Adele Redditt Williamson

Newcomb Alumnae Association

Community Service Award

 The Class of 1909 Prize for scholarship, leadership and service was awarded to graduating senior Adele Redditt (Williamson) at Newcomb College’s Commencement in 1945. This special honor served as a perpetual spark for the young woman from Columbia, La., to continue her service to her alma mater, church, community and fraternity after graduation.

Armed with a Newcomb diploma, a double major in piano and public school music, and a determined spirit, Adele moved to West Point, Miss., as Clay County Music Supervisor. After World War II, she married W. Floyd Williamson, Jr. (A’ 47) and moved to his home town of Baton Rouge.  Both of their daughters, Adele (’69) and Nancy (’72), are Newcomb graduates.

Adele’s leadership skills and community missionary spirit have served many different organizations and causes. The Preschool for the Blind, the Louisiana Arts and Science Center, and the After School Care Program for elementary school children are all projects of which she was a major developer. She has served as chairman or president of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, the Community Concert Association and YWCA, and served on the administrative boards of the First Methodist Church, Family Counseling Services, and the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation.  She also served Newcomb as national alumnae president from 1958-60.

Adele is widely known in the fraternity world having served her fraternity, Phi Mu, as national president and as chairman of the National Panhellenic Conference and chairman of the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity. Her interfraternity service spans 30 years and has resulted in the establishment of Adele R. Williamson scholarships and awards by Phi Mu, the Center Board, Kappa Delta and Lambda Chi Alpha.

Adele is the founder of Collegiate Advisory Placement Service, an educational program that assists students and families in exploring educational opportunities at the secondary and university levels. She has been an active proponent for Newcomb College and Tulane University and a source of strong support. She stresses the value of community service to her student clients and assists them with writing grants to support service projects they initiate. Her dedication to the furtherance of education of young people in all facets of learning, leadership and community volunteerism is well-known and unending.

Her lifetime has been one of selfless service to Newcomb, Tulane, the wider community and the causes of education and leadership.