Real Housemoms and Dad of LSU
Feb 26th, 2010 | By Brianna Piché | Category: UncategorizedKAYE CARROLL
House Director
Delta Gamma Sorority
Years as House Director: 4
Lives in house: Year round
Women living in the house: 52
Nicknames: “Momma Kaye” and “Mom.”
Duties: Taking care of the plumbing, roof leaks, and keeping the residents “well-fed.”
Hobbies: Making floral arrangements and “stalking” her girls on Facebook.
Dislikes: Lack of privacy when grandchildren visit and inability to own a kitten or a puppy.
Craziest thing that ever happened: The Dekes were invited over for dinner and started a food fight in the dining room. “I pitched a major fit. There were sweet potatoes on the ceiling. The girls were in shock. Needless to say, they have not been invited over ever since.”
“They have their own lives, their own friends, their own mothers.”
“I would like for them, like my own daughters, to be independent women, to follow God’s will and what he wants for them, whether it be electrical engineer, interior designer or even house mom. I hope they learn skills around here they can apply to their careers.”
KAY BROADHEAD
House Director
Chi Omega Sorority
Years as “mom”: 18 (14 years spent with Chi-O).
Has been called “mom:” By more than 2,000 women.
Duties: Nursing women through the H1N1 outbreak, paying the bills, making the budget and ordering the food.
Loves: Being around young people.
Passionate about: All kinds of sports, especially LSU football.
Dislikes: Eating chicken every day and the confinement of working “24/7.”
Craziest moments: Has trapped a cat, a bat and chased a squirrel in the house. None were harmed, and all were safely released. She used to experience pranks on the house, such as soap, jell-o and (once a dead duck in the fountain).
“The day I don’t enjoy the girls is the day I need to leave. If it’s not fun anymore, I need to go.”
RUTH FOLEY
House Director
Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority
“It’s like running a house… it just happens to be a big one. Instead of three or four bedrooms you have 26.”
Years as a “mom”: 3
Women living in house: 59
Dislikes: Had to give her dog away upon accepting the position.
Fun facts: Mother of six girls. She became a House Director shortly after her youngest daughter moved out.
Craziest moments: Chasing away opossums from the house patio.
Advice to aspiring House Moms: “You’ve got to keep a sense of humor and not take things personally.”
JUDY PETRIE
House Director
Kappa Delta Sorority
“College the second time around is so fun. I don’t have to study!”
Years as “mom”: 5
Known as: “Momma Judy.”
Safety at the house: Is a priority. Each entry of the house has a hand scan, which recognizes a woman’s hand and her corresponding pin number. “They lose keys and they lose cards, but they won’t lose their hands.”
Picky eaters: Always has PB&J in the snack kitchen, which is also always stocked with turkey, sandwich makings, granola, cereal and milk
Women living in house: 61
About the lifestyle: “Unless someone needs you, you pretty much get to sleep.”
Quirks: Never taken a sick day, is a Baton Rouge native and has been attending LSU football games since she was 4 years old.
Craziest moment: Men are never allowed upstairs, but while decorating for Homecoming, a young man flipped off the balcony while attempting to secure the backdrop of Tiger Stadium to a post. Miraculously, he suffered mere bruises and recovered.
Most memorable moment: ESPN filmed a 15-minute segment of their pregame tape in front of the KD house, using their homecoming “Tiger” as a backdrop before the Saints played the Dolphins. All 40 of the girls who participated received free tickets.
MARCY KNABE
House Director & Head Chef
Tri-Delta Sorority
Time as a “mom”: Seven months
Women living in house: 54
Hobbies: Walking and riding her bike around the lakes daily and enjoying the beauty of LSU’s campus. “I just like to pinch myself, it’s so pretty.”
Loves: Cooking, the girls of Tri Delt, and her black mini schnauzer “Libby,” who lives in her apartment.
Dislikes: Being away from her two grandchildren. “Thank God for Skype.”
Is excited by: The schedule, especially the long summer vacation time.
“I love everything about my job. I’m so fortunate. I love the girls most of all[space]—[space]they’re all very smart and very focused on what they want to do.”
LORELLE VERGES
House Director of Sigma Chi Fraternity & Longest Standing House Director on
Campus
Years as “mom”: 21, since Spring 1989.
Men living in house: 30.
Known as: “Mom V.”
Likes: Everything about the job.
Dislikes: Nothing.
Pets: A daschund named Heidi, who only barks at men who
are not members of Sigma Chi.
From her years as House Director: She has attended weddings of her fraternity men, christenings of their children and serves as a godmother to many alumni’s children.
Awards: She was appointed National Housemother of the
Year from 1995-1996 by Sigma Chi and was awarded with the Order of the Omega as an “Outstanding House Director” in 2008.
Lives at house: Weekly. She owns a condo in Jefferson, LA, where she stays on weekends and during summer, spring, fall and winter breaks.
Duties: To be a mom away from home, and provide the men with care their parents cannot give while they are at school. This includes sewing buttons on shirts, ironing clothes and approving attire for interviews.
Advice to aspiring or current house directors: Be yourself
and love them all.
“I love my boys and I’m always there for them. Even though this door may be closed, it’s never closed to them.”
JARED AVERY
House Director
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Quirks: Currently is a second year graduate student in higher education administration and student affairs.
Nickname: “Baby J” while a
university undergrad
Men living in the house: 8
Years as a house “dad”: 2
Interesting Facts: He currently is the house director of the
only black fraternity house in Louisiana.
Craziest moment: During his first year as house director, the door of the downstairs bathroom jammed, locking one of the fraternity brothers inside. Avery was in class at the time, but the men kicked the door in.
Duties: Overseeing maintenance and cleanliness.
Best part of the job: Experiencing brotherhood while living close to campus.
KAYE CARROLLHouse Director, Delta Gamma Sorority
Years as House Director: 4
Lives in house: Year round
Women living in the house: 52
Nicknames: “Momma Kaye” and “Mom.”
Duties: Taking care of the plumbing, roof leaks, and keeping the residents “well-fed.”
Hobbies: Making floral arrangements and “stalking” her girls on Facebook.
Dislikes: Lack of privacy when grandchildren visit and inability to own a kitten or a puppy.
Craziest thing that ever happened: The Dekes were invited over for dinner and started a food fight in the dining room. “I pitched a major fit. There were sweet potatoes on the ceiling. The girls were in shock. Needless to say, they have not been invited over ever since.”
“They have their own lives, their own friends, their own mothers.”
“I would like for them, like my own daughters, to be independent women, to follow God’s will and what he wants for them, whether it be electrical engineer, interior designer or even house mom. I hope they learn skills around here they can apply to their careers.”
.
.
KAY BROADHEADHouse Director, Chi Omega Sorority
Years as “mom”: 18 (14 years spent with Chi-O).
Has been called “mom:” By more than 2,000 women.
Duties: Nursing women through the H1N1 outbreak, paying the bills, making the budget and ordering the food.
Loves: Being around young people.
Passionate about: All kinds of sports, especially LSU football.
Dislikes: Eating chicken every day and the confinement of working “24/7.”
Craziest moments: Has trapped a cat, a bat and chased a squirrel in the house. None were harmed, and all were safely released. She used to experience pranks on the house, such as soap, jell-o and (once a dead duck in the fountain).
“The day I don’t enjoy the girls is the day I need to leave. If it’s not fun anymore, I need to go.”
.
.
RUTH FOLEYHouse Director, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority
“It’s like running a house… it just happens to be a big one. Instead of three or four bedrooms you have 26.”
Years as a “mom”: 3
Women living in house: 59
Dislikes: Had to give her dog away upon accepting the position.
Fun facts: Mother of six girls. She became a House Director shortly after her youngest daughter moved out.
Craziest moments: Chasing away opossums from the house patio.
Advice to aspiring House Moms: “You’ve got to keep a sense of humor and not take things personally.”
.
.
JUDY PETRIEHouse Director, Kappa Delta Sorority
“College the second time around is so fun. I don’t have to study!”
Years as “mom”: 5
Known as: “Momma Judy.”
Safety at the house: Is a priority. Each entry of the house has a hand scan, which recognizes a woman’s hand and her corresponding pin number. “They lose keys and they lose cards, but they won’t lose their hands.”
Picky eaters: Always has PB&J in the snack kitchen, which is also always stocked with turkey, sandwich makings, granola, cereal and milk
Women living in house: 61
About the lifestyle: “Unless someone needs you, you pretty much get to sleep.”
Quirks: Never taken a sick day, is a Baton Rouge native and has been attending LSU football games since she was 4 years old.
Craziest moment: Men are never allowed upstairs, but while decorating for Homecoming, a young man flipped off the balcony while attempting to secure the backdrop of Tiger Stadium to a post. Miraculously, he suffered mere bruises and recovered.
Most memorable moment: ESPN filmed a 15-minute segment of their pregame tape in front of the KD house, using their homecoming “Tiger” as a backdrop before the Saints played the Dolphins. All 40 of the girls who participated received free tickets.
.
.
MARCY KNABEHouse Director & Head Chef, Tri-Delta Sorority
Time as a “mom”: Seven months
Women living in house: 54
Hobbies: Walking and riding her bike around the lakes daily and enjoying the beauty of LSU’s campus. “I just like to pinch myself, it’s so pretty.”
Loves: Cooking, the girls of Tri Delt, and her black mini schnauzer “Libby,” who lives in her apartment.
Dislikes: Being away from her two grandchildren. “Thank God for Skype.”
Is excited by: The schedule, especially the long summer vacation time.
“I love everything about my job. I’m so fortunate. I love the girls most of all[space]—[space]they’re all very smart and very focused on what they want to do.”
.
.
LORELLE VERGESHouse Director of Sigma Chi Fraternity & Longest Standing House Director on
Campus
Years as “mom”: 21, since Spring 1989.
Men living in house: 30.
Known as: “Mom V.”
Likes: Everything about the job.
Dislikes: Nothing.
Pets: A daschund named Heidi, who only barks at men who
are not members of Sigma Chi.
From her years as House Director: She has attended weddings of her fraternity men, christenings of their children and serves as a godmother to many alumni’s children.
Awards: She was appointed National Housemother of the
Year from 1995-1996 by Sigma Chi and was awarded with the Order of the Omega as an “Outstanding House Director” in 2008.
Lives at house: Weekly. She owns a condo in Jefferson, LA, where she stays on weekends and during summer, spring, fall and winter breaks.
Duties: To be a mom away from home, and provide the men with care their parents cannot give while they are at school. This includes sewing buttons on shirts, ironing clothes and approving attire for interviews.
Advice to aspiring or current house directors: Be yourself
and love them all.
“I love my boys and I’m always there for them. Even though this door may be closed, it’s never closed to them.”
.
.
JARED AVERYHouse Director, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Quirks: Currently is a second year graduate student in higher education administration and student affairs.
Nickname: “Baby J” while a university undergrad
Men living in the house: 8
Years as a house “dad”: 2
Interesting Facts: He currently is the house director of the
only black fraternity house in Louisiana.
Craziest moment: During his first year as house director, the door of the downstairs bathroom jammed, locking one of the fraternity brothers inside. Avery was in class at the time, but the men kicked the door in.
Duties: Overseeing maintenance and cleanliness.
Best part of the job: Experiencing brotherhood while living close to campus.
.
.
LINDA WILLIAMS
House Director, Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity
Years as “mom”: 7
Nicknames: “Mom Williams,” “Mom Psi” and “mom.”
Her four house rules: Respect is a two way street, no “f words,” pick up your stuff and take out the garbage.
Men living in the house: 22
The most difficult part of the job: Getting the men to take out the garbage.
She lives in house year round.
The difference between fraternity and sorority house moms: “Fraternity moms are much bigger partiers,” Williams said. “We’re a different breed than sorority moms. We have to drink every once in a while.”
Before being a house mom: She catered for 15 years and currently owns and operates the catering company “Socially Yours.”
In her down time: She enjoys reading 2-3 books at a time.
The men’s menu: “There’s no such thing as portion control when it comes to food,” Williams said. “Girls eat salads. We eat steak and potatoes.”
What it’s like to live in a house without a cleaning crew: “Tomorrow it might smell like a brewery, but we clean and sweep and mop the floor.”
Quirks: She creates a collage of the men in the fraternity who have fallen asleep in various places and positions around the house. When parents come to visit, Williams sets them on display and entitles the collage “Future Leaders.”
.
.
DIANE WALLENDALL
House Director, Kappa Alpha Fraternity
Years as “mom”: 4
Men living in house: 6
Known as: “Mom” or “The Dianimal,” her pen name.
Quirks: She wears a fake wedding band around her finger as a reminder to always be true to herself. “I’ve had my heart broken before, but I can’t help but care for these guys.”
Interesting facts: Stores a collection of “projectiles” (i.e. footballs, softballs and baseballs) that she confiscated in an antique ice box. She also has an assortment of golf clubs and baseball bats that have, at one point, busted through sheet rock within the fraternity house. She also “booby traps” her bathroom to monitor when members of the fraternity sneak into her apartment to use the restroom.
Her two loves: Her black Scottish Terrier, Maggie, and her Jeep.
Hobbies: Piano, guitar and writing.
Before she became “mom”: She was a columnist and owner of two motorcycle magazines out of New Orleans: Full Throttle Magazine and Gulf Coast Quick Throttle. She still rides her Yamaha motorcycle, which she affectionately refers to as her HarDley
Considers herself to have transitioned from biker chick to lady in her role as a house mother. “These parents see me like Paula Deen. I’m a perfect lady. I’ve traded boots and jeans for ladies and pearls.”
Her secret weapons: Duct tape, bleached white towels, liquid bandaids and a lively sense of humor.
