John McConathy, from Bryceland in Bienville Parish, played basketball at NSU from 1947-51 for coach H. Lee Prather and set a school scoring record with 562 points and a 21.6 average as a senior. He was invited to play with major college stars in the College All-Star Game in Chicago, leading to his selection by Syracuse early in the 1951 NBA Draft.
 
A 1973 Graduate N Club Hall inductee, McConathy coached Bossier High to a 1960 state championship, was a longtime superintendent of schools in Bossier Parish, and is the father of Demons' basketball coach Mike McConathy.

He passed away on April 19, 2016.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the John & Corene McConathy Men's Basketball Scholarship. Donate online below or by check to:   
Demons Unlimited Foundation, 468 Caspari, Natchitoches, LA  71497.