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'''Randall Joseph Webb''', known as '''Randy Webb''' (March 20, 1943 – November 18, 2015), was the longest-serving president of Northwestern State University in his native Natchitoches, [[Louisiana]], a position which he filled from July 1, 1996 to December 31, 2014.  

'''Randall Joseph Webb''', known as '''Randy Webb''' (March 20, 1943 &ndash; November 18, 2015), was the longest-serving president of Northwestern State University in his native Natchitoches, [[Louisiana]], a position which he filled from July 1, 1996 to December 31, 2014. During his tenure, 40 percent of NSU graduates received their degrees.<ref name=pratherc/>

==Background==

==Background==

In 1989, Webb was appointed the dean of instruction and graduate studies as well as mathematics professor at Northwestern. In this position, he conducted a review of graduate and undergraduate university programs. He chaired the Self-Study steering committee required as part of the accreditation process by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.<ref name=bio/>

In 1989, Webb was appointed the dean of instruction and graduate studies as well as mathematics professor at Northwestern. In this position, he conducted a review of graduate and undergraduate university programs. He chaired the Self-Study steering committee required as part of the accreditation process by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.<ref name=bio/>

During his tenure, all NSU programs were fully accredited, and the institution had its largest graduating classes in its history. He established an electronic education network and oversaw $65 million in fundraising. Early in 2015, he was named to the Southland Conference Hall of Honor.<ref name=obit/> Forty percent of all NSU alumni graduated during the time that Webb was the president.<ref name=pratherc/>

During his tenure, all NSU programs were fully accredited, and the institution had its largest graduating classes in its history. He established an electronic education network and oversaw $65 million in fundraising. Early in 2015, he was named to the Southland Conference Hall of Honor.<ref name=obit/>  

Shortly after retirement, Webb learned that he had contracted [[cancer]], which claimed his life eleven months later at the age of seventy-two. He was succeeded as NSU president by James "Jim" Henderson, a protégé who was at the time the president of Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, Louisiana. In the spring of 2014, Webb was named president emeritus.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/education/2015/11/18/longtime-nsu-president-randy-webb-dies-72/75994684/|title='Giant of a man': Longtime NSU President Randall J. Webb dies at 72|author=Leigh Guidry|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=November 19, 2015}}</ref>

Shortly after retirement, Webb learned that he had contracted [[cancer]], which claimed his life eleven months later at the age of seventy-two. He was succeeded as NSU president by James "Jim" Henderson, a protégé who was at the time the president of Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, Louisiana. In the spring of 2014, Webb was named president emeritus.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/education/2015/11/18/longtime-nsu-president-randy-webb-dies-72/75994684/|title='Giant of a man': Longtime NSU President Randall J. Webb dies at 72|author=Leigh Guidry|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=November 19, 2015}}</ref>