 2022. Richard was born, the youngest of eight children in DeRidder Louisiana on May 28, 1928 to John Henry and Edith Hall Galloway and brought up in Pineville and in Alexandria. He graduated from Bolton High School in 1946 and graduated from Louisiana State University in 1951, with a degree in Commerce. While still at LSU, he earned his Certified Social Worker credentials in 1957. He earned his Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University and in 1960, and did his field work at Southwest Louisiana Mental Hospital. In 1955, he became a children’s case worker for the Child Welfare Bureau. He sought aid to help delinquent youth. He played a major role in the establishment of a home in Calcasieu Parish for at-risk youth. It was during these years he was brought face to face with every form of human despair. He spent years working with those who experienced life’s biggest challenges and witnessed to countless who experienced pain, poverty, hunger and disease. He saw the effects of those living in ignorance, filth and decay. But even after years of working with mentally and physically challenged people and those socially deprived and outcasted, he never developed a shell of indifference. He was immensely compassionate and cared deeply for many “under dogs”. He furthered his education by attending The University of Northern Colorado and earning his PhD. in Rehabilitation Counseling. His dissertation was “A Comparative Study of Successful and Unsuccessful Vocational Rehabilitation Clients.” He followed this with an internship at Central Louisiana State Hospital. Richard came to Northwestern State University in 1961 as an instructor of special education and brought with him a wealth of experience in social work. He served as coordinator of a NSU diagnostic and evaluation team which worked with gifted children in four parishes throughout the state. His interests began to focus on rehabilitation. He genuinely wanted to help those mentally challenged lead more productive lives. He became director of the Undergraduate Program of Rehabilitation and Related Services and the Graduate program of Rehabilitation Counseling at Northwestern. In 1971 he became Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs and Major Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling. He loved Northwestern and it was his goal to give the university the best rehabilitation program to be found. He served as a consultant for several social work agencies and facilities. He was a member of The White House Conference on Children and Youth and countless prestigious professional organizations including American Association for Counseling and Development, National Rehabilitation Association, Louisiana Rehabilitation Counseling Association, National Association of Social Workers, Academy of Certified Social Workers, and was a member of Phi Delta Kappa Honorary Fraternity, Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi, National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals in the Private Sector, and Rho Chi Sigma National Honor Society in Rehabilitation Counseling Services. He became a licensed Professional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Board Member of the La. Licensed Professional Rehabilitation. Richard never wanted to retire. He loved his vocation and during the last thirty years he worked as a consultant to several law firms in personal injury and worker compensation cases. He testified for numerous plaintiff and defense attorneys. He was declared a Vocational Expert Witness in numerous state and federal courts including Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. He appeared and testified at over 8,000 Social Security Hearings. He was equally devoted to friends and family. He adored his wife of 68 years, Lynn Rutledge Galloway. They loved the Natchitoches community and served in many leadership capacities together. In 1981 they served as Co-chairmen of The Natchitoches Christmas Festival. They were active members and leaders at First United Methodist Church for over 60 years. Richard enjoyed traveling with Lynn immensely and treasured the life they made. They enjoyed the great times they had in the Krewe de Sant Denis, going to Northwestern events and sports. They were both ardent LSU Tiger fans and shared many hours both in the stands in Baton Rouge and back at home in front of their television. He loved his many years of golf outings with friends. Richard is preceded in death by his beloved Lynn and daughter Jeni Lynn along with his 7 siblings, brothers, John Russell Galloway and wife Bernice, James Henry Galloway and wife Mary Lou, Murray Martin Galloway and wife Ruth, Sheldon Howard Galloway and wife Faye, and sisters Iva Lee Galloway Barker and husband Claude, Jane Nell Galloway Ardoin, and husband Ozzie, and Ethel Galloway. Richard deeply appreciated the guidance, support and love of his siblings who all took part in helping to raise him after the loss of both parents at an early age. He fondly reminisced over the devotion shown by his eldest brother, John “Russell” who he lived with for several years. His two nephews, John Patrick (Pat) and Thomas Russell (Tommy) and great nephew John Patrick held a special place in his heart. He is survived by his adoring daughter Mitzi Galloway Gray and husband Gary of Conroe, TX., and two grandchildren who were the light of his life, Jeni McKenzie Nikpour and husband Adam of Brooklyn, NY and Ethan Gray of Houston, TX. Services will be held on Monday, October 24 at 1:00, with visitation beginning at 11:00 at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA.