January 27, 2007

The Louisiana Political Museum Hall of Fame Inducts 8

The Louisiana Political Museum is proud to announce the 2007 Louisiana Political Hall of Fame Inductees. The Induction proceedings began in Winnfield, Louisiana on Saturday, January 27, with a Reception from 3-5 pm at the Louisiana Political Museum, located at 499 East Main Street for friends and families of the honorees. Following at 6:00 pm was the Induction Banquet at the Winnfield Civic Center, located at 2000 South Jones Street.

Diana E. Bajoie began her public service in 1976 in the Louisiana House of Representatives. In 1991 she moved to the upper chamber becoming the first African-American woman elected to the Louisiana Senate. In 2004 she took the oath as Senate President Pro Tempore becoming the first woman elected to this leadership post in the Louisiana Senate. Senator Bajoie graduated Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge with a B.A. in political science. In the Louisiana State Legislature Senator Bajoie led the way to create school-based health clinics, formed the Minority Health Care Commission and increased health care coverage for citizens with mental health disorders. A cancer survivor, she won the legislature’s approval of mandated health insurance coverage of mammography and other cancer screening tests. Senator Bajoie is a founder and former chairperson of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus. Senator Bajoie also insisted that the legislature and the state properly recognize the contributions of African-Americans to New Orleans, Louisiana and the nation. Her efforts resulted in the creation of the Louisiana State Museum on Civil Rights as well as the expansion and renaming of the New Orleans Convention Center in honor of the city’s first African-American mayor, Ernest N. Morial.

Dr. Sally Clausen has served as Commissioner of Higher Education, Secretary of Education for the Office of the Governor, President of Southeastern Louisiana University, and currently serves as President of the University of Louisiana System, a position she assumed in July 2001. The UL System has eight universities under its governance. In addition to her leadership in Louisiana, Dr. Clausen is an active participant in higher education policy at the national level. She serves as Vice President of the National Association of University System Heads and on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Additionally, Dr. Clausen is a participant in The College Board’s Center for Innovative Thought, the mission of which is to develop “courses of action on matters that would enhance national educational wellbeing.” She is a member of the Board of Directors of Neogenix Oncology Corp., a private biotechnology company that has developed techniques for the earlier diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer and other malignancies. In a review of Dr. Clausen’s presidency at Southeastern Louisiana University, an independent consultant, Dr. John Moore, President Emeritus-Indiana State University, noted that “…perhaps less than one-percent of (university) presidents being reviewed could enjoy such an extremely positive review as has President Clausen.” In a recent book commissioned by the American Council on Education, entitled The Entrepreneurial College President, Dr. Clausen was mentioned as one whose leadership had positively transformed a college campus.

Charles & Virginia deGravelles graduated LSU in 1936. After completing law school, Mr. deGravelles was employed by Stanolind Oil and Gas Company, later known as Amoco, as a landsman. He retired from Amoco in 1971 and established his own business in oil leasing and title work. Stonolind Oil encouraged its employees to become involved in community activities and public service and “Charlie” quickly became involved in civic affairs. Almost single-handedly, he raised the money to establish the first Salvation Army lodge in Lafayette. In another area of interest, deGravelles became co-founder and part owner of the first television station in Lafayette, KLFY Channel 10. The deGravelles are among the few couples who have served together on the Republican National Committee, and have both been active in many local, state and national political campaigns. They have both been instrumental in laying the groundwork for the growth of the Republican party in the state of Louisiana and were among the first registered Republicans in Lafayette Parish. The deGravelles were the recipient of the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge Award presented by the New Orleans Chapter for their efforts toward making Louisiana a two-party state. They were jointly honored in 1977 as Founders of the Louisiana Republican Party and have received the Lifetime Service Award from the Republican Party of Louisiana. In 1964 Virginia deGravelles was elected National Republican Committeewoman, and shortly after, deGravelles was elected State Chairman of the Republican Party. Mr. deGravelles received the 2005 Ronald Reagan Gold Medal for his many years of service to the Republican Party. Among the many political notables with whom the deGravelles’ worked closely were Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush. Charles and Virginia have five children, 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Huntington “Hunt” Downer, Jr. is from Houma Louisiana in Terrebonne Parish. He graduated high school in 1964 and attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux where he earned a B.S. in Agriculture. In 1972 he graduated Loyola Law School in New Orleans and returned to Houma to begin practicing law. Downer served 28 years, seven terms, in the Louisiana House of Representatives, from 1978-2004. He served as Speaker Pro Tempore’ from 1988 to 1992 and Speaker of the House from 1996 to 2000. Downer was also “of counsel” with the law firm of Waltz & Downer in Houma, Louisiana until December 2003. Hunt Downer began his military career as an enlisted soldier, U.S. Army Reserves, in 1968 and subsequently received a direct appointment to Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in 1971. He later joined the Louisiana Army National Guard and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General Corps. Since September 2001, Major General Hunt Downer has served as the Assistant Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard. He serves as the principal assistant to the Adjutant General for all Army National Guard issues. Downer also serves as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2006 Governor Kathleen Blanco appointed Major General Hunt Downer as her legislative liaison.

Theodore “Ted” Jones is a prominent Louisiana attorney who has provided counsel to governors, members of Congress, U.S. Senators and presidential candidates. He is a native of Tifton, Ga., and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Northwestern with special studies in accounting and economics in 1960. Mr. Jones received a Juris Doctorate at the University of Mississippi in 1963 and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in 1970. He has been in private practice since 1963 except for several stints in government service. He served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Speedy O. Long and as counsel and special counsel for Medicare to Governor John J. McKeithen. Mr. Jones was on the presidential campaign staff of Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968. He was special counsel to Gov. Edwin Edwards for federal affairs, wetlands and transportation from 1984 to 1988 and 1992 to 1996. Jones has been a counsel on the Federal Campaign Act of 1971 for numerous candidates for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. He has also counseled candidates for state and local offices on the Louisiana Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 1975. He is the author of two books on business and tax planning in closely held corporations and on foreign tax credits. His service also includes being general counsel for the Louisiana Democratic Party from 1964 to 1988, an elected Presidential Elector from the 6th Congressional District in 1976 and a national committeeman of the Democratic National Committee from 1994-1998.

Mary Landrieu graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1977. She was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1980, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the state Legislature, and served until 1988. Senator Landrieu was Louisiana State Treasurer from 1988 to 1996 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, becoming the first woman from Louisiana elected to a full term in the Senate. She was reelected in 2002 for the term ending January 3, 2009. Senator Landrieu’s service in the Senate has been defined by powerful committee appointments and by her work championing legislation that opened the door of opportunity for Louisianans and all Americans. A moderate Democrat, she is known as an independent voice willing to cross party lines to support legislation that is right for Louisiana. She currently serves on the Senate Appropriations, Energy and Natural Resources and Small Business Committees. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Landrieu is a strong and effective voice for Louisiana, while bringing her record of fiscal discipline to the committee that approves more than $300 billion in federal discretionary spending annually. From her seat on one of the most powerful panels on Capitol Hill, she fights for Louisiana’s jobs and economic interests. In addition, she serves on several appropriations subcommittees of great importance to Louisiana, including Agriculture, Labor, Health and Education, and Military Construction. Senator Landrieu is a ranking member of the District of Columbia Subcommittee and works to be a voice for so many who have no vote in Congress. Landrieu is a moderate Democrat who believes our nation can and should do a better job of balancing our budget, protecting and conserving our environment, and educating our children for the global challenges ahead.

Sean O’Keefe assumed the office of Chancellor of Louisiana State University and A&M College on February 21, 2005. Prior to his appointment as LSU’s seventh chancellor, O’Keefe established a distinguished career in higher education and United States government service. Chancellor O’Keefe earned his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1977 and his Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University in 1978. He held an endowed chair at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and served as the Director of National Security Studies, a partnership of Syracuse University and Johns Hopkins University for delivery of executive education programs. He was also Professor of Business Administration, Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Pennsylvania State University. He has served on four separate occasions as a presidential appointee. Most recently, until February 2005, he served as the 10th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. O'Keefe joined President George W. Bush’s Administration as Deputy Assistant to the President and as the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget until December 2001. Appointed Secretary of the Navy in July 1992 by President George Bush, O'Keefe served as Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Defense since 1989. Before joining then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney's Pentagon management team in these capacities, he served on the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations staff for eight years and was Staff Director of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. His public service began in 1978 upon his selection as a Presidential Management Intern.

The following received the Friend of Earl K. Long award: James Reeder and Phil Williams

James Reeder worked for Governor Long’s campaigns of 1948 and 1956. He has served as Narrator of the Washington Mardi Gras Ball of the Krewe of Louisianians since Russell and Gillis Long installed him in the late 1970’s.

Dr. Phil Williams was a resident at Ochsner’s when Governor Long returned from Galveston in 1959. Phil received the Governor at Ochsner’s who of course moved straight through.

Dr. Susan Dollar was honored for her untiring efforts in assisting the volunteers and the museum board in the establishment of the Louisiana Political Museum.

Preston A. “Pap” Dean was honored for his dedication to producing the sketches of all the inductees for the past 14 years which now totals 105 sketches. His love for the Louisiana Political Museum has motivated Pap to donate these beautiful sketches yearly.