NSU rededicates Calecas Hall; to house 100 students

Calecas Hall at Nicholls State University reopened last week, just in time for students to move in before classes began today.

“I want to thank you for rededication of the building,” said Karen Calecas Raynal, daughter of the building’s namesake, Dr. Raymond Calecas. “It has been 17 years since dad died and my memories of his involvement with Nicholls remain strong.”

Faculty, staff and resident assistants were among the many on hand for the rededication ceremony to recognize the man who was a staple of the school’s athletic program for 25 years.

Calecas began his history at Nicholls in 1964 as the medical director for student services at the campus infirmary and he worked as one of the primary physicians for the Student Health Department until 1992. In addition to his work at the infirmary, Calecas was the head team physician for the university’s Department of Athletics and helped with planning the organization of athletic health services.

“He worked hard at the infirmary and loved the nursing staff there,” Raynal said. “He loved Nicholls football and was excited to meet the players every year when physicals came around. He enjoyed getting to know coaches and trainers and went to many away games. He even took my son down on the sideline during games. This school was a special part of his life.”

Several family members, including her children and her sister Robin Calecas Kuebel, joined Raynal at the ceremony. Raynal recalled all the Nicholls treasures her family discovered when she and her siblings cleaned out their parent’s home after their mother Audrey’s passing.

“We found boxes of my parents’ Nicholls’ memorabilia,” Raynal said. “They are keepsakes that still warm my heart today. My grandson plays with an autographed ball and runs around the house wearing one of the football helmets.”

The Calecas name has been part of the residence hall’s history since its construction in 1972.

“I was a baseball player here at Nicholls when the residence hall was built,” said Nicholls’ assistant vice president of facilities Mike Davis. “It was built as a hall for athletes but, over the years, the school has moved away from having residence halls just for athletes to having halls for the general population. Calecas was slated to be torn down but we decided the hall was still valuable.”

Through the sale of bonds, the school was able to secure money to construct three new residence halls as well as have more than $1 million in renovations done to Calecas Hall. The roof, windows and siding and interior walls were replaced, and new ceramic tile and vinyl wood floors gave new life to the building. The recreation room for the hall has also been outfitted with a large flat-screen television and a pool table.

“The funding did not quite cover everything so the furniture was paid for by Auxiliary Services,” Davis said. “Residents also helped to pick out furniture.”

Davis extended his personal thanks to the university’s faculty, staff, students, and Facilities Cooperation Board at NSU.

“The building looks as good as the day it first opened,” Davis added.

“I’ve heard lots of stories about Mike Davis’s undergraduate days and lots of stories about this residence hall,” said Nicholls President Dr. Stephen Hulbert, laughing. I am excited about the rededication of Calecas Hall and I want to congratulate all for the efforts on the renovation. Dr. Calecas provided treatment to athletes and was a loving and caring individual in the community, from what I have heard. He is also an honorary alumni and I am pleased to rededicate the building in his memory.”

Hulbert, who served as a residential assistant when he was in college, addressed several of the school’s residential assistants who were at the event.

“It was a great experience and I made some great friends,” Hulbert said. “I learned some great skills and I appreciate the work of our RAs. We now have a building that will hold a good number of students and help to build our residence community at Nicholls.”

“I have traveled to many different campuses and I am proud to have such updated facilities,” said Student Government Association president Matthew Jewell. “I hear lots of complaints as student government president, but I have never had any complaints about the facilities on campus. It’s nice to be a Colonel and I hope students like the renovated residence hall.”

Nicholls State University administrators officially rededicated the fully refurbished, 40-year-old Calecas Hall last Tuesday. With around 80 attendees, including community leaders and family members of the residence hall’s late namesake – Dr. Raymond Jerome Calecas – the campus ceremony was one of a decade-long series of similar events as Nicholls continues to modernize campus facilities. Pictured is Karen Calecas Raynal, Dr. Calecas’ daughter.

COURTESY PHOTO