Shoalmire then enrolled at [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], at which he engaged in the study of history, having received both Bachelor of Arts and [[Master of Arts]] degrees. In 1966, he completed his thesis, "Reconstruction in Red River Parish" based in part on research at the [Red River Parish Court House in Coushatta in northwestern Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianafolklife.org/ThesesDissertations/listall.asp|title=Theses and Dissertations Database|publisher=louisinafolklife.org|accessdate=July 17, 2010}}</ref> He was a visiting instructor at Louisiana Tech for the academic year 1966-1967.<ref>''The Historian'' Vol. 28 (Issue 4), 1967.</ref> | Shoalmire then enrolled at [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], at which he engaged in the study of history, having received both Bachelor of Arts and [[Master of Arts]] degrees. In 1966, he completed his thesis, "Reconstruction in Red River Parish" based in part on research at the [Red River Parish Court House in Coushatta in northwestern Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianafolklife.org/ThesesDissertations/listall.asp|title=Theses and Dissertations Database|publisher=louisinafolklife.org|accessdate=July 17, 2010}}</ref> He was a visiting instructor at Louisiana Tech for the academic year 1966-1967.<ref>''The Historian'' Vol. 28 (Issue 4), 1967.</ref> |