NATCHITOCHES – When he took over as Northwestern State's president in 1996, Dr. Randy Webb grudgingly gave up his front row season tickets behind the Demon football team bench and moved up to the sixth-level President's Suite far above the action at Turpin Stadium.
 
But he kept a very close watch, and a steady hand, on NSU Athletics, overseeing more than 18 years of unprecedented and remarkable achievement in intercollegiate sports at the university, before retiring last December. He also stepped forward to represent the Southland Conference on the national level in service on NCAA committees and in league business and policy making.
 
NSU's president emeritus passed away Wednesday at the age of 72, and a cascade of tributes immediately flowed from athletic personnel at the university and elsewhere.
 
"Dr. Webb was a tremendous and humble leader for NSU and truly loved his alma mater.  He guided NSU through some of the most prolific moments in school history and also stayed the course as our leader through difficult times," said director of athletics Greg Burke. "His special passion for the NSU athletic program, which was intensified by the admiration he had for his two sons-in-law who are former Demon baseball players, was unparalleled. 
 
"He developed close ties with so many student-athletes, coaches and staff through the years.  He genuinely cared about everything and everybody and that is what made him such a special president, family man and leader," said Burke, who was hired as AD shortly after Webb took over as president in the summer of 1996.
 
For Webb, Northwestern was part of his identity from birth. His father Joe worked on campus and dozens of family members are NSU alumni.
 
A proud native of Haynesville, Webb arrived at NSU in the fall of 1961 as a walk-on center on coach Jack Clayton's football team. Four years later, he graduated with degrees in mathematics and business education. He earned his master's in mathematics from Northwestern State in 1966, and earned a doctorate in education with a concentration in mathematics and research from Southern Mississippi in 1971.
   
Webb returned to his alma mater in 1989 as Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies, and served as a member of the math faculty. During that time, he became a board member of the Demons Unlimited Foundation along with a season ticket holder for football, basketball and baseball. He became the university's 18th president on July 1, 1996, and was Northwestern State's longest-tenured president at the time of his retirement in December 2014. His term as president was marked with record enrollment and increases in retention, incoming student ACT scores, and graduation rates, along with unprecedented athletic success.
   
Webb was an avid supporter of Demon athletics, and devoted himself to ensuring the university's athletic programs remained competitively successful. In his 18 years as president, Webb enjoyed teams winning 19 regular-season Southland Conference championships, 17 Southland Tournament titles and making 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, while 35 NSU track and field competitors won Division I All-America honors by virtue of top 16 finishes at NCAA championships.
 
The president's home at NSU is adjacent to Brown-Stroud Field, home of Demon baseball. Webb's daughters, Tamara and Lauren, each married former Demon baseball standouts. He rooted hard for the St. Louis Cardinals and was slated to throw out a first pitch at a Cardinals game last season before his illness was diagnosed.
 
"I always viewed Dr. Webb as larger than life," said Demon baseball head coach Lane Burroughs, whose first stint at NSU was as an assistant in 1997-99. "He handled himself with such class and dignity.  He gave me a shot to be a Division I head coach and I will forever be grateful for that.  He was a huge fan of Demon baseball and didn't take losses very good.  I loved that.  Our president was right there with us every pitch.  NSU lost a giant today, but what a legacy he leaves behind."
 
McNeese head baseball coach Justin Hill, a former assistant coach a decade ago at NSU, said on Twitter: "Dr. Webb made everyone feel important. He even knew the name of the volunteer baseball coach."
 
Two former Demon track and field competitors, LaMark Carter (2000) and Kenta Bell (2004, 2008), represented the United States in Olympic Games during Webb's presidency. Among the NCAA Tournament appearances: the 2006 "Demons of Destiny" victory over No. 15 Iowa in basketball's March Madness, a contest which still annually draws mention in reviews of the most noteworthy and stirring games in tournament history, and one that netted a $100,000 endowed scholarship from General Motors benefitting dozens of students outside athletics at NSU. The global media exposure and alumni pride which still resonates from that game led Webb to call it "the greatest moment in over 125 years of Northwestern's existence."
 
"This is truly a very difficult time," said head basketball coach Mike McConathy. "We've lost somebody who was so deeply committed to our university, this community, his church family. Dr. Webb was very sincere, a strong Christian man who worked hard every day. He brought his best each day for 18 years as our president."
 
Another milestone savored by Webb was last Sept. 20's football win at ancient rival Louisiana Tech. Head coach Jay Thomas and his assistants surprised the retiring president with a game ball, autographed by staff and players, at last winter's commencement exercises, his last official event as president.
 
"I've got a heavy heart," said Thomas.  "Dr. Webb and I had a special relationship that I've treasured. We've stayed in touch, most often by text messages, and just 6-7 days ago we texted back and forth. He told me he was under the weather, but not so much that he wasn't able to keep up with Demon football.  He wanted us to finish (the season) strong, and that's what we're going to do.
 
"He was so proud of our young people and he made sure they knew it. His support and encouragement was priceless. Dr. Webb was willing to meet with recruits and their families and that was the way he ran our university, with a very personal, caring touch."
 
He was thrilled at the resurgence of Lady Demon basketball under the coaching of Brooke and Scott Stoehr, who have guided NSU to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances the last two seasons.
 
"Today Northwestern State lost a great man who gave so much of his life to serving our university," said Brooke Stoehr. "I always will be extremely appreciative of his support and encouragement of our teams and our program."
 
Veteran Lady Demon softball coach Donald Pickett said Webb's involvement and support helped him and his team develop from the cellar of the Southland Conference to a program that has won three Southland titles in the last three seasons, making two NCAA Tournament trips.
 
"Dr. Webb loved NSU and our community. He wanted the best for everyone," said Pickett. "Dr. Webb would send me notes to let us know he was behind us in our tough times or clippings of great things we accomplished during the good times. He meant so much to so many. He was a great man."
 
Webb served the Southland Conference as chair of its Board of Directors, and remained an enthusiastic advocate of the league throughout his presidential term, helping create stability among the membership.
  
When it came to national issues in intercollegiate athletics, Webb was an active participant while representing the Southland on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and the NCAA Executive Committee from 2001-05. He also served on the NCAA Division I Presidential Advisory Group from 2005-13.
 
"President Webb was an extraordinary leader and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to develop a friendship with him," said Dr. Bernard Franklin, the NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement officer, in an e-mail.
 
A few months after his retirement, Webb was inducted as the Southland Conference Hall of Honor's Class of 2015.
 
"So blessed to have crossed paths in my life with Dr. Randy Webb. Simply no finer person, mentor, colleague and friend," said Southland Commissioner Tom Burnett on Twitter.

Full text of tributes from NSU athletic staff:

"Dr. Webb was a tremendous and humble leader for NSU and truly loved his alma mater.  He guided NSU through some of the most prolific moments in school history and also stayed the course as our leader through difficult times.  His special passion for the NSU athletic program, which was intensified by the admiration he had for his two sons-in-law who are former Demon baseball players, was unparalleled.  He developed close ties with so many student-athletes, coaches and staff through the years.  In fact, just today a former student-athlete who hails from out-of-state told me about a letter written by Dr. Webb to that young man's parents, commending their son and thanking them for allowing him to be a part of our athletic program.  He genuinely cared about everything and everybody and that is what made him such a special president, family man and leader. On a personal note, I was one of his first hires at NSU and I will always be grateful for the opportunity and the faith he showed in me then and through the years." – athletic director Greg Burke
 
"I always viewed Dr. Webb as larger than life.  He handled himself with such class and dignity.  He gave me a shot to be a Division I head coach and I will forever be grateful for that.  He was a huge fan of Demon baseball and didn't take losses very good.  I loved that.  Our president was right there with us every pitch.  He and Ms. Brenda were such a great example to us all of what a marriage should look like.  On behalf of Susan, my family and the entire NSU Baseball Family, we want to send out our heartfelt condolences to Ms. Brenda, Tamara, Lauren, Reggie, Nick and all the grandchildren.  NSU lost a giant today, but what a legacy he leaves behind." – head baseball coach Lane Burroughs
 
Dr. Webb loved NSU and our community. He wanted the best for everyone. Dr. Webb would send me notes to let us know he was behind us in our tough times or clippings of great things we accomplished during the good times. He meant so much to so many. He was a great man." – head softball coach Donald Pickett

"Today Northwestern State lost a great man who gave so much of his life to serving our university. I am thankful for the opportunity he gave me to lead the women's basketball program. I always will be extremely appreciative of his support and encouragement of our teams and our program. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Northwestern State family." – co-head women's basketball coach Brooke Stoehr
 
"This is truly a very difficult time. We've lost somebody who was so deeply committed to our university, this community, his church family. Dr. Webb was very sincere, a strong Christian man who worked hard every day. He brought his best each day for 18 years as our president. I'm thankful to him for allowing me to come to work at Northwestern, and am indebted to him and Mrs. Brenda for their support through the years. My prayers are with her and the family in this trying time." – head men's basketball coach Mike McConathy
 
"I've got a heavy heart. Dr. Webb and I had a special relationship that I've treasured. We've stayed in touch, most often by text messages, and just 6-7 days ago we texted back and forth. He told me he was under the weather, but not so much that he wasn't able to keep up with Demon football.  He wanted us to finish (the season) strong, and that's what we're going to do. He was so proud of our young people and he made sure they knew it. His support and encouragement was priceless. Dr. Webb was willing to meet with recruits and their families and that was the way he ran our university, with a very personal, caring touch." – head football coach Jay Thomas

"I first met Dr. Webb while I was a student-athlete during my freshman year. With his support I got an opportunity to work at the university and be a part of a great program. He treated everyone with dignity and respect, always was supportive and caring. We were very excited to see him coming and supporting the team whether it was during home matches or the NCAA Tournament. He was a mentor for me and for many people. He is an icon for this university and will always be missed. Our prayers are with his wife, family and friends." -- head tennis coach Olga Bazhanova

"We lost a great friend, leader and person today.  Dr. Webb loved his work and Northwestern State University.  He was a very kind and genuine man who always took the time to make an individual feel special.   We will always remember him for the passion he brought to all aspects of NSU and the Natchitoches community.  Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the Webb family." -- former head tennis coach Patric DuBois, now assistant coach