Larry Albers

Lawrence Albers began his film career through the U.S. Army Air Corp.  After his first tour of duty, he began attending college in California and landed television and film acting roles.  While serving his second tour of duty, Mr. Albers continued his education and earned his master’s degree in cinema, which led to a military career producing motion pictures and commanding units that produced combat, informational, and documentary films for the Air Force.  He joined The University of Southern Mississippi faculty in 1970 after retiring from the Air Force.  Affectionately called “Colonel Albers” by his students, Mr. Albers was credited with making USM’s film studies program the largest of any university in the Southeast at the time, largely due to his “hands-on” filmmaking courses.  He was twice awarded both the George Washington Freedom Foundation Award, once for film, and once for writing, and USM’s Excellence in Teaching Award.  He was inducted posthumously into the MCJ Hall of Fame in 2008.