Dr. Ray P. Authement, who led the 小蝌蚪APP as its president for three decades, died Sunday, April 5. He was 91.
Authement was president 34 years. When he retired in 2008, he was the longest-serving public university president in the United States.
In a statement, Dr. Joseph Savoie, current UL Lafayette president, praised his predecessor小蝌蚪APP檚 小蝌蚪APP渧isionary leadership.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淭hrough dedication, determination and selflessness, he changed how the 小蝌蚪APP saw itself and how others perceived it as well. He guided our growth from a strong regional 小蝌蚪APP to one recognized nationally and globally for its research and scholarship,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said.
Dr. Jim Henderson, president of the 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System, echoed Savoie小蝌蚪APP檚 sentiments.
小蝌蚪APP淎s the longest serving public university president in the United States, Dr. Authement laid the foundation for the extraordinary advancement of UL Lafayette into a national model and a source of pride for Louisiana. Countless students and multiple generations were blessed by his leadership.小蝌蚪APP
Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Louisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 commissioner of higher education, said Authement 小蝌蚪APP渂rought his sharp mind, vision for academic excellence and student dedication to the role he cherished,小蝌蚪APP president of UL Lafayette.
小蝌蚪APP淎s we mourn his passing, we at the Board of Regents celebrate an educator for the ages and reflect on his rich legacy,小蝌蚪APP Hunter Reed said in a statement.
Authement grew up in Boudreaux Canal, a coastal community near Cocodrie, Louisiana. He enrolled in 1947 at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now UL Lafayette. He was the first member of his family to attend college, and graduated with a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in physics in 1950.
Authement then completed master小蝌蚪APP檚 and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Louisiana State 小蝌蚪APP, in 1952 and 1956, respectively. He taught at LSU and McNeese State 小蝌蚪APP before returning to SLI as associate professor of mathematics in 1957.
Two years later, he was named professor. He continued to teach until 1966, when he was promoted to academic vice president. By then, SLI had become the 小蝌蚪APP of Southwestern Louisiana. In 1970, Authement was named vice president.
He became acting president in 1973 when his predecessor, Dr. Clyde L. Rougeau, took a year小蝌蚪APP檚 leave of absence. Rougeau retired in 1974, and Authement became president.
During his tenure, the 小蝌蚪APP earned national and global recognition in the fields of computer science, environmental and biological research, engineering, and Francophone studies. It also strengthened its efforts to preserve and examine Louisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 culture.
Despite its growing reputation, Authement ensured the 小蝌蚪APP remained committed to Acadiana.
When the area oil industry collapsed in the early 1980s, the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 budget was cut by $10 million. In spite of its own financial straits, the 小蝌蚪APP, at Authement小蝌蚪APP檚 direction, led efforts to bolster the regional economy by creating research centers that helped existing companies improve their operations and fostered the growth of new businesses as well.
The 小蝌蚪APP established 17 research centers during Authement小蝌蚪APP檚 tenure and opened 小蝌蚪APP Research Park. The park小蝌蚪APP檚 tenants grew to include the National Wetlands Research Center, the Cecil J. Picard Center for Early Childhood Development, and the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise, or LITE, Center.
More than 30 buildings were constructed, and over 25 facilities were renovated or expanded from 1974 to 2008. These included the Hilliard 小蝌蚪APP Art Museum; Moody, Abdalla, Fletcher and Oliver halls; Legacy Park, apartment-style student residences; and an indoor practice facility for Louisiana Ragin小蝌蚪APP Cajuns athletic teams.
Edith Garland Dupr茅 Library was enlarged and renovated. The Cajundome opened in 1986 and was expanded to include the convention center in 2002.
During Authement小蝌蚪APP檚 administration, the 小蝌蚪APP also:
- changed its name from USL to the 小蝌蚪APP;
- implemented academic admission standards;
- became the first Doctoral II institution in Louisiana;
- competed in NCAA Division I, the highest level of collegiate athletics competition; and
- increased gifted assets to more than $150 million.
Following his retirement in 2008, Authement returned to the 小蝌蚪APP and once again taught mathematics.
The 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System recognized him as UL Lafayette president emeritus in 2009.
The 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 is named in his honor. Each year, the UL Lafayette Foundation presents outstanding educators the Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award, one of the highest honors the 小蝌蚪APP bestows on faculty.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara Braud Authement; daughter, Julie Authement Johnson (Chris); five grandchildren, Jacob and Benjamin Johnson, Philip Prouet (Emily), Lauren Newbill (Wes) and Michelle Prouet; and two great-grandchildren, Graham and Parker Prouet. He is also survived by his brothers, Don Authement (Suzanne) and Ronnie Authement (Jane); and his sisters, Norma Dill (Jerry, deceased) and Rosalie Tipton (John.)
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elios and Elphia Authement; his oldest sister, Nell Page; and a daughter Kathy Elizabeth Prouet.
Memorial contributions can be made to the or to the . Checks should be made payable to the UL Lafayette Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504.
La Louisiane, the magazine of the 小蝌蚪APP,
(Graphic credit: 小蝌蚪APP)