Northwestern State University awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters to Earl J. Barbry Sr., center, of Marksville Friday, Dec. 16, during morning Fall Commencement Exercises. Barbry has been chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana in 1977.  He is a nationally known American Indian leader, serving on the board of the United South and Eastern Tribes, representing federally acknowledged tribes from Louisiana to Maine.  The honorary doctorate was conferred by Northwestern State President Dr. Randall J. Webb, left, and Dr. Steven Horton, assistant provost and dean of the College of Arts, Letters, Graduate Studies and Research. 
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