Food Science Commons^™

Linda B. Godfrey, Linda B. Godfrey, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Linda B. Godfrey’s 35 years as a registered dietitian have taken her from work on the food service staffs of a hospital and nursing home, as a teacher, and as a U.S. Army reserve unit member to her retirement in 2005. She retired as Child Nutrition Program Director for the Shelby County, Alabama, School System and from the United States Army Reserves with the rank of Colonel.

She received her B.S. Degree from the University of Tennessee in Food Science and Institution Management, completed a dietetic internship at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham, and received a M.S. …

Barbara Gauthier, Barbara Gauthier, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Barbara Gauthier is a retired school food service director originally from Thibodaux, Louisiana. After graduating from LSU with a degree in Hospital Dietetics and Institutional Management and working briefly in industry, Gauthier took her first job in school food service in East Baton Rouge Parish. After working for several years and in multiple positions in East Baton Rouge, Gauthier moved on to Lafourche Parish as a food service director in her native Thibodaux. Here in Lafourche Parish Gauthier introduced the Breakfast Program, as well as introducing centralized menu planning and purchasing. At retirement Gauthier left the district with a $5 …

Marcelle Landry, Marcelle Landry, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Marcelle Landry, a proud native of the French Quarter, served for many years with the Louisiana Department of Education as Assistant Director, School Food Services, before joining the Archdiocese of New Orleans as Supervisor of School Food Services. Though now retired, Mrs. Landry is still very active with the Louisiana School Food Service Association, of which she is a past president.

Wendy Mangiaracina, Wendy Mangiaracina, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Wendy Mangiaracina is a New Orleans native with thirty-three years of experience in child nutrition programs. She chose Southwest Louisiana University for her post-secondary education, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics. She later attended Tulane University and obtained a Master of Public Health degree. After a long and dedicated career Wendy retired in the summer of 2009. Melba Hollingsworth interviewed Wendy in January 2009.

Cynthia Ruffin, Cynthia Ruffin, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Cynthia Ruffin began her school nutrition career in Louisiana more than 35 years ago. She received a B.S. in Dietetics from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University. Cynthia has worked at the local school level, with the Louisiana Department of Education, and as the Director of Child Nutrition in St. Charles Parish Public Schools near New Orleans. Some of her career highlights include developing the Louisiana School Lunch Cycle Menus; expanding Breakfast-on-the-Go programs, implementing The Main Course, a culinary training program for food service technicians; and contributing significantly to district recovery after the devastation of Hurricane …

Pat Farris, Pat Farris, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Pat Farris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics and a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition from Louisiana State University. She has held numerous positions in the field of nutrition, first working in hospitals, and later consulting in child and adult weight management. In 1980 Pat accepted a position with the Louisiana Department of Education’s child nutrition programs, and learned what school lunch was about for the next fourteen years. Since 1994 she has been with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, where she is currently the Director of School Food Services.

Syble T. Jones, Syble T. Jones, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Syble T. Jones is the former Food Service Director for Rapides Parish, Louisiana. When Syble started her career in 1968 she had 27,000 students spread across 54 schools.

Mattie Bradley, Mattie Bradley, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Mattie Bradley was hired as the Food Service Director/Cafeteria Manager for the Weiner School District, Weiner, AR in 1996. She was a local restaurant owner who decided to sell her business and retire. When the local school district found itself in need of a Food Services Director, Ms. Mattie’s reputation as an excellent cook and manager got the attention of the school district and she was immediately offered the position. Working within the guidelines of the Arkansas School Nutrition Program, Mattie and her staff provide wholesome meals, both breakfast and lunch, to over 300 students daily. For many students these …

Rita Hamilton, Rita Hamilton, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Rita Hamilton comes from a family with a history in child nutrition. Hamilton’s mother worked at the food service manager at Hamilton’s elementary school in rural Arkansas. After majoring in Home Economics at the University of Arkansas and working as an Arkansas Home Economics extension agent, Rita went on to serve as a state supervisor in the school nutrition programs at the Arkansas Department of Education.

Virginia Webb, Virginia Webb, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Virginia Webb is currently working as an independent consultant. Her previous employment includes several positions at the National Food Service Management Institute, culminating as director of education and training in 2007. A registered dietitian, Virginia has worked as food service director at Rapides Regional Medical Center and Natchitoches Parish Hospital in Louisiana. Virginia completed her bachelor’s degree in dietetics at Louisiana Tech University and her master’s in food service management from Colorado State University. She is a certified ServSafe instructor, certified director Level III with the School Nutrition Association, and has numerous training experiences. She served on the School Meals …

Shelia Brown And Mike Harris Oral History, Shelia Brown, Mike Harris, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Shelia Brown and Mike Harris have worked in school nutrition at the Maryland School for the Blind since the 1960s. Shelia is now a supervisor and Mike is an assistant supervisor.

Ed Cooney, Ed Cooney, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Ed Cooney is the Executive Director of the Congressional Hunger Center, which operates the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship Program and the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship Program. The Fellows who participate in these programs gain both with hands-on experience and policy experience. Before coming to the Congressional Hunger Center, Ed spent eighteen years with the Food Research and Action Center, as their lobbyist on school nutrition programs.

Jim Weill, Jim Weill, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

For the past decade, Jim Weill has led the Food Research and Action Center as its President. The FRAC’s mission is to end hunger in the United States. The Center works toward this noble goal primarily through its support of public policy, federal nutrition programs, food stamps, school meals and summer food programs.

Lynn Parker, Lynn Parker, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Lynn Parker recently retired from Food Research and Action Center, FRAC, after thirty years of dedicated service to improving the nutrition of the nation’s children. She has now moved to the Institute of Medicine, where she is heading up a standing committee on childhood obesity prevention.

Sue Tettleton, Sue Tettleton, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Sue Tettleton worked in the Nutrition and Education Training Program at the University of Mississippi, beginning in the 1960s, training state school lunch personnel. Sue is now retired from the North Mississippi Regional Center, a former member of the faculty at the University of Mississippi in the Department of Home Economics, Family and Consumer Sciences, and a member of the NET Program in Mississippi.

Ora Mae Reeves, Ora Mae Reeves, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Ora Mae Reeves did school lunch before there was school lunch. In the depths of the Great Depression, with four children in public school, Mrs. Reeves walked two miles in rural Vernon, AL, to volunteer to cook hot meals for the students, who brought a canned good from home as payment for their lunch. Update: Ora Mae Reeves, age 101, of Vernon, Alabama, died Jan. 31, 2012, at Aurora Australis Lodge in Columbus, Miss.

Jane Jantz, Jane Jantz, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Like many others who have made child nutrition into a career, Jane Jantz came to the profession in a roundabout way. She and her husband moved from California to Mississippi, where farmland is more affordable. She planned to work one year to tide them over from a bad crop – that was nineteen years ago, and Jane loves serving the children more each year as manager of the Okolona Elementary School cafeteria.

Ann Nicholson, Ann Nicholson, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Ann Nicholson is a role model to all who may want to work their way up through a system. Ann started out in the Okolona Public School System as a cafeteria worker, moved up to be manager of the Okolona Elementary School cafeteria, and has been food service director since 1980. A firm believer in on-the-job training, she is an inspiration to all who work with her.

Ruth Jonen, Ruth Jonen, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

A Wisconsin native, Ruth Jonen earned a degree in Dietetics at the University of Wisconsin – Stout, and then moved to Chicago. She has worked in school nutrition programs for almost 30 years, 27 of them in the suburban Cook County community in which she lives. Ruth served as School Nutrition Association President in 2005-2006.

Jane Logan, Jane Logan, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Dr. Jane Logan, a Pennsylvania native, was educated at Indiana State College, Ohio University, and The Ohio State University, and spent her working career in Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Mississippi. She is a former Virginia State Director for the School Nutrition Programs, as well as a past Executive Director of the National Food Service Management Institute.

Polly Holloway, Polly Holloway, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Polly Holloway grew up on a farm in Tasewell County, Virginia. After graduating from a two-room high school, she went on to Virginia Tech, where she earned a degree in Home Economics in 1956. After a brief career as an Assistant Extension Agent, she moved to Roanoke, where she taught Special Ed for Roanoke County Schools. She was soon persuaded to take on the role of Cafeteria Supervisor and credits her state agency with offering valuable training. She returned to Virginia Tech in 1972 and earned her Masters in Nutrition. By now a firm believer in the value of training, …

Offie Karnes, Offie Karnes, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Offie “Mama” Karnes was born and reared in Bedford, Virginia, where she attended a one-room school. After working for the American Viscose Company in the Food Service department, Mrs. Carnes went to work for Roanoke City Schools in 1959. Her salary then was 62¢ per hour. “Mama” Karnes credits excellent training in the Roanoke City system with enabling her to work her way up to Manager and having a very successful and rewarding thirty-year career with this school system.

Doris (Yaeko) Mau, Doris Yaeko Mau, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Doris Mau is a retired School Food Service Manager and a past president of the Oahu School Food Service Association. Mrs. Mau was President-elect of her association when Hawaii hosted the Annual National Convention in 1976. The youngest of Mrs. Mau’s three daughters followed her into the school food service profession and is currently a School Food Service Manager on Oahu.

Sue Uyehara, Sue Uyehara, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Sue Uyehara is a Louisiana native and a registered dietitian. She worked with the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) in Louisiana, before relocating to Hawaii, where she works with the Office of Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs.

Donna Matsufuru, Donna Matsufuru, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Donna Matsufuru is currently the School Food Service Supervisor for the state of Hawaii, and has held a variety of positions within the child nutrition field during her thirty-five years of service.

Peggy Nakamoto, Peggy Nakamoto, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Peggy Nakamoto is a retired School Food Service Manager and a past president of the Oahu School Food Service Association. Peggy is very interested in child nutrition and continues to attend the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conventions.

Nancy Miura, Nancy Miura, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Nancy Miura is a retired School Food Service Manager and a past president of the Oahu School Food Service Association, having served several terms as president of the Oahu association. Nancy remains very interested in child nutrition and continues to attend the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conventions, along with Peggy Nakamoto, another Oahu School Food Service Association past president.

Nancy Miura & Peggy Nakamoto, Nancy Miura, Peggy Nakamoto, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives

Oral History Project (all interviews)

After Nancy Miura & Peggy Nakamoto finished their individual oral history interviews they felt they had more to share, and sat down later the same day for a join interview.

Janice Low, Janice Low, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Janice Low is a former Food Service Manager who started her career on the island of Lanai. Janice now works with the School Food Authority for the State of Hawaii. Janice is based in Honolulu.

Sadie Booker, Sadie Booker, Institute Of Child Nutrition. Child Nutrition Archives.

Oral History Project (all interviews)

Sadie Gilmore Booker has been actively involved in the education process since graduation from Louisiana Tech University in 1945 with a BSE in home economics followed by an MS-R.D. in 1969. Her first job was as an extension home economist teaching nutrition to 4-H and Home Demonstration Club women. After a 10 year hiatus during which she married and had three children, she returned to her career from 1959 to 1995. She taught elementary school, Jr. High Home Economics and science and high school Home Economics for the El Dorado School District #15. She taught the first Occupational Home Economics …