When you think of a role model, who comes to mind?  In this day, most children will immediately think of the likes of Michael Jordan.  Back in "the day" when modern-day "role models" were still in diapers, our role models were our parents, our teachers, and in most of our case, it was Mr. Blow.

Mr. Blow was the first black principal of Bienville High School.  For many of us who endured the racial tension of integration, having a black principal was indeed a major triumph.  And for most, it finally brought about a sense of acceptance.

Mr. Blow was not just a principal; he wore many hats:
 

• He was school counselor -- he provided advice that many of us would carry through adulthood.
• He was a father figure -- when we got unruly at school, rather than suspend us from school, he called us to the office and paddled our behinds.  Believe me, it only took one paddling and he had no more trouble out of us.  And the mere thought of any student bringing so much as a butter knife to school was totally unheard of.  Makes you wonder where along the way did the ball drop to have students shooting up classmates.
• He was the disciplinarian -- Mr. Blow was the "Joe Clark" of Bienville Parish.  All it took was him standing at the end of the hall; not uttering a word.  We knew that meant "be quiet and get on to your next class".  If a classroom got noisy, he only had to peer through the window and instant silence covered the room.  When we went to school functions like basketball games, and got rowdy and unruly, he would come and sit in the midst of us and order was immediately restored.  Even as adults, we are still careful not to get unruly in Mr. Blow's presence.

  To illustrate the level of respect knowing Mr. Blow has garnered, I would like to share an incident that happened just recently:
  

  A group of people gathered at a local restaurant to celebrate the birthday of one
  of the old-timers in the Bienville community.  Mr. Blow was in attendance.  The birthday lady (who's well over 65) found that she was going to be sitting near Mr. Blow.  When Mr. Blow left the table for a minute, she changed seats.  When asked why she was moving, she said I like to lick my fingers when I eat and I'll have to use my manners if I'm sitting next to Mr. Blow.  Twice more during the evening, the birthday lady waited until Mr. Blow left the table to say something naughty.  She said she couldn't say them in front of Mr. Blow.  Now I'm not certain, but I believe the birthday lady is a tad bit older than Mr. Blow.  To see her show such respect for this man speaks for the type of man that he is.  The group consisted of at least 25 persons ranging from ages 6 months - 80 years old.  Not one person used profanity; not one person was loud and unruly.  What a man!
  
• He was our teacher and inspiration -- He took a personal interest in our educational development.  When he noticed a student's grades dropping, he called you into his office and gave you a lecture on the importance an education.  In his class, the student was challenged to learn.  If you were asked a question to which the answer had previously been given, you were not excused from his class until you answered that question.  If time ran out and you still hadn't answered the question, your homework was to write the answer 100 times.  If time permitted, you sometimes had to write it on the blackboard.  Believe me, if you had to write something 100 times, chances are you'd never forget it.  At the time, it seemed like cruel punishment.  Looking back, we can see how it aided in the learning process.  Mr. Blow showed a genuine concern for his students.
• He was our taxi at times -- When we had ball practice or ball games, he never left the school until every student had gone.  There were times he even took some of us home.  This is just another example of how Mr. Blow was not JUST our principal; he was our friend.

Though he's no longer actively invoved with the school system, he still keeps up with Bienville High School and its current and former students.  He remains a constant mentor in all our lives.  The encouraging words are ever-present whenever we encounter him.  Through the many years, his genuine concern for our success in life has remained.  Thank God for our guardian angel -- Thank God for Mr. Blow.