Hank Rush (right), Founding Member 1956

From left to right in this photo of the annual winners from the Shreveport Camera Club, 1955, are Bob Dial, C. W. Lloyd and Henry L. "Hank" Rush with their prints and awards.

Bob and Hank Rush acted as co-founders of the Shreveport Photographic Society and then as co-chairmen of the first PSA approved salon ever held in Louisiana history.

Photo courtesy of Bob Dial

Hank Rush's biographical sketch was provided by Bob Dial.

Hank was a family man, quiet and unassuming, but exacting in the things he chose to do. He worked as an Advalorem Tax Accountant for Texas Eastern Transmission. He married a wonderful lady named Katherine and they had two children, a boy Hanky and a girl, Sandy. Katherine taught me to spot black and white prints faster and less detectably than the instructions which came with the Spotone product. She also had a penchant for good picture ideas and often was the prod that got Hank going on a project. If Hank had any character flaws he kept them well hidden because he got along famously with everyone, and was well liked.

Their home and ours were only a couple of blocks apart so each Saturday morning we usually were into gold toning prints or some other photographic activity. Katherine would turn their children's TV programs on and away we three would go into planning or execution, and sometimes just studying the style of prints certain judges found irresistable. My work day normally was 2pm to 10pm at the TIMES, seven days a week and calling in a phone number where I could be reached should a breaking news event pop up outside that time. Hank's work hours were 8 to 5, five days a week. So Saturday morning was about the only time we had to work on projects, and Katie didn't mind because half the time she was into them, too! The picture of Hank and his award with the top Pictorial Print of the Year he's holding is a picture of his son, Hanky. When we tried to steer the prevailing Shreveport Camera Club into a more Salon oriented direction, some regular members were outspoken in opposition. Rather than argue we sidestepped, got some talent together and formed the Shreveport Photographic Society. All of us who also were members of SCC continued to attend their meetings and as individuals there expressed interest in getting into SPS we'd hold a vote. If no one was opposed, they were then invited to join.

AwardS'portCamClub1955