Gussie Rebecca Calhoun (1931-2016) was born in Monroe (Bossier Parish), Louisiana. She received her degree in elementary education from Louisiana Tech. After college, she joined the Marine Corps where she served for eight years and rose to the rank of Captain. While in the military, she was appointed to Paris, France at the beginning of the Korean War to be in command of all U.S. women military personnel in Europe. During the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, her duties included escorting world leaders to various NATO functions. After her military service, she returned to school for her master’s in counseling and guidance. Ms. Calhoun joined Auburn University as the Assistant Dean of Women in 1964. She next served as Director of Housing until her 1988 retirement from where she served a total of twenty-five years. Ms. Calhoun also volunteered as a docent at Callaway Gardens, Georgia and served twice as mayor of Loachapoka, Alabama, where she lived and raised cattle.