Long-Time Central High Principal Honored

CENTRAL — Former Central schools Assistant Supt. Ronnie E. Devall was inducted into the Central High School Hall of Fame last Thursday at halftime of the Central-Denham Springs football game. He was honored at a reception at the cafeteria at the new School Complex before the game.

Devall is a 1966 graduate of Central High School who earned a B.A. degree from Southeastern in 1971, and an M.Ed. in administration and Plus Thirty from LSU.

Devall’s career began in 1972.He served as a teacher and coach, principal, and assistant superintendent. He coached Broadmoor to basketball state championships in 1985 and 1987, and was Louisiana 4-A Coach of the Year. He was awarded the High School Principal of the Year in East Baton Rouge Parish and, the Southeast Region of Louisiana, and was a finalist for the State Principal of the Year in 2004. Devall served as the President of the East Baton Rouge Parish Principal’s Association from 2001-2007. He guided Central High to “Exemplary Academic Growth” ranking and a School Performance score of 112.4 in 2004-2005.

During the reception in the cafeteria at the new School Complex, Devall expressed his appreciation to all who made his election possible, especially the many faculty members who served with him over the years.

Devall joked that he had recently been mysteriously kicked off the Hall of Fame Selection Committee.  “Apparently, there’s a rule that no member of the committee can be elected to the Hall of Fame!”

Former Central school board president Sharon Browning said, “A true Wildcat!  Ronnie Devall’s induction was heart-warming.  No one is more deserving than he.  Ronnie spent his entire life in Central  He continued our tradition of Central High’s being an outstanding school under his leadership.”