"I'll take my bow and make my exit."
William Shakespeare
After completing 34 years of teaching French at Mississippi Valley State University, Ardenia A. Rambeau is wishing his career and students "au revoir et bonne chance."
Rambeau attempted to retire in 1991, but remained at the school as an adjunct professor until May. "They needed somebody, and I didn't have anything else to do," he said.
The students are what kept Rambeau, 74, teaching for so many years.
"The rewarding part is to see the students develop. Some learn to speak the language. Some go on and major in it - and teach and do well," he said. "Some are teaching in college and high schools now."
As far as what he will do during his retirement years, Rambeau said he really hasn't made any plans at this point. "I think I would like to travel a while and go to sporting events and football games in Memphis again," he said.
Rambeau said he also likes to cook. And with Labor Day not far away, he said, he will probably put some barbecue on the grill.
A native of Minden, La., and a graduate of Webster High School, Rambeau holds a bachelor's degree in French from Tennessee State University and a master's degree from Northwestern University.
"I didn't have a word of French in high school. But I got off in college and got into it and did well," he said.
He even helped teach some classes while he was in college and decided to major in the subject.
Rambeau began his teaching career at his alma mater, which is in Nashville. He also has taught at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas; Lane College in Jackson, Tenn.; Miles College in Birmingham, where he stayed 15 years; Kentucky State in Frankfort, Ky.; and Albany State in Albany, Ga.
"I have received several plaques and trophies for outstanding work at all the universities," he said. "Some fraternities have honored me as man of the year."
Rambeau came to MVSU in 1967, and served there for 34 years. It was the need for a French professor at Valley that kept him at the school so long. "When I got here, there was such a need for a person in French to set up a program. The salary was all right, the people were nice, and the living conditions were nice," he said.
MVSU doesn't have a major in French, he said, but the university offers two years in the course and a third year for students who minor in the subject.
Rambeau is a Fulbright Award recipient. The award from the U.S. State Department allowed him to study in France.
He has done extensive work in the area of French at Laval University, a school specializing in French, in Quebec, Canada; Berlitz School of Languages; the Sorbonne University in Paris, France; and the University of Caen in France.
While living in Paris and Quebec, Rambeau lived with French families. "It really helped," he said, "because they use the language all the time.
"They're very sympathetic when they see someone trying to speak their language. They come on and help you all they can," Rambeau said.
While living in Nashville, Rambeau worked for the Gillette family. It was Mrs. Gillette, who worked in a French club, who helped him with his French.
During his tenure at MVSU, Rambeau was chairman of the university's cultural activities on the Lyceum Committee for more than 10 years.
He was instrumental in bringing several Shakespeare plays to the university, including "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Hamlet," Macbeth," "Othello" and the modern version of "Julius Caesar."
Other committee assignments at MVSU included work on the athletic committee and class advisor. He also was appointed to the Mississippi Humanities Council by Gov. Ray Mabus.
During his early years, Rambeau also worked as a wedding director and an entertainment promoter.
Rambeau has two brothers and two sisters. He is a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Itta Bena.
"I'm don't know how retirement is going to work out," he said, "but I think I'll adjust."
