Collie Nicholson services announced
September 19, 2006
SHREVEPORT, LA - Services for Collie J. Nicholson will be held
Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Matthew A.M.
E. Church. Officiating will be Reverend Gwendolyn James. Interment
with military honors will follow in Forest Park West Cemetery.
Mr. Nicholson passed away September 13, 2006. He was born July
7, 1921 in Winnfield, LA to the union of Jeff and Bessie Nicholson.
 His parents; sister Doris and brother Artie preceded him in
death. He is survived by his wife, Ophelia Nicholson; son,
Carl James "Jimmy" Nicholson and his wife, Donna
of Houston, Texas; daughter, Shirley Rhodes of Shreveport,
LA; two grandsons, Christopher J. Nicholson; and Carl J. Nicholson
II; and one great-grandson, Christopher Dylan Nicholson, all
of Houson, Texas.
Mr. Nicholson served in the United States Marine Corps as
a Combat Correspondent in WWII from 1943-1946 in the Central
Pacific. After completion of his service to his country, he
began his career as Sports Information Director; Public Relations/
Marketing for Grambling State University in Grambling, LA where
he worked thirtyone (31) years. His promotion genius landed
G.S.U. football teams and band programs much acclaim iincluding
(The Whitney Young Classic, Yankee Stadium in New York; The
Bayou Classic, New Orleans, LA and the Pioneer Bowl, Tokyo,
Japan).
After retiring from G.S.U., he continued his love of sports
by establishing an advertising firm, Jackson/ Nicholson and
Associates. Later he did publicity for the Southwestern Athletic
Conference and Don King.
Collie J. was instrumental in educating the world about G.S.U.
athletics and band. Due to his tireless efforts these and many
other former athletes were able to play professional football
and basketball: Junior "Buck" Buchanan; Willie Davis;
Ernie Ladd; Gary "Big Hand" Johnson; Sammy White;
James Harris; Douglas "Doug" Williams; Steve Dennis;
and Willis Reed..
He received many awards, recognitions, and honors over the
years. He received the Black College Sports Information Directors
of CoSida America Trailblazer Award. Collie was inducted into
SWAC Hall of Fame in 2002, The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
in 1990 and G.S.U. Hall of Fame.
On June 26, 2006, the G.S.U. Robinson Stadium Press Box was
named the Collie J. Nicholson Press Box.
His membership in organizations included: Delta Kappa; Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity; Charter Member of Grand Boule Signa
Psi Phi Fraternity; National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics; G.S.U. and National Alumni Association.
He was a dedicated and faithful member of St. Matthew A.M.E.
Church, where he served as steward, and trustee. Collie and
his wife Ophelia founded the Food Pantry Ministry of the church.
Because of the support of President R.W.E. Jones (Prez), the
extraordinary coaching ability of Coach Eddie Robinson, and
with the unique and dynamic writing ability of Collie J. Nicholson,
Grambling State University is internationally known and respected.
Published
in the Shreveport Times on 9/19/2006.
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