By Marilyn Miller
Carleton H. Prothro, beloved longtime Webster Parish educator and U.S. Army Reservist, passed away Sunday, May 26, 2024 in Mooresville, North Carolina, where he and his wife, Lois, moved on Feb. 12, 2024.
A “Celebration of Life” will take place at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minden at a date to be announced. His ashes will be interred in the columbarium at St. John’s.
Carleton is survived by his wife; his two sons, Carleton H. Prothro and Becky, Mooresville, NC; Lance B. Prothro and Stephanie, Nevada; two grandchildren, Hunt Prothro and Ivy and Whitney Fain and Stephen; and three great grandchildren, Anderson, Parker and Riley Ann Fain.
When the Webster Parish Journal interviewed Mr. Prothro in January 2024, he was asked about some of his life’s “proudest moments.”
“I guess what I am most proud of in my professional life is that so many of my former students are now my friends,” Prothro responded at the time. “I mean my dentist is a former student, my doctor is a former student, my lawyer is a former student…” And he proudly called these people, and many, many more who were students, his friends.
Where did it all begin? Back in 1954, when Prothro graduated from the University of Arkansas, he was commissioned a first lieutenant. After completing flight school, he became an Army aviator, and was stationed at Ft. Benning near Columbus, GA. He flew home to Shreveport from Ft. Benning one weekend because he had a blind date – with Lois. That obviously worked out well, since they were married for 66 years, having been wed in 1957.
Knowing back then that their relationship was getting serious, the couple began making plans. Carleton’s active-duty enlistment period (four years) was coming up, so he requested “a desirable” stationing. He learned that the Army was going to send him to helicopter school, and then…to South Korea. Instead of “re-upping,” he joined the U. S. Army Reserves. After 23 years with the Reserves, and four with the Army, Prothro retired from the Army in 2006 at the rank of colonel.
Meanwhile, Carleton’s sister, the late Mrs. Emily Van Horn, put a bug in her brother’s ear that the Civics and junior English teacher at Minden High School was retiring. “That was in 1958-59.” “W.W. Williams was the principal, Kirkley Miles was assistant principal, there was a really great staff…” Carleton recalled for the interview. He took the job and continued to teach Civics and English was two years. Then he was transferred into World Geography (his degree). During the 1960s and ‘70s, he taught Civics, World Geography, Economics and American Government.
In 1964, Prothro received a grant to enroll at the University of Alabama to earn his master’s degree in counseling. At Alabama, while taking a course in “counseling athletes,” students were arranged in a circle introducing themselves and telling where they were from. When Carleton said “Minden,” a gentleman by the name of Bear Bryant looked up at him and asked, “Do you have any more Crows or Becks around that area,” referring to premiere football players John David Crow (Heisman winner) from Springhill and Ken Beck (NFL defensive end) from Minden.
Upon finishing, he returned to Webster Parish and became an itinerant counselor. However, when Cleve Strong became principal of Minden High School, he requested and was assigned Prothro as counselor there. He was promoted to assistant principal, and served in that position for one year before becoming test director in Federal Programming for Title I. He remained in Federal Programming until he retired in the early 90s after 35 years in the system.
It was during this time that he also earned his “Plus 30” from Louisiana Tech University. Although he attended Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana universities, “He’s a Razorback,” Lois said during the interview.
One of his former students, Dr. Richard Campbell had the honor of presenting Minden’s “Man of the Year” Award to Carleton in 2017. “For over 40 years, he has contributed to the education of local schools from classroom to guidance to administration,” Campbell said. “As a social studies instructor at Minden High School, he made learning enjoyable…he had an uncanny ability to relate closely with his students while retaining their respect.”
Community was a large part of Carleton’s life. He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he served on the Vestry, was a Junior Warden multiple times, a Reader and an Usher. He was a longtime member and director of the Minden Lions Club, was past commander of Wiley-Pevy American Legion Post #74 and was a director emeritus of the Dorcheat Historical Association & Museum. He was past president of the Louisiana Association of School Administrators of Federally-Assisted Programs (LASAFAP) and served on the Board of the Louisiana Association of School Executives. And Kirtley Miles, football player and later coach at Minden High (48 years), talked Carleton into filming all the football games at MHS on 16mm film.
“Colonel” Prothro’s best memories of teaching revolved around the goodness and intelligence of his students. “Teaching was fun, and I enjoyed it so much, but I don’t think it is like that anymore,” said the man who always had a joke to tell. My advice to young people today is to STOP if you are approached by the police. Be NICE…don’t be so confrontational. And learn to COMPROMISE! Look at politics, I don’t think the word ‘compromise’ exists anymore.” For Prothro it boiled down to the Bible. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
“We’ve received so many calls and cards. We don’t want to leave, but we are both in our nineties! Lois and I love our church and we hate to leave all our friends…” Prothro said when asked about leaving Minden. But those friends and the community had one last chance to say goodbye to Carleton and Lois Prothro on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 (Carleton’s 92nd birthday) at St. John’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall.