Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....HARPER, LINDA February 15, 2014
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Gina Brown rootsgirl36@gmail.com February 26, 2014, 5:25 am

News Star World - February 18, 2014
LINDA HARPER

Funeral services for basketball coach and educator Linda Harper, 71, of 
Monroe, who passed away February 15, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 
February 19, 2014, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe with Bro. Larry 
Foster officiating. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Legion Memorial 
Cemetery in Newellton. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 18, from 5:00-8:00 
p.m. at the funeral home.

A Baptist, Linda received a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern State 
University of Louisiana in 1965 and a Master of Education from Northeast 
Louisiana University (NLU), now the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM), 
in 1972. The head women's basketball coach at NLU from 1978-1990, she also 
served as the head coach of the Monroe Magic, an AAU team, from 1993-1998. An 
incredible coach, she led both teams to national prominence. Most recently, 
Linda served as an adaptive physical education teacher for Ouachita Parish 
Schools. 

In 12 seasons as head coach at NLU, Coach Harper amassed an overall record of 
212-121 (.636), while posting an impressive 91-14 record (.866) in conference 
play. She led NLU to three NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to 
the Final Four in 1985 and a best-in-the-nation record of 30-2 that same year. 

Coach Harper's career was marked by many honors, including being inducted into 
the ULM Sports Hall of Fame (1999) and being named Southland Conference Coach 
of the Year twice (1983, 1985). Her most recent honor came in 2013, when she 
was named the Southland Conference Women's Basketball Head Coach of the Decade 
for the 1980's.

Coach Harper's own achievements always ranked a distant second to the on- and 
off-the-court accomplishments of her players. She was more than a basketball 
coach - she was a life coach. Despite the passage of time, she continued to 
coach her former players through life's challenges, encouraging them to 
greatness in all endeavors. 

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Elvie and Joseph S. Harper Sr.; 
siblings Thelma Strickland, Joseph Harper Jr., Nettie Harper, and E.J. Harper; 
and nephew Floyd Samuel Newman. Survivors include her sister, Laverne Powell 
of Newellton; nephews Tommy (Vicki) Newman, Lloyd (Tookie) Newman, Mike (Ruth) 
Powell, Bobby (Kim) Powell, Hardy Strickland, and Terry (Lisa) Harper; nieces 
Kathy (Roy) Welch, Barbara (Wally) Haywood, Lois Strickland, and Debra Harper; 
and many adoring great-nieces and -nephews. Pallbearers will be nephews and 
great-nephews Tommy, Jeff, Jason, David, and Lloyd Newman; and Mike Powell.

In addition to her loving family, Linda enjoyed a circle of friends with whom 
she shared both the joys and sorrows of life, including Eun Jung Lee Ok and 
her children, Peter, Kristina, and Gabrielle; Cynthia and LaVance Henderson; 
Lynn and James W. Moore Jr.; Karen Allen Crowley; Brenda and James Osborn; and 
many former players and colleagues. 

Until we are reunited with Coach Harper, may we honor her memory by living our 
lives with the same integrity which characterized hers, following her example 
of honor, honesty, fairness, compassion, and humility. Both individually and 
collectively, we will always be grateful for the opportunities she afforded 
us, the wise counsel she provided, and the unfailing love and support she 
gave. 


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