>> >>: IS PROUD TO FULFILL OUR FOUNDERS LEGACY IN SUPPORTING THE SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURE NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

>> >>: THE LOUISIANA LOTTERY IS PROUD TO JOIN LPB IN HONORING LOUISIANA LEGENDS CONTRIBUTING NEARLY FOREPOINT 9 BILLION TO K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE LOTTERY IS GIVING LOUISIANA IS REASON TO SMILE.

COMMUNICATED RENEWAL INTEREST NATIONAL IS PROUD TO HONOR JOHNDONTAL AND ALL OF THE LIGANDS WHO LIFT OTHERS AND TRANSFORM LIVES TO SHREVEPORT TO THE WORLD BUILDING COMMUNITIES OF HOPE AND CONNECTIONISM MORE AT COMMUNITY RENEWAL.

US.

THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS HAVE R EXCITED TO HONOR DOUG WILLIAMS WHO INSPIRE LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND MAKE A LASTIC IMPACT ON THE FIELD AND BEYONDISM MORE AT COMMANDERS.COM.

THE 2025 LOUISIANA LEGENDS GALAIS BROUGHT TO THE YOU BY THE TOM AND GALE FOUNDATION.

THE WILLIAM JAY DORE' FAMILY.

COMMUNITY RENEWAL INTERNATIONAL.

THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS FOUNDATION.

ROY O MARTIN.

LOUISIANA LOTTERY.

WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> >>: GOOD EVENING I AM PAULA PENNINGTON AND I AM HONORED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE 2025 LOUISIANA LEDGANTS GALAW.

WHEN MY FAMILY WAS RECOGNIZED AS A LOUISIANA LEGEND IN 2023 IT WAS A MOMENT WE WILL TREASURE FOREVER.

A TRUE CELEBRATIONS OF OUR ROOTS, OUR JOURNEY AND OUR LOVE FOR THIS GREAT STATE.

TONIGHT IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE STANDING BEFORE YOU TO WELCOME THE NEWEST CLASS OF LEGENDS.

YOU ARE JOINING AN EXTRUERINARY CIRCLE OF LEADERS AND VISIONINARIES LIKE COUNTRY MUSIC ICON KICK BROOKS WORLD RENEW ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON DR. JAMES ANDREWS AND AWARD WINNING ACADMINISTRATIVE LIN WHITEFIELDISM TONIGHT YOU BECOME PART OF THAT LEGACY YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE ALREADY LEFT A MARK AND NOW YOUR STORY BECOMES PART OF LOUISIANAS RICH AND INSPIRING HISTORY.

TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE YOU OUR SIXTH NEWEST HONOREES AS PARTED OF THE LOUISIANA LEGENDS FAMILY.

CONGRATULATIONS AND MAY YOUR LEGACY CONTINUE TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> >>: SINCE 1990LPB MAZ HONORED THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST WHO HAS BROUGHT ACAME BOTH TO THEMSELVES AND LOUISIANA EARNING THE DISTINCTION OF LOUISIANA LEGENDS.

WELCOME TO THE LOUISIANA LEGENDS GALA.

I'M ROBIN MERRICK COHEST.

>> >>: AND I'M JOHN DENSON WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO KICKOFF THIS SPECIAL EVENINGISM MANY THANKS TO PAULA PENNINGTON FOR THAT WARM WELCOME AND TO HELPING HONOR THIS YEARS DISTINGUISH SAID CLASS OF INDUCKTIES AND ALSO WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO LOUISIANA HISTORIC OLD STATE CAPITOL AS WE CELEBRATE THE 2025 LEGENDS.

SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING FOR THIS LIVE BROADCAST OF THE AWARD CEREMONY IS TRULY MEANINGFUL MOMENT TO GATHER IN RECOGNITION OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE EXTRAORDINARY COG TRIBUTIONS HAVE ENRICHED OUR STATE IN SO MANY WAYS.

TONIGHT WE CELEBRATEORY LEGACY AND THE IMPACT THEY MADE.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A HEART FELT WELCOME TO OUR FORMER HONOREES THIS EVENING.

YOUR CONTINUED PRESENCE HERE ON THIS NIGHT MAKE IT THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL.

MAY I KINDLY ASK THOSE IN ATTENDANCE PAULA PENNINGTON AND DR. STEVEN MCGUIRE TO PLEASE STAND.

WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

>> >>: APPLAUSE ESTABLISHED IN 1990 THE LOUISIANA LEGENDS GAL LAW WAS CREATED TO CELEBRATE THUCHIEVEMENTS OF OUR STATESES MOST ACCOMPLISHED SONS AND DAUGHTERS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE THEIR MARK ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF FIELDS INCLUDING PUBLIC SERVICE, MILITARY SERVICE, ARTS, FULIL THRUPY AND SPORTS.

THIS YEARS HONOREES BECOME A PART OF A DISTINGUISHED LEGYING JOINING 167 PAST LOUISIANA LEGENDS A MARKABLE ROSTER THAT FEATURES ACARDOMY AWARD AND GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS, A NOBEL LAUREATE, LEGENDARY ATHLETES, WORLD RENEWED CHEFS AND INFLUENTIAL PUBLIC FIGURES INCLUDING 2 FORMER UN AMBESDERS.

>> >>: AND THIS EVENING IS EVEN MORE SPECIAL IT MARKS 35 YEARS CELEBRATING LOUISIANA LEGENDS.

WE'RE HONORED TO WELCOME TONIGHT OUR SEX EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS INTO THIS ESTEEMED CIRCLE.

WE FIRST EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANKS TO SECRETARY OF STATE NANCY LANDRY AND OUR DEDICATED STAFF FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO BROADCAST FROM THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING LOUISIANAS OLD STATED CAPITOL IT'S ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO HOST THE GALA FROM THIS MAG NICHE STAT HISTORIC LANDMARK A PLACE THAT'S SO BEAUTIFULLY REFLECTS THE LEGACY OF OUR STATE AND THE SPIRIT OF OUR HONOREES AND LOUISIANA.

AND NOW LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE ARE PLEASED TO INTRODUCE THE 2025 LOUISIANA LEGENDS.

>> >>: HIS DISTINGUISHED KIERS INCLUDING GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, INDUSTRY AND HEALTHCARE.

DAN BORNE.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: INTRONATIONALLY ACCLAIMED WATER COLOR ARTIST JUDI BETTS.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: APPOINTMENTED BY PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HE SERVED AS THE SEVENTH SECRETARY OF THE NAVY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO 1 OF OUR NATIONS MOST CRITICAL MILITARY BRANCHES, JOHN H DOLL L TON.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER AND PASSIONATE ADVOCATE COMMITTED TO ENDING HUNGER AND UP LIFTING COMMUNITIES CLAIRE BABINEAUX FOTENOT.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: CHAIRMAN OF A GLOBAL ENTERPRISE WHOSE FILL AN TROPIC VISION HAS LEFT AN LASTING IMPACT ON THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, BILL GOLD RING.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: TRAIL PLAYING ATHLETE, NFL GREAT, COACH AND EXECUTIVE WHOSE LEGACY IS SPORT OF FOOTBALL IS TRULY INSPIRING, DOUG WILLIAMS.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OUR 2025 LOUISIANA LEGENDS.

>> >>: APPLAUSE YOU MAYBE SEATED.

FIRST A TRUSTED ADVISER AND INDUSTRY LEADER, HIS LEGACY REFLECTS A LIFE LONG COMMITMENT TO LOUISIANAS MOST VITAL INSTITUTIONS.

AND OF COURSE WE CAN'T FORGET, THEI CONIC VOICE OF THE LSU TIGERS INFORTALIZED IN TIGER STADIUM IN THE LEGENDARY FORECAST, CHANCE OF RAIN, NEVER.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DAN BORNE.

>> >>: DAN IS LEAGUEDARY BECAUSE HE IS REAL AND HE IS WHO HE IS AND NEVER CHANGED.

A GOD FEARING PERSON A FAMILY GUY HE'S NEVER FORGOTTEN WHERE HE CAME FROM.

>> >>: DARN BORNE HAS NEVER MET A STRAINTURE.

OPEN AND INVITING.

HE'LL LISTEN TO YOU AND REALLY MAKES PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME.

>> >>: THERE HAS NOT BEEN VERY MANY DULL MOMENTS IN OUR MARRIAGE.

>> >>: NATURALLY OBIAILATES HIS LIFE IN A WAY THAT IS IMPRESSIVE BUT DOZEN CALL ATTENTION TO HIMSELF.

A REALLY GOOD MAN.

>> >>: BORNE LOVE AWARE WITH LSU.

>> >>: FROM A LITTLE BOY WITH HIS HEAD NEXT TO A RADIO HE LOVERED LSU SPORTS.

>> >>: AT NICHOLLS STATE WHERE HE BEGAN ANNOUNCING BASEBALL GAMES AND WHERE HIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH HIS FUTURE WIFE BEGAN.

>> >>: HE CREDITS ME FOR GETTING HIM THROUGH HIS FRESHMAN YEAR ALTHOUGH ME MEADED NO HELP FROM ME REALLY.

>> >>: AFTER GRADUATION DAN BEGAN HIS BROADCASTING CAREER DELIVERING SPORTS AND NEWS WHILE PURSUING GRAD WOULD STUDIES AT LSU BUT THE POLITICAL ARENA SOON BECKERED.

AND FINALLY RUSSEL LONG WHOSE MENTORSHIP WOULD PROVE INFLUENTIAL.

>> >>: HE WAS TRAINED BY PROBABLY THE GREATEST LEGACY OF POLITICAL FAMILIES IN THE HISTORY OF LOUISIANA THE LONG FAMILY AND HIS TIME WITH RUSSEL LONG MADE HIM A STUDENT OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT MAKES PEOPLE THINK AND HOW THEY THINK AND WHAT THEY FEEL ABOUT LOUISIANA.

>> >>: DAN HAD THOSE SAME FEELINGS ABOUT LOUISIANA.

>> >>: ITS IT'S REALLY TRUE THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME AND WHEN HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME HOME HE TOOK IT.

>> >>: THAT JOB WAS FOR GOVERNOR EDWIN EDWARDS AS HIS FAMILY GREW DAN MADE A PIVOTAL DECISION.

>> >>: TO BE A DAD AND TRAVEL AS MUCH AS YOU TRAVEL WITH GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS WAS NOT THE BEST WAY TO GET TO KNOW YOUR KIDS.

AND SO HE TOOK A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN KAISER ALUMINUM WHERE HE WORKED FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

AFTER KAISER WENT TO WORK FOR HIS VERY LONG TIME JOB AS PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION.

>> >>: THE ONCE ATRUE THING ABOUT DAN HE NEVER TREATED YOU AS IF THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP OF A BOSS AND EMPLOYER.

IT WAS ALWAYS EQUAL AND HE GAVE YOU A CHANCE TO GIVE YOUR VIEWS AND TO REALLY GROW.

>> >>: BY THE LATE 198IES DAN HAD ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A RESPECTEDDED VOICE IN LOUISIANA CHEMICAL INDUSTRY YET HIS CHILDHOOD PASSION FOR LSU HAD NEVER FADED WHEN A LONGTIME PUBLIC ANNOUNCER RETIRED DAN STEPPED INTO A ROLE THAT WOULD FOREVER CHANGE SATURDAY NIGHTS IN DEATH VALLEY.

>> >>: CHANCE OF RAIN NEVER.

>> >>: DAN HAS THAT JOB IS REALLY WORD MASTER HE KNOWS HOW TO PUT THINGS IN THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE AND UNLIKE MOST OF US HE'S NEVER AT A LOSS FOR WORDS.

HE SEEMS TO DO AT IT THE RIGHT TIME.

>> >>: THIS IS LSU.

CHAMPIONS ARE MADE HERE.

>> >>: JUST LIKE AN MC AT AN EVENT OR SOMEONE WHOSE RUNNING THE SHOW HE IS THE QUIET YOU KNOW EDSULLIVAN OF OUR TIME FOR TIGER STADIUM.

>> >>: LATER IN LIFE DAN WOULD ANSWER ANOTHER CALLING TO SERVE AS A DEACON IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

>> >>: HE IS CALLED TO PREACH AND TO MINISTER AT THE ALTER.

A VERY HUMMABLE MAN.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOOHE WAS THE VOICE OF DEATH VALLEY SO TO SPEAK UNTIL I FOUND OUT FROM SOMEONE ELSE.

>> >>: DAN IS A LOUISIANA TREASURE.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT HE'S OUR AMBASSADOR FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

>> >>: HE CAME UP WITH HIS EXPRESSION THIS MANTRA HE SAYS MY LIFE HAS BEEN A LIFE OF MIRACLES AND MERCY.

AND WE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT HIS EDUCATION, HIS TIME IN GOVERNMENT, HIS CAREER, OUR MARRIAGE, RAISING AND PARENTING 4 CHILDREN.

WE LAUGHED 1 DAY BECAUSE HE SAID WELL WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MIRACLES AND MERCY THINK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE GAMES I ANNOUNCED.

NEARLY 40 YEARS OF BEING THE PA ANNOUNCER.

HE SAW MANY MIRACLES AND LSU HAD LOT OF MERCY DURING THAT TIME.

IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD MANTRA HE CAME UP WITH.

>> >>: HISTORY IS MAKING.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DAN BORNE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU JOHN.

I'M HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL TO BE COUNTED AMONG THE OTHER INDUCKTIES AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN NAMED LEGENDS BEFORE US.

CONGRATULATIONS.

AND I THANK ALL WHO HAD A ROLE IN MAKING THIS SPECIAL EVENING POSSIBLE.

LPB, FRIENDS OF LPB, ALL OF YOU MAMA AND DADDY WERE THE GREATEST GENERATION.

THEY BEQUEATHED THEIR BOYS 2 THINGS TO BE COMMITTED TO OUR FAITH AND TO BE FAITHFUL TO OUR COMMITMENTS.

OF THOSE TIMES WHEN I HAVE LIVED ACCORDING TO THAT LEGACY I THANK GOD FOR HIS GUIDING HAND AND THOSE TIMES I HAVE NOT I THANK GOD FOR HIS FOR GIVERNESS.

AT EVERY STAGE IN MY CAREER FROM COLLEGE I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TEACHERS AND MENTORS WHO WERE DOING THINGS I WAS INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT.

THEY GENEROUSLY HELPED ME WITH THEIR TIME AND TALENT, THEIR COUNSEL, THEIR INCOURAGEMENT AND WHEN NECESSARY THEIR CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND CORRECTION AND I HAVE BEEN GRACED OVER THE DECADES TO WORK FOR AND WITH SO MANY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN SO CONFIDENT AND SO SUPPORTIVE.

THEY ALL SHARE IN THIS RECOGNITION.

YOU SAW SOME OF THEM IN THE VIDEO THIS EVENING.

BUT MOST SUPPORTIVE OF ALL AND THE MOST DEBIT OF GRATITUDE IS MY FAMILY AND MY DEAR WIFE.

TO PAIR PARAA TIME FROM CAMELOT IF I COULD CHEWS FROM EVERY WOMAN WHO BREATHES ON THIS EARTH THE FACE I MOST LOVE, THE SMILE, THE TOUCH, THE HEART, THE VOICE, THE LAUGH EVERY DETAIL AND FEATURE DOWN TO THE LAST STRAND OF HAIR THEY WOULD ALL BE LUVETS, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS.

BUT FOR HER SUPPORT, HER ENCOURAGEMENT, HER LOVE ALONG WITH HER FREQUENT CRITIQUES I WOULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

WE INDUCKTIES WERE ASKED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT WHAT LOUISIANA MEANS TO US.

I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS STATE AND EXCEPT FOR A FEW YEARS IN WASHINGTON MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LIVED AND WORKED HERE.

LOUISIANA HAS BEEN A LAND OF TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO PURSUE OUR DREAMS TO TRAVEL TO EVERY PARISH IN THE STATE WHEN I WAS IN POLITICS AND TO MEET PEOPLE FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE AND EVERY OCCUPATION.

OUR CULTURAL DIVERSITY IS SECOND TO NONE AND WE SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD THAT WE ARE A GUMBO OF HUMANITY.

WE SHOULD NEVER SELL OUR LOUISIANA SHORT AND PROMOTED AS A PLACE TO SETTLE, TO RAISE A FAMILY, TO WORK, TO RETIRE AND TO PROSPER.

AS WE SAY IN TIGER STADIUM AT THE END OF A GAME THAT'S A WRAP AND INDEED IT IS FOR ME.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

CONGRATULATIONS DAN.

A HIGHLY ESTEEMED PAINTER INSTRUCTOR JUROR AND AUTHOR SHE HAS EARNED AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR HER TRANSPARENT WATER COLOR PAINTINGS.

HER WORK HAS BEEN SHOWCASED IN PRESTIGIOUS INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I PRESENT JUDI BETTS.

HER WATER COLORS ARE VERY LIVELY, FULL OF PERSONALINALITY SHE JUST MAKES WATER COLORS SING.

>> >>: SHE ALWAYS TRIED TO FIND A WAY TO PUT A SPARKLE A COLOR YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT.

>> >>: SHE LOVES PEOPLE EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS SHE LOVES COLOR AND SHE HAS A WAY OF ENGAGING AND CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE WORLD AROUND HER.

>> >>: SHE IS A FANTASTIC ARTIST.

SHE'S JUST A LEGEND.

WHAT MORE CAN I SAY.

>> >>: SOME PAINT THE WORLD IN BRIGHTER COLORS.

FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS JUDI BETTS HAS TRANSFORMED ORDINARY SCENES INTO EXTRAORDINARY WATER COLORS EARNING INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM AND TOUCHING COPT LESS LIVES ALONG THE WAY.

BORN IN CHICAGO IN 1936 JUDY AND HER TWIN SISTER GREW UP IN A HOME WHERE CREATIVE FLOURISHED.

>> >>: WE BOTH HAD ART LESSENS FROM A LADY NAMED MARYLAND AND MANY YEARS LATER THE ART TEACHER TOOK JUDIES CLASS SO HERE TEACHER THEN BECAME HER STUDENT THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING, SPECIAL.

>> >>: JUDIES EARLY PASSION FOR ART LED HER TO INDIANA UNIVERSITY SIEVEVER SMITHING AND JULIE DESIGN BUT WATERWALLER CAPTURES HER IMAGINATION AND BECAME HER TRUE ARTISTIC VOICE.

>> >>: JUDY FROM YOUNGER YEARS WENT TO CALIFORNIA A LOT TO TAKE CLASSES FROM SOME OF THE BEST WATER COLORIST IN THE COUNTRY.

AND EVER SINCE THEN SHE'S JUST KEPT PROGRESSING AND LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO DO THESE THINGS AND TALKING WITH OTHER ARTIST.

>> >>: IN COLLEGE JUDY MET THE MAN WHO WOULD BECOME BOTH HER HUSBAND AND GREATEST CHAMPION TOM BETISES THEY MARRIED IN JUNE 1959 AND WHEN OPPORTUNITY CALLED TOM TO BATON ROUGE THE COUPLE EMBARKED ON A NEW ADVENTURE TOGETHER BUT FOR TOM JUDIES ART CAME FIRST.

>> >>: HE WAS A BIG FORCE BEHIND ENCOURAGING HER TO KEEP CREATING AND THENCE ONCE THAT MOMENTUM STARTED AND HER WORK BECAME SO POPULAR THEN THAT MOTION JUST KEPT GOING AND THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK THAT SHE WOULD GET AND THE PEOPLE BEING MOVED BY HER WORK WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT BALL ROLLING AND STILL ROLLING.

>> >>: WITH THE STEADFAST SUPPORT OF TOM JUDY BLAZED NEUTRALS IN ART EDUCATION WHILE EARNING HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION FROM LSU SHE BECAME ASONSON PARISH FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL ART TEACHER HER INSPIRING ART WORK SHOPS AND BOOKS WOULD GO ONTO GUIDE COUNTLESS ARTIST.

>> >>: HER TEACHING STYLE WAS VERY ENGAGING LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS JUST SO FUM OF LIFE AND HER CREATIVE JUICES WOULD FLOW AND WE HAD A MAVILOUS TIME.

>> >>: I DIDN'T KNOW JUDY AT THE TIME BUT HE CAME BULLING INTO OUR CLASSROOM WE PUT ALL THE STUDENTS TOGETHER THERE WERE 40 STUDENTS AND HE CAME IN WITH A BOX OF STUDENTS BUTTED SHE MADE THE STUDENTS PAINT BEFORE THEY COULD EAT THEM.

THAT KIND OF PERSONALITY EVERYBODY WANTED TO LOVER JUDY, STILL DO.

>> >>: HER INFLUENCE WOULD SOON REACH FAR BEYOND LOUISIANA BORDERS.

>> >>: SHE'S TAUGHT IN ALL BUT 2 STATES.

SHE'S TAUGHT IN EUROPE.

>> >>: SHE'S TAUGHT IN JAPAN.

>> >>: JUDIES WORK GUARDERED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.

YET HER ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT MORE THAN ACCOLADES.

>> >>: JUDY NEVER STOPS MAKING ART.

I'VE GOT A BOOK OF POST CARDS OF LETTERS THAT SHE'S WRITTEN AND EVERY 1 IS A SMALL JEWEL.

SHE JUST LIVES HER ART.

>> >>: JUDY MASTERY OF WATER COLOR EARNED HER 1 OF THE FIELDS HIGHEST HONORS SIGNATURE MEMBERSHIP IN THE AMERICAN WATER COLOR SOCIETY ACHIEVED BY ONLY A SELECT ARTISTS WORLD WIDE.

>> >>: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE ACCEPTED IN AMERICAN WATER COLOR AND TO BE BECOME A SIGNATURE MEMBER AT IMTHAT TIME YOU HAD TO HAVE 3 PAINTINGS ACCEPTED WITHIN FIVER YEARS.

>> >>: BETS PAINTING NOT JUST AS ART WORK BUT AS TESTIMONY TO HER INNOVATION EACH PIECE A TESTAMENT TO HER UNIQUE VISION.

>> >>: HER TECHNIQUES IN WATER COLOR ARE LENDARY.

THAT'S WHERE SHE GETS JOY CONTINUALLY PUSHING HERRICISM TO FIND NEW WAYS TO DO THINGS SO IT'S NEVER STALE, ALWAYS FRESH AND THAT'S HOW SHE SEES LIFE.

>> >>: JUDY BELOVED HUSBAND TOM PASSED AWAY IN 2012 YET SHE PUSHES ON WITH MORE THAN A THOUSAND PAINTINGS CATTED LOGGED AND COUNTLESS MORE IN PROGRESS.

CONTINUES TO BREAK NEW GROUND PIE NEARING TECHNIQUE 3D WATER COLORS THAT DEFINE BOUNDARIES.

>> >>: JUDY IS ALWAYS AN INVENTOR SHE INVENTS COLOR CORDS, A SPECIAL PAINT BRUSH AND INVENTED 3D WATER COLOR.

>> >>: IN 2023 SHE MADE HISTORY JUDY BATON ROUGE STUDO YET HER MOST ENDURING MASTER PIECE LIVERS NOT ON CAN VASBUT IN THE COUNTLESS ARTISTS SHE'S INSPIRING TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH HER EYES.

>> >>: APPLAUSE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN JUDI BETTS.

IS THIS READY?

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THEY HAD IT RIGHT AND I'M MOVING IT.

I'LL TRY THIS.

I AM HONORED TO BE INCLUDED AT THIS GALA, THE 36 YEAR CELEBRATION FOR LOUISIANA LEGENDS.

AS EXPRESSED ON A T SHIRT I SAW ONCE I WASN'T BORN HERE BUT I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD.

I WAS BORN JUDITH MARE THAT'S A POLISH NAME ALONG WITH MY TWIN SISTER JANET QUARRYMAN CHICAGO ILLINOIS ON MAY 26TH 1936.

JANET IS HERE WITH ME TONIGHT TO HELP CELEBRATE.

SHE'S THERE.

JANET, WILL YOU STAND PLEASE.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: SHE AND HER HUSBAND RETIRED TO SAVANNA FROM THE PHILADELPHIA AREA.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE COMING TO THE BEST PART OF THE SOUTH BUT WE THINK OURS IS THE BEST DON'T WE.

CATHY, WILL YOU STAND.

CATHY CURTIS IS MY NIECE.

SHE'S FROM CALIFORNIA AND WORKS FOR A COMPANY OUT OF COLORADO WHERE SHE'S A MANAGER AND THEY LIVE IN CALIFORNIA SO SHE COMMUTES A LITTLE WAYS TO HER FAVORITE STATE.

MY FAVORITE NEPHEW JIM CURITOUS IS HERE.

JIM PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.

HE'S WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND HE PROBABLY CAME THE GREATEST DISTANCE FROM ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT.

HE AND HIS CUTE CHINESE WIFE AND 4 CHILDREN LIVE IN BRUSSELS BELGIUM.

I HOPE YOU'LL INVITE ME TO COME FOR CHRISTMAS SOMETIME.

1 OF MY SPECIAL MEMORIES AS A CHILD IS WALKING INTO CHURCH AHEAD OF OUR PARENTS AND HEARING PEOPLE SAY LOOK AT THE TWINS OF COURSE WE DRESSED ALIKE EVEN IN HIGH SCHOOL.

BEING A TWIN MEANS YOU NEVER HAVE TO PLAY ALONE.

WE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN ILLINOIS IN 1954.

ABOUT 30 YEARS LATER I WAS INDUCTED INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF MY FAME WHERE MY FACE IS IN BRONZE.

JANET AND I ATTENDED UNIVERSITY MY MAJOR WAS FINE ARTS AND MY SISTER MAJORED IN MUSIC.

WE WERE MEMBERS OF A SORORITY AND I RECEIVED THE FOUNDERS AWARD AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN NEW YORK CITY A FEW YEARS AGO.

I HADDANT PLANNED TO GO TO THE CONVENTION BUT I HAD TAUGHT THE WEEK BEFORE IN MANE AND SO MY KIND HUSBAND SAID I'LL SEND YOU TO NEW YORK FIRST AFTER YOU TEACH IN MAINE YOU'LL GO THROUGH NEW YORK CITY AND BE WITH THAT GROUP AND THEN FLY TO PHILADELPHIA TO SEE JANET, CHUCK AND THEN COME HOME SO THAT'S WHAT I DID.

WE GRADUATED IN 1958 AND I TAUGHT OUR 1 YEAR IN OAK PARK ILLINOIS.

I MET MY FUTURE HUSBAND TOM BETS IN THE SPRING OF OUR FRESHMAN YEAR AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY AND WE WERE MARRIED ON JUNE THIRTY-FIRST 1919 IN WESTERN SPRINGS ILLINOIS.

HE ACCEPTED A MANAGEMENT POSITION THE SUBSIDIARY OF CARVILLE GRAIN IN BATON ROUGE AND WE MOVED HERE IN 1959.

WE DROVE A 1954 FORD CONVERTIBLE NAMED THE GRAY GOOSE TO LOUISIANA MOSTLY WITH THE TOP DOWN.

WE LOVE ALL THINGS LOUISIANA.

TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE STATE WE ENJOYED THE LOUISIANA LANDSCAPE AS WELL AS PLANTATION HOMES, HISTORIC BUILDINGS, INTERESTING ANIMALS AND PEOPLE.

MOVING TO THE SOUTH PROVIDED WARM WEATHER, SUNSHINE AND BEAUTIFUL SHODOESISM I WOULD SOMETIMES SAY TO TOM PLEASE GO BACK DOWN THAT ROAD I NEED TO GET ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPH OF THOSE CATTLE.

HE ALWAYS WILLINGLY OBLIGED.

I PROBABLY AMBEST KNOWN FOR PAINTING FARM ANIMALS BOATS AND ARCHITECTURE.

I REALLY LIKE ANIMALS.

I HAD NEVER SEEN A BULL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE AND PALM TREES I HAD NEVER SEEN.

OF COURSE WE HAD SEEN LOTS OF SNOW IT WAS INTERESTING EVEN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, I GUESS MONTHS AGO WHEN IT SNOWED A BIT HERE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA HOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN SNOW THINK IT'S SO DIFFERENT AND OF COURSE WE GREW UP WITH IT SO I KNOW WHAT SNOW IS ALL ABOUT.

BUT I LIKE THE SUNSHINE BETTER.

IN 196060 EAST ASEENTION HIGH SCHOOL OPENED AND I WAS HIRED TO TEACH ART BECOMING THE FIRST ART TEACHER IN ASCENSION PARISH.

I TAUGHT THEN FOR 25 YEARS.

BEFORE THEY OPENED THAT HIGH SCHOOL I ACCEPTED A JOB TEACHING FIFTH GRADE.

I WAS NOT CERTIFIED TO TEACH THE LOWER GRADES BUT I WANTED A JOB SO I AGREED TO DO IT.

WHEN TEACHERS HAVE THE FIRST COUPLE MEETINGS OF THE YEAR THEY ALWAYS ARE GIVEN A LIST OF STUDENTS.

1 OF THOSE YEARS I LOOK SAID AT MY LIST AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF MY, I HAVE A LOT OF FIFTH GRADERS THAT I'LL BE TEACHING SO I QUICKLY COUNTED THERE WERE 42.

THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH BUT 32 WERE BOYS.

I HAD 32 BOYS AND 10 GIRLS.

IT WAS MENTIONED ON THE VIDEO THAT I HAD STUDIED WITH SOME OF THE CALIFORNIA WATER COLOR ARTIST.

CALIFORNIA BECAUSE OF ITS BEAUTIFUL CLIMAT CATHY MANY WATER COLOR ARTIST HAD THEIR START BECAUSE THEY COULD WORK OUTSIDE MOST OF THE YEAR AND I CHOSE THE ONES I THOUGHT THE MOST EXPERIENCED AND THAT I ADMIRED TO GO STUDY WITH THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO ENTER STATE, REGIONAL, NATIONLING AND INTERNATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITIONS.

SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHO PAINT ARE WONDERFUL PAINTERS THEY DON'T KNOW HOW WELL THEY PAINT AND DRAW BUT THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ACCOLADES AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE SURPRISED AT THE SUCCESS I'VE HAD BUT I ENTERED MANY, MANY, MANY I SUPPOSE HUNDREDS OF COMP TENSIONS.

I ENTERED THE WESTERN SOCIETY OF WATER COLOR SHOW WITH THE MOST PAINTINGS OF ANYBODY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY WERE THERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD.

DR. CHARLES AND JACKIE, WHERE ARE YOU?

I DON'T SEE YOU.

THERE YOU GO.

THEY DROVE 6 HOURS EACH WAY FROM DALLAS TO ACCEPT THAT AWARD FOR ME AND IT WASN'T EVEN FOR PAINTING BUT I WAS INDEED THRILLED.

IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN COW BOY BOOTS THAT ARE PERSONALIZED HE HAS BEAUTIFUL BOOTS THAT HAVE THAT -- NO THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

BLACK ANGUS RANCH.

THEY HAVE DONE HIS BOOTS AND VERY HANDSOME INDEED AND HE HAD THEM RESOLED FOR THIS EVENT.

I ALSO MUCH OF MY LIFE OWE SUCCESS TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND TOM.

WE WERE MARRIED FOR 53 YEARS.

HE DIED 15 YEARS AGO.

TOM WAS 1 ORPHMY STRONGEST SUPPORTERS AND WOULD OFTEN SAY ESPECIALLY AFTER BREAKFAST YOU GO PAINT I'LL DO THE DISHES.

WE TRAVELED ACROSS AMERICA AND I TAUGHT WATER COLOR WORK SHOPS IN 48 OF OUR FIFTY STATES NORTH DAKOTA AND DELAWARE.

INTERNATIONAL WORK SHOPS WERE ALSO GIVEN.

SOME OF MY FAVORITES WERE IN ASIA.

IT WE WERE IN JAPAN AT CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME A FEW YEARS AGO AND THAT WAS SPECTACULAR.

WE ROAD ON THE RIVERS WHEN I TAUGHT A WORKSHOP ININD NIECA AND I GOT TO DRIVE A DOGSLED IN ALASKA.

I TAUGHT MANY TIMES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIR BANKS.

TOM AND I ESTABLISHED AND COOWNED ROMA A POPULAR RESTAURANT ON PERKINS ROAD THAT SERVED THAI FOOD FOR 43 YEARS.

WE LOVERED JAM BALAWA, CRAWFISH, MARDI GRAS PARAIDS AND MARDI GRAS AND ALL THINGS LOUISIANA BUT IT WAS FUN HAVING THE THAI RESTAURANT.

IN 1987 I PUBLISHED, WE PUBLISHED A BOOK WATER COLOR, THINK ABOUT IT WHICH IS NOW IN ITS FOURTH, THIRD PRINTING.

WOULD YOU HOLD THIS PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

HE SEEMED LIKE HE MIGHT FALL ASLEEP SO I DECIDED TO GIVE HIM A JOB.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WITH BOYS IN THE PLANTS YOU GIVE THEM A JOB.

WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE TRASH OUT.

THIS BOOK HAS WON MANY AWARDS AND ITS IN ITS THIRD PRINTING.

THIS IS THE CATALOG FROM THE RETROSPECTIVE AT LSU IN THE SHAH CENTER AND THIS IS A BOOK THAT'S KIND OF STRAINING IN THAT THE TITLE STARTS ON THE BACK AND IT'S INTERESTING I LIKE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT.

NOT UPSIDE DOWN.

PAINTING A QUEST TOWARDS EXTRAORDINARY SO IN A BOOK STORE THEY CAN MAKE A STACK LIKE THIS AND THE OTHER STACK WOULD BE NEXT TO IT LIKE THAT.

AND MY COAUTHOR CHARLET FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THANK YOU YOU DID THAT VERY WELL.

YOU GOT AN A.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

CHRIS, WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT, THE BOOK WITH EXTRUERINARY WITH THE HEAVY COVER.

WHAT'S THAT CALLED?

ARE YOU HERE CHRIS?

HE MUST BE ASLEEP.

AWAY ANYWAY A HEAVY BOUND COVER BOOK.

THEY WERE PRINTED HERE IN BATON ROUGE AND THEN THEY WENT TO A BINDERARY IN TEXAS AND THEY ALMOST SPILLED AN 18 WHEELER COMING BACK AND THAT BOOK WON A BIG AWARD IN A BOOK COMPETITION.

MY PAINTINGS HAVE ALSO BEEN INCLUDED IN MORE THAN HUNDRED, EXCUSE ME I READ THAT WRONG.

40 BOOKS BY CONTEMPORARY ARTIST BUT THAT I DON'T MEAN ARTIST THAT DO ABSTRACT WORK BUT CHOSE TO SHOWCASE MINE ALSO.

A 40-POUND WATER COLOR PAPER I HAVE PAINTED HUNDREDS OF WATER COLORS AND FILLED OVER25 SKETCHBOOKS WITH COLORFUL PAINTINGS AND LINE DRAWINGS.

FOREMOST ARTISTS SKETCHING IS JUST AS MUCH FUN IF NOT MORE FUN THAN PAINTING.

WHEN YOU SKETCH IT'S SORT OF LIKE GETTING A SNACK IN THE KITCHEN WHEN THEY'RE FIXING DINNER IT ALSO TASTE BETTER THAN SITTING AT THE TABLE AND HAVING DINNER.

I LOVE TO SKETCH AND I EVEN SKETCH MY MEALS SOMETIMES AND I ASSIGN THAT FOR PEOPLE IN MY CLASS.

THEY'RE VERY SURPRISE BUT SEEM TO ENJOY IT.

I COMPLETED A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAVE TAUGHT THERE AS A GUEST ARTIST TEACHING WATER COLOR TO SOPHOMORE DESIGN STUDENTS.

BY THE WAY, I STILL ENJOY PAINTING AND ALWAYS WILL.

SOMEONE ELSE CAN DO THE DISHES.

>> >>: APPLAUSE 1 AGAIN THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.

I WILL TREASURE IT ALWAYS.

THANK YOU.

>> >>: APPLAUSE IN RECOGNITION OF HIS ENDURING IMPACT ON THE NAVVY INCLUDING HIS PIVOTAL ROLE IN INTEGRATING FEMALE SOLDIERS ONTO COMBAT SHIPS THE USS JOHN H DAL TON    SUBMARINE WAS NAMED IN HIS HONOR.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN LET'S MORE ABOUT JOHN H DOLL TON.

>> >>: JOHN DALTON IS A REMARKABLY INTHOUGHTIASTIC PERSON HE WAKES UP EVERY DAY MAKING EFFORTS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND HE BELIEVES HE CAN DO IT.

I NEVER ANYBODY QUITE LIKE HIM.

HE NEVER SEEMS TO LET HIS ENGINE RUN DOWN.

>> >>: FAITH AND HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE AT THE CORE OF HIS LIFE.

>> >>: IT'S 1 THING TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE.

IT'S QUITE ANOTHER THING TO GIVE GOOD LIFE TO OTHERS.

AND LITERALLY THOUSANDS WITHOUT EXARERATION THOUSANDS OF LIVES INCLUDING MY OWN HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE LIFE OF JOHN HOWARD DAL TON.

>> >>: THE YOUNGEST ORPH3 CHILDREN JOHN WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS IN 1941 HIS FATHER WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD MOVING THE FAMILY TO SHREVEPORT WHEN JOHN WAS 3.

>> >>: THEY WERE A VERY CLOSE FAMILY AND HE WAS SHOWERED WITH LOVE FROM THE TIME HE WAS BORN.

>> >>: AFTER HIGH SCHOOL DAL TON SECURED A COV TD SPOT AT THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.

>> >>: JOHN WAS 1 OF THE MOST UNSELFISH PERSONS I EVER MET.

HE WAS A TRUE SHIPMATE SHARED ALL OF HIS KNOWLEDGE AND WAS NEVER AFRAID TO GUIDE OR ASSIST IN OTHER WAYS WITH THE REST OF US WHO WERE TRYING TO PROGRESS.

>> >>: AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY JOHN ROSE TO DEPPIA TAT BRUGADE COMMANDER SECOND IN COMMAND.

HIS SENIOR YEAR BRIDGED HISTORIC MOMENTS FROM MARCHING IN PRESIDENT KENACY PARADE TO LEADER THE HONOR COMPANY AT THE PRESIDENTS FUNERAL.

AFTER JOHN GRADUATED FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY HE SERVED ABOARD 2 HISTORIC VESSELS THE NAVIES FINAL DICESSAL ELECTRON SUBMEW REASON SS588 AND 1 OF ITS NEWEST BALLISTIC MISSILE USS JOHN C CALHOUN.

>> >>: I PICKED HIM FIRST BECAUSE HE LOVERED THE NAVVY AND HE WOULD NEVER KNOWINGLY DO ANYTHING THAT WASN'T GOOD FOR IT.

SECONDLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS REALLY AWARE OF THE WORLD WE WERE LIVING IN AND THE 1 WE WERE GOING SO WE KNEW WE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY MODERNIZE AND ATTRACT MORE OF MORE PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO THE NAVVY.

>> >>: HIS 5 YEAR TENURE TRANSFORMED THE NAVVY INCLUDING THE HISTORIC INTEGRATION OF WOMAN INTO CAMBAT SHIPS THIS SERVICE EARNED HIM THE NATIONAL SECURITY CAUCUS INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD THE ONLY SERVICE SECRETARY EVER HONORED.

>> >>: IT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL RECOGNITION IN ITSELF EVEN IF I WAS NEVER GIVEN THE AWARD I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU GUYS FOR YOUR STRONG SUPPORT.

>> >>: IN 2016 THE NAVVY ANNOUNCED THE NAMING OF THE USS JOHN H DAL TON SUBMARINE RECOGNIZING HIS LASTIC IMPACT ON THE SERVICE.

THREW EVER ACHIEVEMENT 2 QUALITIES DEFINED JOHN DALTON HIS WARMTH AND HIS DEVOTION TO FAMILY.

>> >>: THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE IS HIS WIFE MARGARET AND ALSO VERY KEY TO JOHNS SUCCESS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP.

>> >>: HE'S ALWAYS READY TO LAUGH.

HE'S VERY AFFECTIONINATE WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY ESPECIALLY FAMILY MEMBERS.

WE HAVE 2 SONS AND 4 GRANDSONS AND 2 WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS IN LAW AND HE LETS THEM KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVES THEM.

>> >>: IF JOHN DALTON IS YOUR FRIEND, IF MAGERATE IS YOUR FRIEND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH YOU NEVER HAVE TO LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER YOU KNOW WHO HAS YOUR BACK.

>> >>: WE RECEIVED NEWS IN 2007 THAT MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW HAD STAGE 3 HEADING TO STAGE 4 BREAST CANCER AND I CALLED JOHN AND JOHN SAID I WILL BE ON MY KNEES EVERY MORNING IN PRAYER FOR HER AND I'M SORRY BUT IT MEANT SO MUCH AND WHEN I TOLD KELLY MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW THAT THIS MAN EVERY MORNING WOULD BE ON HIS KNEES FOR HER IT HELPED HER IN WAYS I CAN'T EVEN        IMAGINE.

>> >>: TODAY JOHN LEADS COMMUNITY RENEWAL INTERNATIONAL NATION ADVISORY BOARD BUILDING SAFER COMMUNITIES THROUGH PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CUTHREADERAL SERVES AS HONORARY CANON CONTINUING THE FAITH THAT HAS GUIDED HIM FROM THE START.

>> >>: HE'S LENDARY BECAUSE HE HAS THE HOPE THAT ALL COULD NOT ONLY GROW BETTER, BUT WILL BE BETTER.

AND WITH THAT HOPE THAT HE LIVES OUT HE INSPIRES EVERYONE AROUND WHOM HE TOUCHES.

>> >>: JOHN IS A VERY IMTHREATIC PERSON AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS ENCOUNTER THAT IN PERSONS WHO RISEN TO THE RANKS OF BEING THE 77TH SECRETARY OF THE NAVVY.

HE WILL CALL YOU WHEN HE KNOWS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN JOHN H DAL TON.

WELL THANK YOU JOHN FOR THAT NICE INTRODUCTION AND THANK YOU FRIENDS OF LPB FOR THIS AMAZING AWARD.

IT'S ESPECIALLY HUMBLING TO ME TO BE INCLUDED WITH OTHER AWARDEES.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU.

AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM LOUISIANA FOR MANY YEARS BUT IT IS HERE MY VALUES AND ETHICS ARE ROOTED.

MY PARENTS AT A CHURCH IN SHREVEPORT AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS I ATTENDED ESPECIALLY BIRD HIGH SCHOOL.

WHICH BY THE WAY CELEBRATES ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: LOUISIANA RUNS DEEP IN MY BLOOD.

MY MOTHERS FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS AS MY WIFE MARGARET HAS BEEN AS WELL.

I WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS AND MARGARET AND I WERE BOTH RAISED AND REQUIRED IN SHREVEPORT.

I WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS AND REQUIRED IN SHREVEPORT.

WE ALL GRADUATED FROM BIRD.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, EVEN MARGARET PARENTS.

WHEN I GRADUATED FROM BIRD HIGH I HAD HOPED TO GO TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY.

BUT I DID NOT GET IN THAT YEAR.

THAT GAVE ME THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO LSU FOR MY FRESHMAN YEAR.

I HAD A WONDERFUL YEAR THERE.

I WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MY PLEDGE CLASS ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE FRESHMAN CLASS IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND I WAS INDUCTED IN PIBETTA SIG MAWHICH IS A FRATERNITY FOR ACADEMICS.

AND OF COURSE I WENT TO ALL LSU TIGER FOOTBALL GAMES.

I SAW BILLY CANON MAKE HIS FAMOUS RUN AGAINSTOLE MISS.

AND WIN THE HIGHS MAN TROPHY.

AS MUCH AS I LOVED MY YEAR AT LSU I STILL HAD MY HEART SET ON THE NAVAL ACADEMY.

I HAD A FRATERNITY BROTHER WHO TOLD ME WHO HAD BEEN 2 YEARS AT THE ACADEMY AND TRANSFER SAID TO LSU AND HE TOLD ME I WOULD BE CRAZY TO GIVE UP ALL THAT I HAD AT LSU TO GO TO THE NAVALLED ACADEMY.

I DID THOUGH REAPPLY AND WAS ACCEPTED AND WOULD CHANGE THE ENTIRE DIRECTION OF MY LIFE.

WHILE AT THE ACADEMY I SAW BOTH JOE DELENO AND ROGER STALL BACK RIN THIZEMAN TROPHY.

NOT TOO SHABBY.

5 YEARS OF COLLEGE AND 3IZEMAN AWARD WINNERS.

AND JUST A SIDE NOTE NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVED FROM THE TIME WE GOT MARRIED IN 1971 WE SPENT EVERY CHRISTMAS IN SHREVEPORT UNTIL MY PARENTS WERE GONE AND MARGARETS PARENTS MOVED TO HOUSTON IN 2016 WHERE HER BROTHERS ARE.

AFTER THE ACADEMY AFTER THE NAVY AND AFTER A YEAR I WORKED FOR AN MBA I JOINED GOLDMAN SACS AT THEIR OFFICE.

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT LOUISIANA WAS MY TERRITORY.

I LOVED THAT.

I COULD ALWAYS FIND TIME TO SPEND WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND FILL UP ON THAT FABULOUS LOUISIANA FOOD.

I KNOW THAT MY VIDEO AND BIOHAVE MUCH OF WHAT I'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS BUT THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY SPECIAL.

I SERVE ON THE BOARDS OF WETA WHICH IS LP BS SISTER STATION AND IT'S THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATION IN WASHINGTON DC.

A CORPORATE ENTITY AT THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.

DURING THE COVID YEARS I WROTE A MEMOR ENTITLED A JOURNEY AT THE HELM A JOURNEY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO CALM THE STORMS OF LIFE.

WE HAVE A WONDERFULLY FULL AND BLESSED LIFE BUT NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE LOUISIANA WILL ALWAYS BE HOME.

MAY GOD'S RICHEST BLESSING BE ON EVERY 1 OF YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN JOHN.

RECOGNIZED AS 1 OF TIMES 100 MOST INFLUENTIONAL PEOPLE OF 2020 SHE STANDS AS A VISIONARY LEADER WHOSE UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO ENDING HUNGER IS MATCHED ONLY BY HER DEEP COMPASSION AND BOLD SENSE OF PURPOSE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S LEARN MORE ABOUT CLAIRE BABINEAUX NOT NO.

>> >>: CLAIRE STANDS TALL BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURELY.

SHE WALKS IN THE ROOM AND YOU KNOW WHO SHE IS.

THERE IS NO MOMENT TOO BIG FOR CLAIRE.

SHE IS GOING TO BRING HER FULL SELF TO IT.

SHE DOES IT WITH PURPOSE >> >>: SHE DOESN'T PUT ON HEIRS SHE'S STILL THAT GIRL THAT GREW UP IN LOUISIANA THAT KEEPS THAT GROUNDING THAT BACKGROUND FROM LOUISIANA AND WHO SHE IS.

>> >>: MY MOM IS THE KIND OF PERSONAL ALWAYS CENTERED SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN TERMS OF CONCEPTION OF HERSELF AND HER DUTY TO THE WORLD.

>> >>: SHE'S PRETTY AMAZING THOUGHTFUL DETAIL ORIENTED COMPASSIONATE AND PRETTY MUCH AMAZING AT ANYTHING SHE TOUCHES.

>> >>: SOME LIVES ARE DEFINED BY SERVICE OF OTHERS.

CLAIRE BABINEAUX FONTENOT EXTRUERINARY JOURNEY BEGANOIN OPLOUIS WITH HER PARENTS TRANSFORMED HER HOME NURTURING OVER 100 CHILDREN FLOW ADOPTION AND FOSTERING.

>> >>: SHE IS WHO SHE IS BOX OF HER FAMILY AND HER UP BRINGING.

SHE'S GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT MOTHER AND FATHER HER ROOTS AND HER SMALL TOWN.

OUR CATHOLIC FAITH HOW THAT SHAPED THE PERSON THAT SHE IS.

BUT SHE'S ALSO GAUCHE TO TELL YOU SHE'S NOT JUST THE DAUGHTER OF 2 PARENTS WHO RAISED 3 GIRLS.

SHE'S GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT HER PARENTS WHO RAISED OVER HUNDRED CHILDREN.

>> >>: I DON'T THINK SHE GREW UP IN A CONTEXT IT WAS EASY TO FORGET ABOUT A LOT OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEM PEOPLE ARE CONDITIONED NOT TO NOTICE AND I THINK THAT MADE A REAL IMPACT BUT HER PRIMARY DRIVE GIVEN THAT I ASUPPOSE WAS TO CREATE A UNIVERSE THAT WASN'T THE REALITY FOR HER CHILDREN.

>> >>: WITH THIS FOUNDATION ORPHCAMPASSION AND THE DRIVE TO CREATE MEANINGFUL CHANGE CLAIRE PURSUED HIGHER EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WESTERN LOUISIANA.

SHE EARNED HER LAW DEGREE FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER THEM EMBARKED ON A PATH FROM COURT ROOM TO CORPORATE BOARD ROOMS.

>> >>: MY MOM BEGAN HER CAREER AS A LAWYER AND A TAX PROFESSIONAL AND IN THAT CONTEXT SHE MOVED ONTO WORK FOR FRESH WATER HOUSE COOPER IN THE ACCOUNTING SECTOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE FOR A MOMENT AND CHEEPEDDED UP MOVING TO NORTH WEST ARKANSAS TO WORK WITH WAL-MART.

>> >>: CLAIRE ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS AT WAL MARK BRINGING HER UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO 1 OF THE WORLDS LARGEST CORPORATION BUT A PERSONAL HEALTH CRIES PROPERTIED HER TO RECONSIDER HER LIVES PURPOSE.

>> >>: IT WAS THE TAIL END OF HER CAREER SHE DIVCOVERED SHE HAD BREAST CANCER NOT A NECESSARILY CHANGED HER SOCIAL ORIENTATION BUT CREATED A SENSE OF URGENCY OF CREATING A LEGACY FOR DOING GOOD.

>> >>: IN 2018 CLAIRE BECAME THE CEO OF FEEDING AMERICA.

THERE SHE FOUND A MISSION THAT ALIGNED PERFECTLY WITH THE VALUES INSTILLED IN HER FROM CHILDHOOD.

>> >>: CLAIRE REALLY CHANGED THE COMPLEX OF FEEDING AMERICA FROM BEING A NATIONAL OFFICE TO REALLY FOCUSING ON THE CLIENTS, THE PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING TO HELP AND THAT'S REALLY BROUGHT IT HOME TO SO MANY OF THE MEMBER ORGANIZATION AND TO ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH THAT SHE'S LED FEEDING AMERICA TO BE THE NUMBER 1 CHARITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> >>: SHE REPAIRED THE NETWORK RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FOOD BANKS.

SHE REALLY ELEVATED THE PERFORMANCE OPTHE TOTAL NETWORK AT A TIME WE NEEDED IT DURING COVID AND SHE HAS REALLY BROUGHT A LEVEL OF GRAV TAS I THINK TO OUR OVERALL ORGANIZATION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

>> >>: CLAIRES IMPACT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FAR BEYOND FEEDING AMERICA.

IN 2023 SHE RECEIVED THE PROTEGESSISH LATARRY MEDAL FROM THE UNIVERSE OF NOTE DAME 1 OF HIGHEST HONORS FROM AMERICA CATHOLICS.

>> >>: SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE TO DO BIG THINGS IN ORDER TO MAKE A CHANGE BUT IF EACH 1 OF US WOULD LIGHT A CANDLE WE WOULD HAVE A TREMENDOUS LIGHT.

LET'S GO LIGHT A CANDLE.

THANK YOU.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: IT TELLS YOU HOW IMPACTFUL CLAIRE HAS BEEN BEYOND HER SPEAR TO BE RECOGNIZE ON SUCH A NATIONAL LEVEL WITH SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL AWARD.

>> >>: SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN SO ROOTED IN WHAT SHE CAN DO TO OTHERS AND SHE GAVE THAT TO US AS A MOTHER AS A PERSON IIN OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR COUSIN AND RELATIVES AND PEOPLE ON THE STREET WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO SEE HER AND INTERACT WITH HER.

SHE'S SUCH A SPECIAL HUMAN BEING.

>> >>: ANYBODY THAT HAD A MEANFUL EXPOSURE TO CLAIRE HAS BECOME A BETTER PERSON BECAUSE OF IT.

SHE MAKES EVERYBODY AROUND HER BETTER.

NOT ALL IT'S ABOUTOTHER PEOPLE.

RISES R ALL SHIPS.

>> >>: AND SHE HAS DONE IT ALL IN REMAINING ROOTED FROM LOUISIANA HERITAGE.

>> >>: CLAIRE IS FROM A PART OF THE STATE WITH A CAN DO ADITUTE IT COMES THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS.

THE LARGE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS SHE HAS REALLY HAS BROADENED HERRIZENS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF LOOKING AT PEOPLE FROM EVERY ANGLE AND BE MORE UNDERSTANDING THAN MOST PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT.

>> >>: NO MATTER WHERE SHE GOES IN THE WORLD CLAIRE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE LITTLE GIRL FROM LOUISIANA.

AND FROM A VERY SMALL TOWN IN LOUISIANA.

SHE IS WHO SHE IS BECAUSE OF HER FAMILY AND HER UP BRINGING.

>> >>: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN CLAIRE BABINEAUX FONTENOT.

>> >>: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND YET I KNOW MY EXPECTATIONS ARE EXCEEDED IN THAT FILM.

IF YOU'LL INDULLAGE ME A MOMENT TO COLLECT.

WHEN I WAS TOLD I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT MIGHT BE NICE FOR ME TO MENTION THE IMPACT OF LOUISIANA HAS HAD ON ME AMONG MY WORDS.

AND MY IMMEDIATE REACTION TO THAT WAS TO CHUCKLE BECAUSE I AM BECAUSE OF LOUISIANA.

I WAS BORN, RAISED AND EDUCATED HERE.

I LEARNED WHAT IT MEANT TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED HERE.

I BECAME AWARE, AWARE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT SO MANY STRUGGLE WITH AND OF THEIR TRIUMPS AND OF THEIR DREAMS HERE.

I'M INSPIRED TO BE MY VERY BEST BECAUSE OF THIS STATE AND THE PEOPLE IN IT AND WHAT THEY'VE INVESTED IN ME.

MY PARENTS, MY PARENTS WHO HAD SO MUCH LOVE TO SHARE THAT THEY'VE SPREAD THAT LOVE ACROSS 108 CHILDREN INCLUDING ME.

MY HUSBAND, MY HUSBAND WHO I MET BECAUSE I WAS FROM HERE AND I HAPPENED TO BE ON A YELLOW SCHOOL BUS COMMUTING FROM OPELOUSAS TO USL.

A MANY WHO HAS KNOWN ME FOR 43 YEARS WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT ME.

WHO ACCEPTS ME AS I AM.

SOMETIMES IN SPITE OF THINGS HE KNOWS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE ALSO BECAUSE OF IT.

I HAVE IN LAWS WHO HAVE CREATED SUCH A STRONG SENSE OF FAMILY FOR ME.

WHEN I WAS BORN TO 1 THAT WAS SO BIG I DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT I COULD EMBRACE MORE AND YET THEY EMBRACE ME.

MARRY, RUBY AND CLARENCE FONTENOT THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY IN LAWS AND THANK YOU IN THE ABSENCE OF MY PARENTS FOR BEING MY PARENTS.

YOU GOT TO SEE MY SON.

I LEARNED THE SPECIAL KIND OF LOVE THAT YOU FEEL WHEN YOU BECOME A PARENT HERE IN BATON ROUGE IN FACT.

NOT JUST ONCE BUT TWICE WITH BOTH OF MY CHILDREN.

HOW COULD I NOT TALK ABOUT LOUISIANA WHEN I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHO I AM.

IT IS JUST SO INTERMINGLED, SO BEAUTIFUL, SO FOUNDATIONAL TO EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE IN THE WORLD, TO EVERYTHING I'M TRYING TO BE IN THE WORLD.

I AM I SPIRED TO TRY BECAUSE OF HERE TO GET UP WHEN I FALL BECAUSE OF HERE.

TO HONOR MY ELDERS BECAUSE OF HERE.

TO NOT LOOK PAST CHILDREN IN NEED BECAUSE OF HERE.

I'M SO PROUD THAT RIGHT NOW I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AMONG PEOPLE LIKE THE GENTLEMAN THAT YOU SAW MIKE MANNING HERE FROM BATON ROUGE AND THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AREA.

BUT SO MANY MORE OVER A MILLION PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO MAKING CERTAIN THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO THRIVE.

I AM SO HONORED AND HUMBLED AND ABOVE ALL ELSE I AM SO DEEPLY GRATEFUL.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS BUT EVEN MORE THAN THIS I'M GRATEFUL TO BE A NATIVE DAUGHTER OF THE GREAT STATE OF LOUISIANA THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

THE LEADER IN 1 OF THE WORLDS LARGEST DISTILLED SPIRITS COMPANIES HE DEDICATED HIS CAREER TO SHAPING AND STRENGTHENING THE LANDSCAPE OF NEW ORLEANS.

HIS ENDURING IMPACT IS DEEPLY WOVEN INTO THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC FABRICS OF THAT CITY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN LET'S LEARN SOME MORE NOW ABOUT BILL GOLD RING.

BILLS LEADERSHIP STYLE IS PERSURVIVANCE JUST LIKE BOURBON TAKES YEARS TO BE PREPARED AND I WOULD SAY BILL IS ALL ABOUT PATIENCE, THOUGHTFULNESS, HELPING OTHERS.

>> >>: WHEN BILL WAKES UP HE'S DOING BUSINESS BEFORE HE GETS OUT OF BED.

HARDLY A DAY THAT GOES BY HE DOESN'T WAKE UP THAT WAY.

>> >>: THE THING THAT MAKES ME MOST PROUD IS THE PILLEN THOPPIC FOR MY DAD IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE AWARDS HE DOES IT BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

>> >>: SOME LEGACY ARE BUILT NOT JUST IN BUSINESS BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING.

BILL GOLD RINGS STORY BEGINS IN NEW ORLEANS ANOLE CHILD ATTENDED NEW MAN SCHOOL BEFORE GRADUATING FROM TULANE UNIVERSITY FROM HIS EARLIEST YEARS GOLD RING SHOWED AN EXTRAORDINARY DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE.

>> >>: HE WAS FROM THE BEGINNING SUPERCOMEPETITIVE IN EVERYTHING HE DID.

CLASS WORK, SPORTS, ANYTHING THAT HE COULD GET INTO HE JUMPED INTO IT WITH 2 FEET.

>> >>: BILL JOINED THE FAMILIES SPIRITS BUSINESS AFTER COLLEGE CONTINUING A GENERATIONS OLD TRADITION.

>> >>: BUT OVER THE NEXT 6 DECADES BILL WOULD DO MORE THAN JUST CONTINUE A FAMILY TRADITION, HE GREW THE BUSINESS INTO A THRIVING AND BELOVED EMPIRE.

>> >>: I THINK BILL KIND OF WORKED IN 3 COMPARTMENTS ON 1 SIDE VERY DETAILED WORRIES ABOUT THE WRITING ON THE LABEL OF 1 OF HIS BRANDS AND THEN VERY VISIONARY IN A BIG PICTURE WAY LOOKING AT THE FUTURE OF HIS BUSINESS AND THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY.

AND THEN EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN HE GIVES TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR HIM.

HE HIRES GOOD PEOPLE AND HE EMPOWERS THEM TO DO THEIR JOB AND RUN ALL THE STUFF IN THE MIDDLE.

>> >>: MY DAD TREATS EVERYBODY LIKE FAMILY AND I KNOW 1 OF THE TRADITIONS THAT HE LIKES THE MOST IS CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS EVERY TIME ANYBODY IN THE OFFICE HAS A BIRTH DAY WE HAVE A CAKE AND IT'S A BIG DEAL AND HE LIKES TO TAKE PICTURES AND WE SING HAPPY BIRTH DAY AND A FUN TIME.

>> >>: BILL IS A VERY LOW KEY GUY.

HE WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES.

YOU WON'T HIM ON TV ON COMMERCIALS.

HE GETS DONE WHAT HE WANTS TO GET DONE THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS.

HE CAN BE VERY PERSUASIVE.

>> >>: BILL HAS USED THAT INFLUENCE TO BETTER THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND HIM.

>> >>: I THINK YOU BECOME A LEGEND OVER A LIFETIME AND BILL HAS HAD A LIFETIME OF BUILDING BUSINESSES, SPIRIT BUSINESS AND THE MANUFACTURING BUSINESS OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES.

HE'S HAD A LIFETIME OF FULAWN THERAPY OF GAVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

ON BOARDS WHETHER DEBUT TULANE, THE TOURY INFIRMARY AND SO FORTH.

>> >>: BILL IS LENDARY BECAUSE NEW ORLEANS OF TODAY WOULD NOT EXIST IF NOT FOR BILL GOLD RING WHAT BILL HAS DONE IN BUSINESS AND PARTICULARLY IN THE ARTS, IN EDUCATION, IN PUBLIC SPACESES HAS PRESERVED NEW ORLEANS THROUGH ALL KINDS OF TRIALS INCLUDING FIRST AND FOREMOST HURRICANE KATRINA.

>> >>: HE GIVES LOTS OF ATTENTION AND SUPPORT TO THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE HIS NAME ON IT.

AND HE DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT RECOGNITION.

IN FACT HE HAS TO BE PUSHED MANY TIMES BY HIS FAMILY TO AGREE TO PUT THEIR NAMES ON THINGS.

>> >>: BILLS COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITY LIES IN A LESSEN LEARNED BY HIS FATHER STEVEN 1 THAT WOULD SHAPE HIS LIVES MIG.

>> >>: HIS FATHER WROTE HIM A LETTER WHEN HE TURNED 21 AND HE TOLD BILL A NUMBER OF THINGS.

1 OF WHICH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH WEALTH AND WHILE WEALTH CAN BE A BLESSING IT'S ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE TO USE THAT WEALTH FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS AND BILL HAS CARRIED THAT LETTER WITH HIM FOR 60 YEARS AND HE REFERS TO IT OFTEN HE'S HAD IT FRAMED AND SHARES IT WITH OTHERS ALL THE TIME.

>> >>: THE FAMILY COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK TOOK A REMARKABLE TURN WHEN BILLS FATHER PASSED AWAY IN 1996.

>> >>: WHEN HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY HE HAD A VERY SIMPLE WILL THAT SAID I LEAVE EVERYTHING TO MY SON BILL AND IF BILL CHOOSES TO RENOWNS THE GIFT IT ALL GOES TO THE FOUNDATION.

BILL CHOSE NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING FROM HIS FATHER AND TO PUT ALL OF HIS FATHERS ESTATE INTO THE FAMILY FOUNDATION.

1 OF THE THINGS HE DID WAS CREATED A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WHERE WE GIVE A SCHOLARSHIP TO EVERY DEPENDENT CHILD OF EVERYONE OF OUR 10,000 OR SO EMPLOYEES TO GO TO COLLEGE.

>> >>: EVEN TODAY AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS SUCCESS BILLS DRIVE REMAINS UNDIMINISHED.

>> >>: WHAT HE HAS DONE HAS NOT BEEN FAST AND HAS NOT BEEN EASY A CREATIVE PROCESS AND I THINK WHAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT BILL YOU CAN SEE HE'S SOMEBODY THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND LITERALLY DECADES AGO BUT THAT'S NOT WHO HE IS.

YOU CAN SEE THE JOY IN TIME IS GETTING UP AND EVERY DAY UNDERSTANDING HOW HE CAN TAKE THE COMPANY, TAKE HIS COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT FURTHER LADIES AND GENTLEMEN BILL GOLD RING.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS KIND TRIBUTE.

TO THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO ARE ALL HERE, MY BEST FRIENDS AND FELLOW HONOREES THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT HONOR.

I'M HUMBLED TO SHARE THIS HONOR WITH ALL OF YOU AND ALL THE LOUISIANA LEGENDS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE ME AND FOR THOSE THAT FOLLOW.

TO WORD LEGEND STEMS FROM THE ANTIENT LATIN WORD MEANING TO GATHER AND READ.

IN THE ANTIENT WORLD PEOPLE WOULD GATHER TO READ STORIES SO FANTASTICAL THAT THEY LITERALLY GAVE RISE TO THE WORD LEGEND TODAY.

A LEGEND IS A STORY THAT IS SO FANTASTICAL THAT IT'S ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE.

AS I REFLECT UPON OUR LOUISIANA COMMUNITY TODAY I AM CONSCIENCE OF THE LEGENDS OF OUR STATES RECENT HISTORY.

THE COME BACK FROM KATRINA, COVID, THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACK, THE CONTINUED FIGHT FOR THE EDUCATION AND HEALTH OF OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THE STORY OF LOUISIANA IS LENDARY AND STILL BEING WRITTEN SO IT FELT RIGHT THAT WE ARE GATHERED ABOUT MY MINISCULE PIECE OF LOUISIANA AND HOW I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE THE LEGEND OF LOUISIANA FOR YEARS TO COME.

MY GRANDFATHER NUMEN GOLD RING STARTED A SMALL LIQUOR BUSINESS IN 1698 IN PENSACOLA FLORIDA.

MY FATHER PERPET WAITED THAT LEGEND IN MOVING TO LOUISIANA IN 1939 AFTER THE REPEAL OF PROHIBITION.

BY 1924 EXPANDED THE BUSINESS TO NEW ORLEANS IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

TODAY UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE COMPANY WE ARE THE LARGEST PRIVATE PRODUCER OF BREVEERAGE ALCOHOL IN THE UNITED STATES WE OWN AND PRODUCE SUCH BRANDS LIKE BUFFALO TRACE, FIRE BALL, SOUTHERN COMFORT, VAN WINKLE, MEYER RUM.

THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICE BURG THAT WE CARRY SOME 500 PLUS BRANDS.

THE FOUNDATION LAID BY MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER TO PLACE ME ON THIS STAGE WOULD BE CONSIDERED MY MANY TO BE LENDARY.

THE BUSINESS STARTED OVER HUNDRED YEARS AGO ON THE GULF COAST MIGRATED TO NEW ORLEANS AND NOW PRODUCED 1 OUT OF EVERY 5 BRANDS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.

HOWEVER MY GRANDFATHER AND FATHER ARE LENDARY TO ME FAR MORE FOR THEIR FILLEN THOPPIC NATURE THAN THEIR BUSINESS NATURE.

MY TWENTY-FIRST BIRTH DAY MY FATHER GAVE ME A LETTER WHICH PAUL PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED UNDER THE FILM AND THE ANTIENT SPIRIT AND THE WORD LEGEND SEEMS FITTING THAT WE'RE GATHERED HERE AND WE READ WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD.

IN MY FATHERS LETTER HE WROTE INTELLIGENT USE OF WELT CAN BRING POWER AND HAPPINESS NOT ONLY TO YOU BUT TO MANY.

AS YOU GET OLDER YOU MUST SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY.

HE FURTHER TOLD ME THAT WEALTH AND SUCCESS CAN BRING ME MUCH HAPPINESS BUT IT IT COMES WITH EVEN GREATER RESPONSIBILITY.

TO ANSWER THE CALL THAT RESPONSIBILITY I FORMED THE GOLD RING FOUNDATION AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAVE EMPHASIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUR LOUISIANA COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR GIFTS.

THOSE FOUNDATIONS AND THE CHARITABLE GIVING HAVE CREATED STORIES THAT HAVE BECOME LENDARY.

THE FOUNDATION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY CENTERS MUSEUMS KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD AND SCHOOLS THAT HAVE CULTURED COUNTLESS MINDS WE HAVE COMMITTED SCHOLARSHIPS EACH DEPENDENT CHILD OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE HAVE OVER A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES JUST IN LOUISIANA BUT MANY, MANY THOUSAND MORE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AS PEOPLE QUIETLY WRITE THEIR OWN LEGENDS FROM OUR GENEROSITY I TAKE PRIDE IN KNOWING THAT I CAN TRULY NEVER KNOW OR BELIEVE THE IMPACT OF A COMMUNITIES GENEROSITY.

MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED WHAT SO MANY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED STANDING ON THEIR FOUNDATION.

IT SURELY WOULD HAVE SOUNDED LIKE A LEGEND TO THEM.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT EACH STORY OF IMPACT I HEAR FROM OUR FOUNDATION SOUNDS LIKE A LEGEND TO ME BECAUSE NEARLY UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE THE VARIOUS WAYS PEOPLE BUILD OFF THE FOUNDATION OF OUR GENEROSITY.

AS YOU GATHER FOR ME AND ALLOW ME TO SHARE MY STORY I EXHORT EACH OF YOU IN THIS ROOM TO MAKE MORE LEGENDS TO CONTINUE AND CREATE LENDARY CHARACTERS IN THE STORY OF LOUISIANA WHETHER WE BUILD ON HAD THE FOUNDING OF THOSE WHO COME BEFORE US OR LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR SOMEONE ELSE THROUGH OUR GENEROSITY.

LET'S INSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE STORIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT ARE BORD LINE UNBELIEVABLE.

THE LENDENED OF LOUISIANA DESERVES NO LESS.

THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AS PART OF THIS GREAT EVENT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE LEGENDS AS WE CONTINUE TO WRITE AND PRODUCE THEM TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: CHEERS TO YOU BILL.

CHEERS TO YOU.

A GENERATIONINAL TALENT MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK QUARTER BACK TO WIN A SUPERBOWL AND EARN MVP HONORS HIS LEAGUEACY OF COURAGE REVILLIANCE AND QUIET STRENGTH CONTINUES TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS ON THE FIELD AND LEADERSHIP AND BEYOND JOIN US AS WE LEARN MORE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ABOUT DOUG WILLIAMS.

>> >>: DOUG WILLIAMS IS LENDARY BECAUSE A HE'S A GREAT PERSON.

HE IS AN OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL AND THEN HE WAS A REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYER.

>> >>: HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE AND OVERALL A PIONEER OF EVERYTHING FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN QUARTER BACK TO WIN A SUPERBOWL AND HOPEFULLY I CAN JOIN THAT ELITE COMPANY TOO.

>> >>: DOUG IS LENDARY BECAUSE HE'S A HUMANITARIAN AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT PEOPLE.

HE CARES THAT PEOPLE ADVANCE.

HE DOESN'T WANT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT TO BE LIKE THE END ALL BE ALLISM HE WANTS EVERYONE TO ACCOMPLISH AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT HE MAY NOT HAVE HAD.

>> >>: BORN IN ZACHARY LOUISIANA DOUG WILLIAMS GLOW UP IN A CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY.

>> >>: YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ZACHARY LOUISIANA BACK THEN IT WAS A SMALL RURAL TOWN CLOSE KNIT VERY FAMILY FORIENTED EVERYBODY ANYHOW EVERYBODY.

>> >>: I THINK HE COMES FROM A GREAT FAMILY IN LOUISIANA, A STRONG SPORTS FAMILY.

2 BROTHERS WHO SET RECORDS IN GRAMBLING HALL OF FAME.

I THINK HIS FAMILY AND THAT DEVELOPMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHO DOUG WILLIAMS HAS BECOME.

>> >>: DOUGS NATURAL ATHLETIC TALENT WAS EVIDENT IN MULTIPLE SPORTS DURING HIS YOUTH THROUGH HE EXCELLED IN BASEBALL HE EVENTUALLY SETTLED ON FOOTBALL.

DOUG WENT ONTO ATTEND GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE LENDARY COACH EDDIE ROBINSON BECAME A PROFOUND INFLUENCE.

>> >>: FIRST OF ALL EDDIE ROBINSON HAD COACHED A LOT OF FOOTBALL STARS AT GRAMLING AND I THINK DOUG WAS 1 OF THOSE.

I THINK HE HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON DOUG.

DOUG TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT.

>> >>: WHEN YOU PUT 1 OF THE GREATEST COACHES TO EVER COACH THE GAME WITH WITH 1 OF THE GREATEST QUARTER BACKS WHO EVER PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL YOU END UP WITH A SUPERBOWL WINNER QUARTER BACK.

>> >>: CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF NFL SCOUTS IN 1978 HE MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK QUARTER BACK SELECTED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE NFL DRAFT.

>> >>: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEER SELECTION QUARTER BACK DOUG WILLIAMS OF GRAMLING.

>> >>: THE REASON WHY I WAS AFTER DOUG BECAUSE I WAS AT TAMPA BAY WHEN COACH MCKAY SAID WE'RE GOING TO DRAFT THIS QUARTER BACK.

HE HAD ME GO OVER AND DO THE RESEARCH AT GRAMLING I SPENT 3 DAYS OVER THERE WITH DOUG CAME BACK AND I GAVE THE REPORT THAT HIS GUY IS FIRST OF ALL FOOTBALL SMART, BRIGHT.

I SAID HE IS A GREAT PERSON ALSO WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE PICKING A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

>> >>: DURING HIS TIME WITH THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS DOUG ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS AN EXCEPTIONAL QUARTER BACK.

>> >>: HIS ARM WAS STRONG BUT IT WAS JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT DOUG.

HIS BIG OLD HANDS JUST WRAPPED AROUND A FOOTBALL AND SOMETIMES HE DIDN'T THROW IT HE CANED OF FLICKED IT WHICH WAS OTHER PEOPLE COULDN'T DO THAT.

DOUG HAD GREAT TALENT.

>> >>: HE WAS A GUY WHO WOULD THINK THE GAME.

ALSO THE GUY WITH THE BIGGEST ARM DOWN THERE TO GET THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD LIKE MANY PEOPLE COULDN'T.

>> >>: AFTER A STINT IN THE USFL WILLIAMS JOINED THE WASHINGTON RED SKINS IN 1986.

>> >>: DOUG DEFINITELY PLAYED A KEY LEADER ROLE ON OUR FOOTBALL TEAM AS WE WENT THROUGH THAT YEAR AND TO THE CENTER BOWL.

I THINK THE PLAYERS LOOKED UP FOR HIM AND FOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO LOOK UP TO YOU YOU GOT TO BE SOMETHING KIND OF SPECIAL.

>> >>: ON JANUARY THIRTY-FIRST 1988 WILLIAMS FACED THE DENVER BONGOES IN SUPERBOWL 22.

WHAT FOLLOWED WOULD CEMENT HIS PLACE.

>> >>: I'M WATCHING THIS MAN FROM ZACHARY LOUISIANA LIGHT IT UP.

DOUG WAS LIKE I'M NOT HAVING IT HE WENT BACK INTO THE FOOTBALL GAME AND IN 1/4 THEY SCORED 35 POINTS STIFF A RECORD I THINK OFFICIVE LINEMAN THAT PLAYED WITH HIM THEY ADMIRED HIM BECAUSE THEY SAW THAT.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM THE TEAM.

>> >>: DOUGS PERFORMANCE EARNED HIM HONORS AND MADE HIM THE FIRST BLACK QUARTER BACK TO WIN A SUPERBOWL.

>> >>: EVERYBODY WAS CHANGERRED AFTER THAT.

THE INDUSTRY WAS CHANGED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE ANYMORE.

>> >>: WHEN I SAW HIM GET TO THE SUPERBOWL I DIDN'T THINK I COULD MY MIND SET WAS I COULD ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING NOW.

NOTHING I COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH OUT THERE AND IT OPENED A LOT OF EYES OF PEOPLE.

>> >>: AFTER HIS PLAY CAREER ENDED DOUG CONTINUED TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

HIERARCHED TO GRAMLING STATE AS HEAD COACH CONTINUING A LEGACY OF MENTORSHIP.

IN 2009 DOUG AND FELLY GRAMMABLE ALUMINIZE COFOUNDED THE BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INSURING THE LEGACY OF HCBU ATHLETES PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> >>: DOUG GIVES A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEEN THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN.

>> >>: PRESERVING THEIR STORY ES WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE OUR SCHOOLS, OUR ALUM NIGH AND OUR TEAMINATES BECAUSE WE FEEL SO MUCH TO THEM GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR COLLEGE DEGREE.

>> >>: LATER DOUG JOINED THE NFL AS AN EXECUTIVE WHERE HE CONTINUES TO MENTOR A NEW GENERATION OF PLAYERS.

>> >>: PROBABLY 1 OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND PROBABLY 1 OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE I KNOW JUST BECAUSE EVERYTHING HE HAD TO ENDURE IN HIS LIFER AND HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP OUT THE NEXT 1.

>> >>: JUST BEING WHO HE IS AND THE THINGS THAT HE DID HE WAS HUMMABLE TO GET WHERE HE IS.

IF YOU KNOW MY DAD THEN YOU KNOW HE'S NOT A BIG SHOW OFF HE'S NOT 1 OF THOSE 1 THAT HAS TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

>> >>: HE IS TRULY A REGULAR DONE WHO HAS DONE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

>> >>: DOUG WAS NEVER BACKING DOWN.

NEVER GIVING UP.

NOT AFRAID TO TAKE A STAND, BREAK THROUGH IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS AND BECAUSE OF THAT I THINK HE DID PAVE THE WAY FOR A LOT OF YOUNG BLACK QUARTER BACKS IN PARTICULAR IT WAS A BREAK THROUGH LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DOUG WILLIAMS.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: WE ALL CAN GO HOME AFTER THIS GREAT NIGHT AND I WANT TO THANK MR.

COPE LAND, PARRY, CHARLENE, AVIARY FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE AND THE WHOLE STAFF FOR BECOMING A LOUISIANA LEGEND.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PAST HONOREES AND ALL THE HONOREES SITTING HERE TONIGHT.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOUISIANA IT'S SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TALK ABOUT LOUISIANA AND I'M NOT AT HOME NOW BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE COMING HOME.

I'VE NOT DORTHY IN THE WIZARD OF OZ BUT I LIKE TO COME HOME.

1 OF THE MEN YOU SAW ON THAT VIDEO COACH EDDIE ROBINSON WE USED TO GO SPEAK ALL THE TIME AND YOU ALWAYS HEAR COACH ROBINSON SAY HE WAS THE LUCKIEST MAN IN THE WORLD WELL BLESS HIS SOUL I THINK I'M THE LUCKIEST MAN IN THE WORK NOT ONLY TO COACH WITH ROBINSON, JOHN MCKAY AND ALL THE PEOPLE I HAD OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO ME ACTUALLY SITTING OUT IN THAT AUDIENCE TODAY.

I GOT FRIENDS OUT THERE, MY ROOMMATES FROM COLLEGE RICKY GRIN, TROY, NEIL, I GOT THOSE GUYS OUT THERE THAT COME TO SEE ME TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK TIM BASS 1 OF THE OWNERS OF THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS WHERE I STILL WORK FOR.

WHERE IS TIM?

TIM LEFT?

OKAY STAND UP TIM.

LET ME SEE YOU TIM.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: I WANT THANK THE ALUMNI FROM WASHINGTON COMMANDERS.

TIM HAD A FRIEND WITH HIM, HOW DO YOU PRONOUNS THAT NAME?

I GOT SO MUCH ON MY MIND I DON'T KNOW LET ME SAY THIS, WE TALK ABOUT SIBLING I WANT TO SAY I GOT THE GREATEST SIBLINGS OF ALL TIMISM 3 I NOT HERE TONIGHT THEY ARE LOOKING DOWN ON US.

I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO MEAN SO MUCH TO ME.

I WANT TO START WITH MY BABY BOUGHTER.

MIKE AND PLAYED QUARTER BACK BEHIND ME AT GRAMMABLE.

HIS WIFE.

PROBABLY THE BEST ATHLETE IN THE FAMILY.

STAND UP PAUL.

AND HIS FRIEND SARA.

MY SISTER JACQUELINE WAS THE GLUE OF EVERYTHING WHO KEPT EVERYBODY TOGETHER SINCE MY MOM IS GONE.

EVERYBODY STOP AT HER HOUSE TO EAT EVERYBODY AND HER HUSBAND JOHNNY AND MY OLDEST BROTHER WHO I WAS FORTUNATE TO GROW UP WITH A MOM AND A DAD AND I WANT TO SAY THIS MY OLDER BROTHER WHEN MY DAD WASN'T AROUND.

AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T LIKE IT BECAUSE HE DID SOME THINGS TODAY HIM AND I WOULD FIGHT BUT BACK THEN I COULDN'T FIGHT HIM BECAUSE HE WAS OLDER THAN ME.

HIM AND HIS WIFE DORTHY THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT I WANT TO THANK THEM.

AND THE OTHER PART 2 DAUGHTERS HERE TONIGHT ASHLEY AND LEE.

AND ASHLEY HAVE A DAUGHTER WITH HER TONIGHT.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE I GOT 8 KIDS AND AIN'T LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING AIN'T NOTHING LIKE SEEING THEM AROUND.

I LET THEM HAVE IT.

I WANT TO SAY THIS MY WIFE DR. RHONDA WILLIAMS SITTING RIGHT THERE YOU SEEN ON THE FILM I TELL YOU WHAT I'M LUCKY.

SHE'S A LOUISIANA BORN AND RAISED TOO.

FROM DOWN IN HOUMA LOUISIANA, AROUND THE BAYOU CAN'T GO NO FURTHER SOUTH YOU WOULD BE IN THE GULF.

AND HER SISTER SHE'S HERE.

A GUY I ROOMED WITH, I PLAYED WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE RICKY WHO IS JUST LIKE A BROTHER TO ME RICK ANY HILDA THEY'RE HERE.

I'M FORTUNATE TONIGHT TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE FOR THIS AND WE TALK ABOUT LEGENDS AND I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY 1 DAY AND THEY SAID DAD WHAT WOULD YOU WANT ON YOUR HEAD STONE BETWEEN WHATEVER I SAY I CAN'T WRITE THAT AND JUST LIKE BEING A LEGEND YOU CAN'T WRITE THAT THAT AIN'T SOMETHING YOU CALL YOURSELF.

I CAN'T BRAND MYSELFISM IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED AND I'M GLAD TO BE A LOUISIANA LEGEND BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I FEEL I AM AND I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE.

JAMES HARRISON HE MENTIONED SUGAR SHACK JAMES HARASS THAT'S WHAT HE CALL HIM AND AROUND THE STATE AT GRAMLING HAD A CHANCE TO PLAY HE ALWAYS TELL THE BALL PLAYERS THAT PLAYED FOR THE COLLEGE TO CHECK ON HIS REAL ESTATE.

THEY SAY WHAT REAL ESTATE YOU GOT IN OUR TOWN AND HE WOULD SAY IN THE END ZONE.

SHE WOULD SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS IS A GREAT NIGHT FOR ME TO BE STANDING HERE AND THE SUPPORT I GOT.

I KEEP CALLING HIM BECAUSE THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS HAS GONE FAR BEYOND WHAT THEY DO FOR ME OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS SUPPORTING WHAT I DO.

AND I BE ON ZOOMS THAN I EVEN IMAGINE I WONDER WHAT I'M ZOOMING MORE MORE SHACK AND I WE DO SO MANY THINGS.

4 OR 5 EVENTS WE HAVE THE BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WE HAVE THE QUARTER BACK SUMMIT WHICH IS COMING UP.

A LOT OF THE YOUNG UP AND COMING COACHES IN THE NFL.

WE HAVE BIG POWWOW IN ATALANTA.

THE GRAMLING HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONISM WE DO SO MUCH BUT SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT US IT'S ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS HELP PEOPLE THAT HADN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEEN BUT GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME THINGS AND COMING BACK HERE MAKES ME REALIZE THE THINGS THAT WE DO IT'S ALL WORTH IT AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT HELPING SOMEBODY ELSE.

IF YOU CAN LEND SOMEBODY ELSE A HELPING HAND YOU DO THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE BECAUSE SOMEBODY LOANED ME A HAND COMING UP.

I THINK ABOUT STANDING UP HERE AND I KNOW THESE 2 PEOPLE IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY HOW PROUD THEY WOULD BE AND THAT'S LAUREN AND ROBERT WILLIAMS.

THAT'S MY DAD AND MY MOM AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.

MY BROTHER LARRY T WILLIAMS.

MY SISTER JOSEPHINE AND MY SISTER BARBARA.

THOSE PEOPLE WE WERE FAMILY AND WE'RE STILL FAMILY AND ITS SO GOOD BEING BACK HOME.

YOU LEVERING TOMORROW NO I'M GOING TO THEY WEEKEND.

I'M AT HOME RIGHT NOW SO I'M GOING TO ENJOY IT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND I KNOW I'M LAST BUT MOST OF THE TIME MY NAME START WITH A W SO I'M LAST MOST OF THE TIMISM THANK ALL FOR COMING AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE LEGENDS FOR BEING A PART OF IT.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

>> >>: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OUR 2025 LOUISIANA LEGENDS.

>> >>: APPLAUSE.

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT LPB WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE AND EVENING AS WECELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS YEARS LOUISIANA LEGENDSISM TO OUR HONOREES YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS CONTINUE TO MAKE US PROUD.

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE.