Robert W. Mondy
Encyclopedia
Robert William Mondy was an historian
of the frontier
experience in the American West and South, who spent thirty-nine years, from 1935–1974, on the faculty of Louisiana Tech University
in his native Ruston
in Lincoln Parish
in north Louisiana
.
Mondy was the older of two children born to Thomas Oliver Mondy (1885–1958), a Lincoln Parish farmer and dairy
man, and the former Katie Ford Swift (1885–1966). He graduated from Ruston High School
(ca. 1925) and obtained his undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech in 1930. He taught in Jackson Parish
and then at Ruston High School during the early 1930s prior to his appointment at Louisiana Tech, effective January 1, 1935. In 1934, Mondy received his Master of Arts
degree from the University of Texas in Austin, having completed the thesis
, "A History of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana". In 1950, he received his Ph.D.
from UT under Professor Walter Prescott Webb
. Mondy's dissertation is Jesse Mercer: A Study in Frontier Religion. Jesse Mercer
(1769–1841) was a Baptist
minister originally from North Carolina
who founded Mercer University
in Macon
, Georgia
.
Related to his dissertation, Mondy also published "Jesse Mercer and the Baptist
College Movement" in Georgia Historical Quarterly 40 (December 1956): 349-59.
In 1970, he wrote "Societal Evolution of the North Louisiana Frontier" in the North Louisiana Historical Journal, since renamed North Louisiana History
. The article argues that behavior later perceived as peculiar, such as the Puritan
practice of bundling
, simply reflected an attempt to adjust to new experiences, one of the desires of individuals. In his instruction, Mondy often reminded students that new experience along with recognition, security, and response are the basic needs of mankind. He sought to apply the philosophies of the sociologists William Graham Sumner
and Albert Galloway Keller
in the teaching of history.
In the summer of 1972, Mondy wrote an essay, "The Still," in the publication North Louisiana Folklore.
The tall, lanky, bestackled Mondy died in Ruston just a few weeks shy of his 89th birthday. He and his wife, the former LaRue Barham (October 1, 1910–January 21, 1999), daughter of John Barham, had a son, Robert Wayne Mondy (born 1940), and daughter-in-law, Judy Bandy Mondy (born 1947), of Lake Charles
. Robert Wayne Mondy, a graduate of Ruston High School (1958) and Louisiana Tech University (1962 and 1968), is a retired professor of management at McNeese State University
and the co-author of the textbook Human Resource Management, in its tenth edition. Judy Mondy is the McNeese assistant professor of teacher education and a co-author of her husband's textbook. LaRue Mondy was a sister of Mrs. Joel C. Tubberville, Sr., of Minden
, Louisiana.
Mondy was also survived by a sister, Mildred M. Gullatt (born 1921) of Ruston and two granddaughters, Allison Lynn Wallace of Houston
, Texas, and Marianne Elizabeth Mondy, then of Lake Charles. Mondy was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist
Church in Lincoln Parish.
Services were held on August 19, 1997, at Kilpatrick
Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston, with the Reverend Dale Oden, associate pastor of the Temple Baptist Church of Ruston, officiating. The Mondys are interred near his parents at the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery off Lincoln Parish Road 818.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of the frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
experience in the American West and South, who spent thirty-nine years, from 1935–1974, on the faculty of Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
in his native Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
in Lincoln Parish
Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Lincoln Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Ruston. In 2004, its population was estimated to be 42,382...
in north Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Mondy was the older of two children born to Thomas Oliver Mondy (1885–1958), a Lincoln Parish farmer and dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
man, and the former Katie Ford Swift (1885–1966). He graduated from Ruston High School
Ruston High School
Ruston High School is a 4 year public high school located in the Lincoln Parish School District of Ruston, Louisiana, United States. The school has an enrollment of approximately 1200 students with 85 faculty members; the mascot is the bearcat. The school colors are red and white. Black students...
(ca. 1925) and obtained his undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech in 1930. He taught in Jackson Parish
Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Jackson Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1845 from parts of Claiborne, Ouachita, and Union Parishes. In 2010, its population was 16,274. The parish seat is Jonesboro...
and then at Ruston High School during the early 1930s prior to his appointment at Louisiana Tech, effective January 1, 1935. In 1934, Mondy received his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from the University of Texas in Austin, having completed the thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
, "A History of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana". In 1950, he received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from UT under Professor Walter Prescott Webb
Walter Prescott Webb
Walter Prescott Webb was a 20th century U.S. historian and author noted for his groundbreaking historical work on the American West. As president of the Texas State Historical Association, he launched the project that produced the Handbook of Texas...
. Mondy's dissertation is Jesse Mercer: A Study in Frontier Religion. Jesse Mercer
Jesse Mercer
Jesse Mercer was a prominent Baptist minister and a founder of Mercer University in the U.S. state of Georgia. Born in North Carolina on December 16, 1769, he was the son of Silas Mercer, a Baptist minister who moved his family to Wilkes County, Georgia in the early 1770s...
(1769–1841) was a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister originally from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
who founded Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
in Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Related to his dissertation, Mondy also published "Jesse Mercer and the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
College Movement" in Georgia Historical Quarterly 40 (December 1956): 349-59.
In 1970, he wrote "Societal Evolution of the North Louisiana Frontier" in the North Louisiana Historical Journal, since renamed North Louisiana History
North Louisiana History
North Louisiana History is an academic journal published twice annually in Shreveport, Louisiana by the North Louisiana Historical Association .-History:...
. The article argues that behavior later perceived as peculiar, such as the Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
practice of bundling
Bundling (tradition)
Bundling, or tarrying, was the traditional practice of wrapping one person in a bed accompanied by another, usually as a part of courting behavior. The tradition is thought to have originated either in the Netherlands or in the British Isles and later became common in Colonial America, especially...
, simply reflected an attempt to adjust to new experiences, one of the desires of individuals. In his instruction, Mondy often reminded students that new experience along with recognition, security, and response are the basic needs of mankind. He sought to apply the philosophies of the sociologists William Graham Sumner
William Graham Sumner
William Graham Sumner was an American academic and "held the first professorship in sociology" at Yale College. For many years he had a reputation as one of the most influential teachers there. He was a polymath with numerous books and essays on American history, economic history, political...
and Albert Galloway Keller
Albert Galloway Keller
Albert Galloway Keller was a sociologist, author, and student and colleague of William Graham Sumner.Keller is best known as the editor of William Graham Sumner’s papers in many volumes published in the early 20th century by Yale University Press...
in the teaching of history.
In the summer of 1972, Mondy wrote an essay, "The Still," in the publication North Louisiana Folklore.
The tall, lanky, bestackled Mondy died in Ruston just a few weeks shy of his 89th birthday. He and his wife, the former LaRue Barham (October 1, 1910–January 21, 1999), daughter of John Barham, had a son, Robert Wayne Mondy (born 1940), and daughter-in-law, Judy Bandy Mondy (born 1947), of Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
. Robert Wayne Mondy, a graduate of Ruston High School (1958) and Louisiana Tech University (1962 and 1968), is a retired professor of management at McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
and the co-author of the textbook Human Resource Management, in its tenth edition. Judy Mondy is the McNeese assistant professor of teacher education and a co-author of her husband's textbook. LaRue Mondy was a sister of Mrs. Joel C. Tubberville, Sr., of Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
, Louisiana.
Mondy was also survived by a sister, Mildred M. Gullatt (born 1921) of Ruston and two granddaughters, Allison Lynn Wallace of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Texas, and Marianne Elizabeth Mondy, then of Lake Charles. Mondy was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church in Lincoln Parish.
Services were held on August 19, 1997, at Kilpatrick
K.D. Kilpatrick
Kenneth Dale Kilpatrick, Sr., known as K.D. Kilpatrick , was a funeral home owner in Ruston, Louisiana, who served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate for a single term from 1972 to 1976...
Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston, with the Reverend Dale Oden, associate pastor of the Temple Baptist Church of Ruston, officiating. The Mondys are interred near his parents at the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery off Lincoln Parish Road 818.