Valley Alumni Association

Douglas Ray Bartlett was born in Arcadia, Louisiana and his family moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1953 to better themselves financially.  He took three years of French under Mrs. Trent and was in the Music Program at Vallet (Boy's Chorus and Mixed Chorus) under Mrs. Wilma Wilson.  He received the History Award and Music Award and was graduated from Valley in May, 1962.  After serving in the Navy for two years with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea on board the USS ENTERPRISE, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, he was discharged and placed on the Retired List.

In lat 1964, Ray relocated to Monroe, Louisiana where he attended and was graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in January, 1971 with a Bachelor's Degree in History.  Mr. Bartlett attended Graduate School at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky and earned two advanced degrees from that university:  Master of Arts in College Teaching and a Specialist in College Teaching degree.  These degrees were designed to prepare Instructors to teach at the two year college level.  Ray taught at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missour; East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Mississippi;  S. D. Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Alabama;  and at Nunez Community College in Chalmette, Louisiana.

He married Carol L. Huffman in November, 1970, and from that union four children were born: Elizabeth, Alison, Teresa, and Karen between 1974 and 1980.  Now, Ray has ten grandchildren.  He was divorced from Carol Huffman in October, 1994 and had domiciliary custody of the three children who were not married.  He went through the "Empty Nest" syndrome in 2002.

In between teaching positions, Mr. Bartlett worked for the State of Louisiana as the Training Officer and Safety Officer of Lallie Kemp Medical Center in Independence, Louisiana.

Due to a service-related injury, Ray had to retire in 1999. He spends his time with members of his family who live near him, reading, doing genealogical work, transcription of various censuses in Louisiana Parishes, and a variety of other activities.

E