Hall of Fame

Dr. Herke (right) is congratulated by Craig Gothreaux.

Born November 27. 1929 on a farm in Iowa during the Great Depression.  (I can still remember my father burning perfectly good ear corn in the cook stove because there was no market for it.)  But unlike our town neighbors, at least we had plenty to eat.

Went to a one room country school until 5th grade when school closed.  Then to school in town until graduated high school at head of a class of 13.  To Loras college, Dubuque. Iowa for 2 years.

December 1950 enlisted in Air Force before I was drafted for Korean “Police Action.”  Trained to be a medical lab technician.  Served in Texas, Maine, Japan, and Johnston Island.  Discharged as S/Sgt., September, 1954.

Married fiancé Joan Farrell. October. 1954.  Together had 4 children. Kristin, John, David. and Scott.

Also entered Iowa State University.  BS 1956 and MS 1957.     

Hired by Florida Game and Freshwater Commission 1958.  Duty was to try to obtain mitigation of damages to fish and wildlife from water control projects of Army Corps of Engineers and State agencies. Could not support my family on Commission salary. So accepted a job with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1962 in same town with same duty.

In 1963 (to avoid transfer to Atlanta)) accepted the position of Acting Leader of newly created Louisiana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit.  (Could not be Leader because I did not have a PhD.) In 1964 I began my research on the effects on fisheries of weirs constructed in the coastal marsh.  (Weirs are dams across tidal channels with a crest 6 inches below marsh soil level.)  I pioneered the use of an airboat to sample fish and crustacean use of shallow marsh water.

Working full time at my position of Acting or Assistant Leader of the Fishery Unit, and also working on my dissertation research, I completed my dissertation in 1971 and received my PhD.  My Dissertation was entitled “Use of natural, and semi-impounded, Louisiana tidal marshes as nurseries for fishes and crustaceans”.   Received a million-dollar  contract from US Soil Conservation Service to continue study of the effect of weirs on fisheries. My team and I completed a series of studies that conclusively proved weirs were seriously harming fisheries.  As a result, permits to construct weirs have become harder to obtain and have more restrictions.

The study of the effects of water control structures on fisheries, and the use of the coastal marsh as a nursery for fish and crustaceans, became my life’s professional work.  By the time of my retirement in 1994 I had published over 60 articles mostly on that subject.

In 1986, Dr. Herkey was given the Governor’s Award. Conservationist of the Year, presented by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, the National Wildlife Federation, and Sears Roebuck and Co.

In 2001 he was honored with the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association, Arthur Van Pelt Award, Lifetime Conservation Achievement.

Dr. Fred Bryan (introduced by Dale Hall, 2018 RNR Hall of Fame recipient)

Fred started his career with a BA in biology, 1959 from Bellarmine College, and a  Ph.D in Zoology in  1965 from the University of Louisville.  Fred went on to numerous other jobs and positions, but the main thing that he really he hung with and made his mark on was at LSU and the  Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit of the Fish And Wildlife Service, at LSU.  For the University and the state of Louisiana… those cooperative units are very important across the nation.

Fred was there from 1971 until. 2003 and I was one of the lucky beneficiaries, of Fred being there and being able to come and be there.  Fred was a project administrator,  principal investigator and co-investigator  for over 30 riverine and estuarine and research projects. He was funded with $10 million and supported over 140 scientist years of research and growth of scientists and new conservationist. His main issues and main mark will forever be in the Atchafalaya Basin.

And I know that you're proud to  have authored and co-authored, edited and co-edited more than 80 books and been in lots and lots of symposia and other works, and I know you're proud of that, and I know that you think that science is your legacy, but I would respectfully disagree.

Your greatest accomplishments rest in the dozens of scientists that you nurtured over the years, including this humble young fellow from the hills of Eastern Kentucky; you get you gave me a chance, when the eastern Kentucky university left me hanging.you gave me the ladder to the future, you and LSU accepted me and became not just friends, but family. I was down there alone until I met my bride at 45 years (sitting here next to me) and I had nowhere to go, but you made sure that I was family and that every one of your students felt like they were family.

You accepted me based on a  friend’s recommendation and made me a member of that family and you and Barbara attended Sarah and my wedding in Bunkie.and sat on my side of the aisle because I, as the groom had no family there;  my mother was it. A couple of Grad students and a couple others were there, but you all were there to be part of my family.

I keep saying this because, as professors, I want you all to know how important it is that you are seen  not just as the leaders and mentors, but you're, seen as father and mother figures. You're, seen as surrogates to help these students find their way. That is the most important thing I believe you'll ever do. And that's what great leaders do -- they change the lives of people in their charge.Without your dedication to growing wetland and fisheries scientists, I really don't know where I am a lot of my cohorts would have ended up.

Fred I want to thank you on behalf of all of us, for your professional training, I want to thank the school that values people more than money. And for my bride of 45 years sitting next to me, because if you hadn't given me the chance to come to LSU Sarah and I would never met we wouldn't had our three beautiful children and the life that we've had, and I was blessed in my career because of the training that you helped me have,  to build me,  and get me ready to move forward through the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Of 38 students between Humboldt and LSU, thirteen went on to Ph.Ds; one is an MD and two to Law school.  

People are our only real legacy -  the  people we help, the people we nurture, the people we grow. Fred Bryan,  your legacy is one to be proud of. I'm certainly proud to be one of your admirers one of your students and one of your fans. Congratulations on this well deserved honor.

In 2008, after no less than 40 years with the USFWS and among the most influential and longest serving public servants this school has ever produced, Mr. Ray Aycock retired. And, still, he wasn’t finished building a conservation legacy – more on that in a minute.

A native of DeRidder and the son of a Soil Conservation Service agent, Ray was inspired by the work of his father and entered forestry school at LSU in 1961, along the way being mentored by and duly inspired by the first head of the LA Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Dr. John Newsome. When Ray earned his BSF in Forestry in 1966, he turned right around and earned an MS in Wildlife Management, also at LSU, finishing in 1968. He was quickly hired by the US Fish & Wildlife Service thereafter.

In the Wildlife Services Program, Ray helped to refine and then expand assessment and monitoring techniques critical for the newly created Endangered Species Act and wildlife management on military bases, including initiating the first ever Red Cockaded Woodpecker Surveys in Louisiana, and the first ever bald eagle nesting surveys in Louisiana, which were continued by Tom Hess and the Rockefeller Refuge until the bird’s delisting in 2007.

He also was part of a team that helped to re-locate and move the last known remaining red wolves from SW LA & SE TX, whose descendants are part of a captive breeding program in NC and constitute the last free-roaming animals of this species. He participated in the capture and relocation of thousands of the then-endangered American Alligator, thousands of waterfowl both in Canada and points south, as well as doves and other species – especially migratory birds, and still holds the LSU student record for number of woodcock banded I a single night – 300.

Mr. Aycock later went to work on landscape level conservation for the Service out of its Jackson, MS office where he helped lead the charge in finding and galvanizing support for conserving big, key tracts of high quality forestland on both sides of the River during the dawn of the Wildlife Refuge era, including a crown jewel of the Wildlife Refuge System, the Tensas River NWR, last known host of the Ivory billed woodpecker and now 70,000 acres of beautiful BLH wilderness. An attempt had been made to conserve the big Tensas land earlier in the 20th century by the Audubon Society, but failed, and their later success was in Ray’s admission the most satisfying accomplishment of his career. Ray was the first refuge manager at Tensas before being called back to a Migratory Bird Position to help establish more refuges.

I’m going to read through these refuges that Ray had some hand in helping to locate and establish, because...um, wow: Tensas River, Red River National Wildlife Refuge, Black Bayou, Upper Ouachita, Lake Ophelia, Catahoula Expansion, Handy Brake, Grand Cote, Mandalay Bay, Cameron Prairie, Atchafalaya, Bayou Sauvage, Cat Island.... the list goes on.... Bogue Chitto, Big Branch Marsh, Bayou Cocodrie; in Mississippi Grand Bay, Tallahatchie, Dahomey, ....I’ll stop because there are more and also in Arkansas but you get the point.

Ray worked closely with a number of organizations working out the best methods to accomplish afforestation on many parts of these large tracts of land which had been in Ag production for years, eventually helping to coordinate establish new forests on over 20,000 acres of refuge lands and pioneering the techniques that would be used in the CRP & WRP programs – now together having reforested over 1 million acres in tri-state delta region.

In the latter part of his career, Mr. Aycock helped to start a longleaf pine initiative in south Mississippi which would go on to conserve thousands of acres, and he was among the first to utilize carbon credits as a method of incentivizing utility companies to help pay for restoration of bottomland hardwood forest in the delta. As Field Supervisor for the Ecological Field Services office in Jackson, he helped to initiate a now very successful Program called Partners for Fish & Wildlife, which helps private landowners improve wildlife habitat on both working and recreational lands.

After retiring in 2008, though, Ray’s real conservation work began. He more or less immediately went to work as a wetlands and wildlife consultant for a variety of organizations, including TNC, the Trust for Public Land, and the Walton Family Foundation, for whom he helped to promote eco-tourism and water quality improvement projects across the MS Delta and helped secure big conservation and research grants for the likes of MS State, the LA Dept of Ag & Forestry, and the LSU AgCenter. Ray was a representative for the Dept. of Interior during at the incident command center during the BP Oil Spill in 2010.

Mr. Aycock is a founding member of the Conservation and community outreach organization, the Lower Delta Partnership, a founding member of the Black Bear Conservation Coalition (which has been crucial in the LA Black bear’s recovery), a 2nd generation LSU graduate, season ticket holder and President of the Mississippi Bayou Bengals TAF chapter.

He lives on 6 acres in Flora, MS with his wife of 55 years, Betsy, and is a father of 2 and grandfather of seven.

H. Dale Hall is chief executive officer of Ducks Unlimited Inc. Dale joined the 80-year-old conservation organization in May 2010, bringing with him a vast expanse of conservation knowledge and experience. As CEO of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Dale is in the final year of a continental campaign to raise over $2 billion for wetlands conservation across North America, the largest such campaign in the history of conservation by non-governmental organizations. Under his leadership, DU is poised to meet and exceed this historic challenge.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Dale served on the Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, of the America’s Wetlands Foundation (working to restore Coastal Louisiana), of the Peregrine Trust, the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports, and of the Bass Pro Shop Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium. He is a trustee of Wetlands America Trust, and serves as a Commissioner on the Louisiana Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation Commission, appointed by our Governor. He is a Professional Member of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Among his many honors, Dale received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agents, was named Conservationist of the Year by Bass Pro Shops and the America’s Wetlands Foundation, was named Alumnus of the Year by the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources, and this spring was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources.

Prior to his employment by Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Dale spent 31 years with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the last 3 ½ as its Director 2005-2009), appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U. S. Senate. As Director, he was responsible for approximately 8,000 USFWS employees working out of the national headquarters and nine regional offices, and the associated budget of $2.4 billion.

During Dale’s career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), he served in numerous roles at field office, regional, and national levels. During his first assignment with the Service, he worked in the wetlands of the Lower Mississippi Valley. In 1982, he transferred to Texas as a senior staff biologist. He was promoted to Field Supervisor and ran the Houston field office for four years, during which time he was intimately involved in working the Alvenus Tanker spill off the Texas coast. During his Houston assignment, Dale was honored as one of the Service's 10 most outstanding merit pay employees for 1986.

In 1987, Dale became the Deputy Assistant Director for Fisheries in the Service's Washington, D.C., office, where he played a major role in developing the Service's policy for management of the nation's fisheries facilities, including the Service's 75 fish hatcheries, 48 fish and wildlife management assistance offices, four technology development centers, and 11 fish health centers.

In 1997, Dale was appointed Deputy Regional Director of the Service's Southeast Region, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he assisted the Regional Director in overseeing Service efforts in 15 ecosystems that range in diversity from the hardwoods of the lower Mississippi to the tropics of the Caribbean.

Dale received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and a Master’s of Science degree in Fisheries from Louisiana State University. He is the author of numerous published papers on wetlands, fisheries ecology, and other topics. He has also taught courses on wetlands identification and delineation. A native of Kentucky, Dale is a lifelong outdoors enthusiast who enjoys hunting and fishing. He is the principal of Dale Hall, LLC, a natural resource consulting firm (currently inactive).

Prior to joining the Service in 1978, Dale did a four-year stint with the U.S. Air Force beginning in 1968, with overseas assignments in Italy and the Philippines.

Dale is married to Sarah Reed Hall, a native of Bunkie, Louisiana. They have three children and three grandchildren, and currently reside in Collierville, Tennessee.

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 14 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

Thomas J. Hess, Jr. was born in Wilmington, Delaware, where he learned to hunt and fish and developed a love and passion for the outdoors.

Tom first encountered southwest Louisiana’s marshes as a student at Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge in Grand Chenier, Louisiana. In I972, he began to work as a biologist assistant for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at Rockefeller. He held a BS degree in Wildlife Management from Louisiana Tech, and later earned his MS in Wildlife Management (1975) from Louisiana State University. Except for several years as general manager and wetland manager of Little Pecan Island hunting lodge, Tom spent his career as a biologist at Rockefeller Refuge, rising to the position of refuge manager, which he held until his death in March 2014.

During his long career at LDWF, Tom contributed to the recovery of the Brown Pelican and Bald Eagle, and was an ardent supporter of the Louisiana Whooping Crane reintroduction program. His enthusiasm for Louisiana’s wetland, waterfowl and other wildlife was infectious; he worked well with landowners and other stakeholders and mentored many students and young staff members with his own inimitable blend of leadership, optimism, experience, and humor. In 2011, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation named Tom Professional Conservationist of the year. Additionally, Mr. Hess was posthumously presented the Dr. George H. Lowery Award in April 2015 by the Louisiana Ornithological Society, for his long-term commitment for restoring populations of endangered bird species to Louisiana’s avifauna. And in 2016, through the vision of Tom Hess, the first whooping crane in over 60 years was hatched and fledged in the wetlands of southwest Louisiana.

It is my honor to induct into the 2017 Hall of Fame of the Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Alumni Association Mr. Thomas J. Hess, Jr. Accepting the award on his behalf is Tom’s wife Charlotte, accompanied by his children and grandchildren.

Allen U. Bedellof Hot Springs, Arkansas, was born in Welsh, Louisiana and grew up in Eunice where he was educated in the public school system. He attended Louisiana State University and graduated from the LSU School of Forestry with a BSF degree in 1960. While at LSU he was elected to membership in both Xi Sigma Pi and Alpha Zeta.

Upon graduation, he was employed by Fordyce Lumber Company in Fordyce, Arkansas, subsequently sold to Georgia-Pacific Corporation. In 1965, he was granted a leave of absence to attend Yale University, graduating in 1966 with a Master of Forestry degree. He then returned to Arkansas as a manager with Georgia-Pacific.

Allen went on to start two family tree chipping businesses, Circle B. Logging, and Quality Stand Density Control, Inc., which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2006. Allen has served on the Executive Committee of the Arkansas Forestry Association for over 31 years, where he is Past President, a recipient of the President’s Award, and honored as Outstanding Logger in both 1989 and 1994. While President, he was instrumental in adopting the National Log-A-Load-for-Kids program, which has raised over $8,000,000 for the Arkansas Children's Hospital.

In 1991, Allen joined nine loggers establishing the Arkansas Timber Producers Association, which last summer celebrated 25 years of service to the forest industry. As President, he helped to establish the Arkansas Professional Logger Education and Training Program, which to date has trained over 17,000 loggers. The Arkansas Timber Producers Association also developed safety and insurance programs for the industry and lobbied successfully for sales tax relief for forestry equipment purchases. He served as President of the Arkansas Timber Producer’s Association Self-Insured Workers Comp Insurance Fund.

Allen also served on the Sustainable Forestry Board from 1995-2001. He is a lifetime member of the Forest Resources Association, and served as National Chairman in 2003-2004. He was the first recipient of Georgia-Pacific’s regional award for Outstanding Logger. He served as Chairman of the Board of Citizens First Bank of Fordyce, Arkansas, and as Vice Chairman of the American Pulpwood Association. Allen served on the Arkansas Forestry Commission for 9 years, 3 years as Chairman. He has served on the Arkansas Agriculture Board since 2005. Allen is a certified American Tree Farmer.

In 1998, Timber Harvesting magazine recognized the Bedell family -- Allen, wife Lou, son David, and daughter Donn Twyford -- as the winner of its inaugural “Logging Business of the Year” award. On March 3 of this year Allen was inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, being only the fourth representative of forestry to be so recognized. It is my honor to induct into the 2017 Hall of Fame of the Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Alumni Association Mr. Allen U. Bedell.

Dr. Allen Rutherford (left) inducts John D. Newsom (center) into the LSU-FWF Hall-of-Fame. Also pictured is Dr. Don Reed (back) and Mike Newson (right)

John Newsom was born in Shongaloo, Louisiana in 1920. He attended public schools in the area and graduated from Shongaloo High School in 1937. His attendance in the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute from 1940 to 1941 was interrupted when WW II began, and he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942. Mr. Newsom served throughout the Pacific theater of Operations and was honorably discharged in 1945.

In June of 1946 Mr. Newsom entered Louisiana State University and was awarded the B.S. degree in 1948. He continued in the graduate program at LSU and was awarded the M.S. degree in Wildlife Management in 1949. Upon graduation he was employed by the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries on July 1, 1949 as the Leader for the Mourning Dove Project. In 1953 he was appointed as District Supervisor of the Alexandria District and, while in this position, the initial concept of allowing public hunting on lands leased to the La. Wildlife and Fisheries Commission was initiated on his area. In 1957 Mr. Newsom was appointed as Federal Aid Coordinator for the La. Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and was responsible for the entire game management program for the Commission.

A strong advocate of good game management practices, he advocated the initiation of either sex deer hunting in Louisiana. In 1962 the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit was established at Louisiana State University, and Mr. Newsom was selected by the operating agencies to serve as Leader of the Unit. Numerous graduate students served under him in their academic and research programs dealing with game management programs in Louisiana.

Dr. Ben Box is inducted into the LSU FWF Hall of Fame.

Dr. Box is a native of Bogalusa, Louisiana. He attended public school and graduated from Bogalusa High School in 1949. His attendance at Southeastern Louisiana College was interrupted in 1951 by a four year enlistment in the United States Air Force, which included a one year tour of duty in Korea. After his honorable discharge in January, 1955 he enrolled in Forestry at LSU. Upon graduation from LSU in 1957 with a B.S. degree in Forestry, he was hired by the LSU School of Forestry as an instructor and was stationed at Lee Memorial Forest near Bogalusa, where he was later promoted to Forest Silviculturist, Associate Professor and Manager. In 1959, he received his Master of Forestry degree from LSU. He completed his doctorate in Forest Silvics at Duke University in 1965. In 1969, he was appointed as Associate Specialist and Coordinator of Forestry Extension at LSU and was stationed in Baton Rouge.

In 1972, he accepted the position of Executive Vice President of the Southern Forest Institute, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1979, he was appointed Dean of the College of Forest and Recreation Resources at Clemson University, a position he held for 16 years. Additionally, he was the Vice President/Vice Provost for Agricultural and Natural Resources for one year. In 1994, Dr. Box headed the continued development consortium of the University Center of Greenville in South Carolina. He served as Executive Director/CEO, of this consortium of seven universities, which offered university courses with graduate and undergraduate degrees. He retired in 1998 as Executive Director.

Dr. Box served on the board of the South Carolina Forestry Commission in various capacities, including Chairman of the Board, for 35 years and until his retirement in 2013. He is a member of the South Carolina Forestry Association, and has served as both President and Chairman of the Board. He was named LSU Alumnus of the Year in 1997 by the faculty of the LSU School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries.

Mr. Gaston Lanoux III is inducted into the LSU FWF Hall of Fame. (Left to Right): Dr. Allen Rutherford, Mrs. Melanie Lanoux, Gaston Lanoux III, and Dr. Bill Kelso

Gaston Lanaux is a lifelong resident of Tangipahoa Parish. Mr. Lanaux graduated from Southeastern High School in Hammond, LA in 1963. He received his B.S. Forestry from LSU in 1968. While at LSU, Gaston was a founding father, treasurer, and president of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity social fraternity.

Gaston joined the National Guard in 1968, and received an Honorable Discharge in 1974. Gaston was employed by Crown Zellerbach Corp. from 1968 until 1983. In 1983, Gaston resigned his position as Manager, purchased Wood East, to start his own Forestry Consulting Firm. Gaston represented Weyerhaeuser at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and at the Louisiana Forestry Association. He served as President and Member of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Forestry Association and of FOR PAC – the political action arm of the Louisiana Forestry Association. He is a life member of the Society of American Foresters and Past Chair of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter.

Dr. Ken Krauss (MS Forestry, 1997) center, was recognized as the FWF 2016 Alumnus of the Year, Presenting the award are Dr. Jim Chambers (left) and Dr. Allen Rutherford (right)

Dr. Krauss completed an M.S. in Forestry at Louisiana State University in 1997, and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2004. He has been a scientist with the federal government since 1997, first with the USDA Forest Service in Stoneville, Mississippi and, then, in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he studied sedimentation, systematics, regeneration, growth, invasion biology, and ecophysiology of Pacific island forested wetlands in the Federated States of Micronesia and Hawaii.

Dr. Krauss began working at the USGS National Wetlands Research Center in 2001 (renamed to USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, or WARC, in 2015), where he maintains an expertise in forest ecology and ecophysiology, and serves as one of NWRC’s climate change scientists focusing on mangroves and tidal freshwater forested wetlands.

Ken has authored over 78 papers on wetland ecology, and served on 22 graduate student committees at 12 different universities, including 5 committees in SRNR since 2012. He currently serves as chair of the technical advisory committee to Louisiana CPRA designing and monitoring coastal restoration.

Dr. Jay Huner (left) accepts Honorary Membership into the FWF Alumni Association from Dr. Allen Rutherford (right)

Dr. Jay van Huizen Huner of Boyce, LA, received his BS, cum laude, in Zoology and Physiology in 1968. He immediately entered grad school to obtain a MS, but enlisted into the Air Force before completing his thesis. He returned to enter the LSU MS Fisheries Program, but transferred to the Doctoral Program in Marine Sciences, where he completed his Ph. D. Dr. Huner went to work at Southern University – Baton Rouge and subsequently became the Director of the Crawfish Research Center at USL (ULL). In 2000, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in Natural Sciences from the University of Kuopio in Kuopio, Finland.

Over the years, Dr. Huner worked extensively with Dr. Robert Romaire of the School of Renewable Natural Resources, w

Mr. Larry A. Reynolds received his BS from University of California-Davis in 1986 and his MS in Wildlife Sciences from Texas A&M in 1989. He entered the Doctoral Program in Wildlife Sciences and Experimental Statistics at LSU in 1989, but accepted a full time position at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries prior to receiving his degree.

Mr. Larry A. Reynolds, Waterfowl Study Leader, LDWF, was elected to honorary membership in the FWFAA

Larry currently serves as Waterfowl Study Leader at LDWF. In that position, Larry has been a major supporter of the School of Renewable Natural Resources, serving as guest lecturer, sponsoring multiple graduate student research projects, hosting numerous duck banding trips and field trips for RNR classes, donating banding trips for LSU fundraising, serving as a hunter safety instructor for LSU RNR students, and hiring numerous RNR students as student workers, interns, and full time employees of the Department.

He co-founded the LSU Collegiate Sportsman’s Program, enabling RNR students to participate in their first hunting experience.

Dr. H. Michael "Mike" Barnes

Dr. Todd Shupe(left) inducts Dr. Mike Barnes (right) into the LSU-FWF Hall-of-Fame.

Dr. H. Michael “Mike” Barnes (left, with Dr. Todd Shupe, Executive Secretary of the LSU Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Alumni Association)is internationally recognized as a leading expert in the field of wood preservation and durability. He received a BS in Forestry from LSU in 1965 and a MS in Forest Products Technology from LSU in 1968 under the guidance of the late Dr. Elvin Choong. He was awarded in PhD in Wood Products Engineering in 1973 from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He has been on the faculty at Mississippi State University since 1971 and was awarded the title of W. S. Thompson Distinguished Professorship in Wood Science & Technology in 2007.

He has served as President of both of the two largest forest products organizations in North America – Forest Products Society (FPS) and Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST) and currently serves as editor of Wood & Fiber Science for SWST. Mike has been elected as a Fellow in SWST, International Academy of Wood Science, and Institute of Wood Science. He has received the highest award from the following societies: Distinguished Service Award, Society of Wood Science & Technology, 2010; Gottschalk Award, Forest Products Society, 2002; Award of Merit, American Wood Protection Association, 2004; and Award of Merit, Railway Tie Association, 2006. Moreover, he received Distinguished Service Award from FPS in 2008; and Alumnus of the Year from the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources in 2004.In 2005 he received the Mississippi State University Office of Research’s highest award, the Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award.

Mike is well recognized internationally for his research in wood deterioration & preservation. He has published over 200 articles, given over 330 presentations in 15 countries, and garnered extramural funding over $10 million. He has also authored three patents. Mike has a passion for service and for youth and that is evidenced by his many awards in this area including the Boy Scouts of America: Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit, Scoutmaster Award of Merit, Key to the city of Starkville for outstanding service to youth, and Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds award.

Dr. James Barnett

Dr. James Barnett (left, with Larry Stanley, ’71 BSF) has spent nearly five decades conducting research for the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, working to improve reforestation success of the major pine species of the southern United States. Research, and more importantly, the dissemination of the practical implications of that research, set Dr. Barnett above his peers. He has more than 350 publications and 200 professional presentations targeting his science peers, reforestation experts working in the field, and nursery managers growing seedlings. His work in seed physiology, seed influences on seedling production, container and bareroot seedling production, seedling establishment, and plantation ecophysiology and management has set the standards for reforestation of southern pine ecoysystems. He is realized as a world authority on reforestation issues, he has given keynote presentations around the world. His publications have been translated into other languages.

Clearly, his career is dedicated to service to others by providing seed technologists, nursery managers, forest managers, regeneration specialists, and others research information that they can immediately put into operational use in the United States and world-wide. Dr. Barnett’s research facilitates the production of over 1 billion seedling annually in the southern United States to establish plantations that provide the majority of the United States’ solid wood and fiber needs. An example of this effort is his development of container production of southern pine seedlings that has made restoration of longleaf pine operationally feasible. He has leveraged the expertise he has garnered throughout his career to provide highly productive leadership at regional, national, and international levels. He has effectively motivated interdisciplinary groups of scientists from the federal, state, academic, and private sectors to address issues important to the long-term sustainability of pine ecosystems in the southern United States. He forged partnerships and cooperative agreements to effectively use resources to solve real-world management problems. In recognition of his sustained, productive, and practical service to the world’s forestry community, Dr. Barnett has been recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), named a prestigious Fellow and recipient of the Barrington-Moore Award by Society of American Foresters, deemed an Outstanding Alumnus by Louisiana State University School of Renewable Natural Resources (RNR), and has been the recipient of numerous awards by the USDA Forest Service.

Left to right, Dr. Todd Shupe, Executive Secretary, LSU Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Alumni Association, Mrs. Merle Chabreck, and David Chabreck

Dr. Robert H. Chabreck

Dr. Robert H. Chabreck was an alumni and faculty emeritus of the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources. He attended LSU and earned his B.S.F. in 1956 and his Master of Science in Game Management in 1957. His subsequent career would focus on wetlands wildlife.

In 1957, he went to work for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which then was named the Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission. He worked at Rockefeller Refuge until 1967 when he served a short time as the Acting Chief of the Refuge Division. From 1967 until 1972, he was the Assistant Leader of the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at LSU. During that time, in 1970, he completed his dissertation at LSU with a major in Botany. His dissertation focused on wetland plant communities in Louisiana’s coastal marshes. His dissertation continues to provide the definitions used to classify Louisiana’s coastal marshes despite several other systems coming briefly into vogue. For the vast majority of the time however, Bob’s classification system continues to efficiently convey the necessary detail.

From 1972 through 1976, he was an Associate Professor. In 1976, he was promoted to Professor. He retired in 2000 by which time he had directed 65 graduate students. He has published over 130 scientific and popular articles dealing with wildlife and wetlands. His most recent publication was in 2011 (a chapter in the Wildlife Techniques Manual coauthored with RNR professor Andy Nyman, whose M.S. thesis he also directed in 1989). His publications were so clear, concise, and effective that he received 21 publication awards from the Louisiana Wildlife Biologists Association.

Photos provided by LSU LSU Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Alumni Association.

Dr. Paul D. Coreil (right, with Dr. Todd Shupe) received his Bachelors of Science in zoology from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1976. He earned a M.S. in Wildlife Management from LSU in 1984 and a Ph.D. from LSU in Extension Education with a minor in Agricultural Economics in 1995.

He currently serves as a Vice Chancellor of the LSU Agricultural Center and Director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, a position he has held since 2001. Prior to that, he served in several roles within the LSU Agricultural Center, beginning his Extension career as a Sea Grant Assistant Area Agent in Fisheries and Wildlife in 1978. He also served as parish chair of the Cameron Parish Extension Service office from 1987-1992. He was appointed as Wetlands and Coastal Resources Specialist for the Extension Service / Sea Grant in 1992 and served in that capacity till 1998. In 1998, he assumed the position of Wetlands Administrator for Burlington Resources, covering coastal wetlands formally owned by the Louisiana Land and Exploration Company (L,L & E), the largest private coastal landowner in Louisiana. In 1999, he returned to the LSU AgCenter as Assistant Director for environmental programs, a position he held until being named Extension director.

He has been an active member in numerous organizations at the parish, state, and national level. He served as chair the Association of Southern Region Extension Directors in 2006; he also served as chair of the eXtension National Governing Committee – a committee that oversees the development of a national web-based information system covering a variety of topic areas important to a diversity of public interests. He was appointed to Governor Mike Foster's Natural Resources Transition Team in 1995-1996. Dr. Coreil also served as the chair of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) in 2009.

Dr. Coreil is recipient of numerous awards for his extension work, including recognition from Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association (LCAAA), USDA, EPA, and other organizations at the state and parish level. Most recently, Dr. Coreil received the Chancellor's Diversity Leadership Award and the Association of Southern Region Extension Directors (ASRED) Excellence in Leadership Award for 2010. Dr. Coreil has published numerous technical and non-technical articles and made presentations to audiences around the world. He has served as a mentor and adviser to numerous Extension faculty and staff throughout the years. He is considered a friend, colleague, and leader by those that know him best.

Pete Heard  was the eighth of nine children reared on a small farm in the Mississippi Delta. Graduating from Tchula High, he worked at odd jobs for two years including a year as Deputy Game Warden, MS Game & Fish Commission at age 20. After three years in the US Army, he attended LSU, receiving the BSF60 and MSGM61 in four and one-half years. He was biologist, MS Game & Fish Commission, for 5 years conducting research on cottontail rabbits, deer work, and Asst. Federal Aid Coordinator overseeing 40 personnel and one million acres of game management areas.

He joined the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in 1966, the first biologist on a river basin staff in that agency. In 1970 he became the SCS biologist in Florida covering that state and Caribbean area. He became the Environmental Coordinator five years later covering the same area. His work in this arena, working with environmental groups and changing agency attitudes and policy, attracted EPA Region 4 in Atlanta, GA. EPA created an agri-liason position, the first of 10 positions of its kind in the nation. Pete served a two-year stint in Atlanta working on broad environmental issues throughout the Southeast Region.

In 1982 Pete returned to Mississippi as Asst. State Conservationist for Operations, soon became Deputy State Conservationist, and later served eight years as State Conservationist of Mississippi. He managed a budget of 50-60 million dollars annually. In 1992 he was appointed to the USDA Senior Executive Service (SES). EPA sought his services in forming the Gulf of Mexico Program. He served 5 years as Co-chair (Federal) of the Nutrient Sub-committee. He also served as Chair of the TVA’s seven-state Land and Water 201 Counties Project for five years. He was asked to testify before the Advisory Board to the Environmental Protection Agency nationally in Washington on the Louisiana coastal marshes, their use, management and permitting, etc. Being a Certified Professional Wetland Scientist, Pete was asked by the Chief o NRCS (formerly SCS) to train personnel in wetland identification. He spent two years conducting a dozen workshops nationwide involving NRC S, EPA, COE and USFWS. He also conducted several environmental workshops specifically for the Wildlife Habitat Council.

Pete was asked by Chief Paul Johnson of NRCS to scope out what the agency should be doing in wildlife. nationwide. Pete put together a group of 25 NGOs and commodity groups and 10 employees from across the nation. Two reports were produced, one recommended the creation of a Wildlife Habitat Management Institute (WHMI). Pete was offered the Directorship and seven positions nationwide. At that time, Pete could have retired with 35 years but chose to work another 13 years. The Instituten was changed from WHMI to Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) in 2006 by Congressional action. Within that 13 years, over 23 million dollars were invested in over 160 projects and over 500 pieces of technical material transferred to NRCS field offices for fish and wildlife applications. Highlight of this work has been that Congress uses the results of these projects to formulate farm bills and conservation programs nationally, leading to several billion dollars being applied for wildlife management.

Pete has received numerous awards in his more than 49 years of Federal service. Among the most prestigious are: Renewable Natural Resources Foundation, a consortium of 16 agencies, Sustained Achievement Award; “Clarence W. Watson Award”; MS Wildlife Federation Governor’s Award; City of Madison, MS Proclamation naming June 21, 2011, as Pete Heard Day; Honor Award for Excellence for developing and implementing the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative for thousands of migrating birds impacted by the 2010 Deep Water Horizon oil spill by Tom J. Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture. Pete represented USDA on the President’s Task Force to provide recommendations for coastal restoration relative to the 2010 Deep Water Horizon oil spill. After 55 years of conservation work, Pete retired June 1, 2011.

Pete has authored more than 130 papers with the wildlife community. He serves his community in numerous ways, serving food to the homeless and as Deacon and Sunday School teacher at Pinelake Baptist Church. He is married to the former Myrna Greene of Marks, MS, and they have six children and 13 grandchildren.

Dr. James William Avault, Jr. was born May 20, 1935, in East St. Louis, Illinois, and received his early schooling in that city. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in East St. Louis in 1953. Following several temporary jobs he entered in U.S. Naval Reserves in 1955, and upon completion of active duty assignments, he was honorably discharged in 1957. In 1961 he earned a B.S. degree in agriculture with emphasis in wildlife management from the University of Missouri. While an undergraduate he was introduced to the discipline of aquaculture by working summer jobs in Florida, Louisiana, and Kentucky as an intern fish culturist for the National Fish Hatcheries.

Dr. Avault earned his M.S. in Fisheries (aquaculture) from Auburn University in 1963. In 1966, he was awarded his Ph.D. in Fisheries (aquaculture) and a minor in Wildlife from Auburn University. Dr. Avault joined the faculty of the School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries (formerly, School of Forestry and Wildlife Management) as an Assistant Professor of Fisheries on January 3, 1966. He taught and developed courses in Pond and Stream Management, Limnology, Ichthyology, Fish Parasites and Diseases, Principles of Aquaculture, Fisheries Research Techniques, Advanced Aquaculture, and Mariculture. He has served as aquaculture program leader in the School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries since 1993.

Dr. Avault’s early aquaculture research program involved screening of numerous aquatic species, both native and exotic, with commercial importance or commercial potential for Louisiana. His early research with catfish including studying production management, polyculture systems, aeration, breeding and genetics, and disease management, played a important role in the development of the catfish farming in the South. He developed a research program on investigating the potential for brackish water culture of marine shrimp, Atlantic croaker, pompano, red drum and other marine species.

Dr. Avault’s greatest contribution to Louisiana is his role in development of the State’s crawfish farming industry, which prior to 1966 consisted of only a few thousand acres and now exceeds 170,000 acres. His research contributions to the crawfish industry include development of feed and forage systems, development of manufactured baits and improved harvesting techniques, pond and water management techniques for increased production, and double cropping systems for rice and crawfish. His research was instrumental in the development of the soft-shell crawfish industry, and his bait research led to the multimillion dollar manufactured bait industry, and a subsequent development of the Crawfish Promotion and Research Board, which provides funds for promotion and research, from a monetary check-off on manufactured baits and sacks.

Dr. Avault was instrumental in development of the aquaculture research facility at Ben Hur Research Farm where aquaculture research is conducted in over 150 ponds, numerous tanks and pools, and laboratories. He was the architect of the State Aquaculture Plan for Louisiana, which served as the blueprint for development of the aquaculture research program in the LSU Agricultural Center, highlighted by the addition of aquaculture research and extension faculty and construction of the 20,000 ft2 Aquaculture Research Laboratory, completed in 1992.

Dr. Avault has served as an aquaculture advisor/consultant in more than 20 countries on five continents. International recognition of the LAES aquaculture research program has led students from over the world to study aquaculture at LSU. Avault has served as major professor for more than 75 graduate students representing 12 nations.

He has authored or co-authored over 400 research publications, bulletins, reports, and popular articles. He has edited 19 books, journals, and proceedings and authored eight chapters in six books. He was the first editor of the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society (formerly Proceedings of the World Mariculture Society) and served in that capacity for 15 years. He has served as associate editor/editor for The Progressive Fish-Culturist, Journal of Applied Aquaculture, and Freshwater Crayfish 2. He has been a columnist for Aquaculture Magazine since 1979. In 1996, he published the 889-page textbook "Fundamentals of Aquaculture-- a Step-By-Step Guide to Commercial Aquaculture.”

Dr. Avault is a member of numerous agricultural and honor fraternities, and national and international professional organizations. He was a founding member of both the World Aquaculture Society and the International Association of Astacology. He has played an active role in organizing, chairing, and participating in numerous international aquaculture conferences including the FAO Global Aquaculture Conference in Japan, World Mariculture Conference in Venice, and the 9th International Crayfish Symposium in Reading, England.

At the national level, Avault has advised the USDA, the National Academy of Sciences, the Catfish Farmers of America, Congressional Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture, and many others.

He has held numerous offices in national and international scientific societies including president of the World Mariculture Society, the International Association of Astacology (International Freshwater Crayfish Society), and Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Societies. His achievements have been recognized by many awards including the Governor's award for Professional Wildlife Conservationist of the Year, Special Recognition for the Year from the Catfish Farmers of America, Honorary Life Member of the World Mariculture Society, Honorary Life Member of the International Association of Astacology, and the Gold-Medal Exemplary Service Award from the World Aquaculture Society. In 1992, he was honored by the LAES as the recipient of the Doyle Chambers Lifetime Research Award for his contributions to Louisiana’s aquaculture industry. In 2005, Dr. Avault was inducted in to the Fish Culture Hall of Fame by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Dr. Avault retired from the School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, in 1996, and was made Professor Emeritus. Since his retirement Dr. Avault has worked part-time as an aquaculture consultant.

Dr. Avault is married to Peggy Tyson Avault. They have two children, James William, III, and Mary Catherine (“Molly”).

Dr. Shilling is Professor Forestry and Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs, LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources. Born in Louisiana, Dr. Shilling earned a B.S.F. in 1963 at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, and he earned a Master of Forestry at LSU in 1965. From 1965 to 1966, he was Research Forester, Southern Forest Experiment Station, U.S. Forest Service. From 1966 to 1968 he served in the U.S. Army in the Republic of Viet Nam. From 1968 to 1969 he was Research Forester, Southern Forest Experiment Station, and from 1969 to 1971 he was Research Assistant and Graduate Student, Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex. From 1971 to 1977 he was Assistant Professor of Forestry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, and from 1977 to 1983 he was Associate Professor of Forestry at the University of Kentucky. Since 1983 he has been Professor of Forestry at La. State University. Dr. Shilling also served the La. State University, School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries (later School of Renewable Natural Resources) as Director of Student Services from 1985 to 2000 and as Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs from 2000 until the present. From 1999 to 2000 Dr. Shilling was Acting Assistant Director of the School. From 2000 to the present, part of his work time has been in the La. Cooperative Extension Service. He is the author of 42 publications, and annually leader for 4 to 6 continuing education workshops, seminars and/or short-courses for professional natural resources managers in the State of Louisiana.

Dr. Shilling has been active in LSU work outside the College of Agriculture. He was a member of the Faculty Senate Improvement of Instruction Committee 1979 to 1982, serving as Committee Chair 1981 to 1982. He also served as a member of the following other Faculty Senate committees: Graduation; Admission, Scholarship & Honors; Admission Appeals; Review & Long-Range Planning; & Archives & Records Management. He served as Member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Office of Dean of Students, the Outstanding LSU Student Selection Committee; the Ad Hoc Committee on Assessment of the Office of Academic Affairs; & the Student Disciplinary Committee of the Office of Dean of Students. He was a member of the Program Review Council, serving as chair one year. He was a member of the Faculty Senate 1999-2002, member 2000 to the present of the Learning Communities Council, and 2004 to the present of the University Assessment Council. Dr. Shilling was a member of the following College of Agriculture committees: Assessment, Student Academic Appeals, Courses & Curricula, Outstanding Teaching, Les Voyageurs, and Agri Week.

In the School of Forestry (later the School of Renewable Natural Resources), Dr. Shilling was Program Assessment Coordinator; Compiler of Accreditation Self-study Report for the Society of American Foresters; member of the Undergraduate & Curricula Committees, and several faculty selection committees. He planned and conducted “Careers in Natural Resources Management,” and the LOBO Show in the Baton Rouge Centroplex, and LSU Union.

Dr. Shilling is the recipient of the following honors & awards: Outstanding Teaching, School of Renewable Natural Resources (twice); George Award, College of Agriculture; Certificate of Achievement, Girl Scouts of America; Gamma Sigma Delta Award; and Xi Sigma Pi; Outstanding Ph.D. candidate, Texas A&M University; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal (2 Bronze Stars); Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal with Device; Combat Infantryman Badge; Bronze Star with V-Device (two awards); Air Medal; Expert: M-14 Rifle, M-16 Rifle, 106 mm RR, 90 mm RR, & 45 Caliber Pistol; Certificate of Merit (Ft. Benning, GA); Honorable Discharge.

Dr. Shilling has served professional organizations and provided service to communities: La. Alligator Farmers & Ranchers Assoc.; La. Aquaculture Assoc.; La. Urban Forestry Assoc.; Amite River Sand & Gravel Committee of the Soil Conserv. Serv.; Urban Forestry Linkage Committee of Southern Univ.; Faculty Advisor, LSU Student Chapter, Soc. Am. Foresters; Faculty Advisor, Xi Sigma Pi; Wildlife and Recreation Committee, La. Forestry Assoc.; Soc. Am. Foresters National Committee on Forestry Employment; Chair, Southeast Chapter, Soc. Am. Foresters; Secretary, Southeast Chapter, Soc. Am. Foresters; Member, La. Forestry Assoc.

In Livingston Parish, La. Dr. Shilling was Chair, Home Rule Charter Commission; and Member, Livingston Parish School Board 1981 to 1990 & President 1982 to 1990.

Joseph Dae Burns was born November 29, 1923 in Shongaloo, Louisiana. He was the next to youngest of 10 brothers and sisters and is the only surviving member of the family today.

Being born at the start of the Great Depression Joe D. Burns grew up knowing the meaning of being frugal and living off the land. He attended early schooling in Shongaloo and upon graduating high school was called to active duty in the U S Army. During World War II he served in the European Theater of Operations and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. Upon completion of active duty he served in the Army Reserves and Louisiana National Guard until leaving the military with the rank of Major.

Joe attended Louisiana State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry in 1947 and a Master of Science Degree in Forest Management in 1948. He was a member of Xi Sigma Pi, the Honorary Forestry Fraternity, and Alpha Zeta.

Mr. Burns began his professional forestry career working for the LSU Cooperative Extension Service. He later joined Tremont Lumber Company and worked there from 1950-1962 managing more than 180,000 acres of forestland and the logging force operating on the property. He served as Chief Forester of the Company until he resigned to start his own business, Burns Forest Products, in 1962.

Burns Forest Products is one of the most widely recognized and respected timber management service organizations in North Louisiana. Mr. Joe and Burns Forest Products are synonymous with high integrity, fairness and professionalism.

Joe has been a member of the Society of American Foresters continuously since 1948. In 1973, the Gulf States Section of SAF awarded him the Distinguished Service to Forestry Award. He served in numerous positions of leadership with the Louisiana Forestry Association and became its 11th President from 1965-67. He was greatly involved in reforestation efforts across the State and remains active in policy and professional forestry issues.

Joe Burn’s passion for LSU and forestry education led him to be an active alumni of the School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries. When the Louisiana Forestry Association gave its approval to create the Louisiana Forestry Foundation for forestry education and promoting scientific research in forestry, Joe Burns played a significant role in its organization and direction. He was elected President of the Forestry Foundation in 1973 and continues to serve as its President. Mr. Burns has personally created a named scholarship in the Forestry Foundation so a young person studying forestry can be less burdened with the financial responsibilities of a forestry education. The LSU Forestry Faculty awarded the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award to Joe in 1973. Joe also served as President of the Forestry Alumni Association in 1952-1953 and again from 1976-1977.

Joe Burns and Burns Forest Products have the reputation for hiring many students graduating from forestry schools and giving them their first exposure to field forestry. Many of those foresters would recall those outstanding experiences and the “tough love” that Joe had for a young forester’s responsibilities.

Mr. Burn’s community involvement is exemplary as well. He has been involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Boy and Girl Scouts, and other groups in the Jackson Parish area. He regularly attends his Lions Club meetings where he has been a member since 1985.

When Joe is not at work or volunteering his time, you can find him during football season at Tiger Stadium rooting for the Tigers. He is an avid supporter of LSU and the Forestry School.

Joe has been married to Helen Andrews Burns for 68 years and currently reside in Jonesboro, Louisiana.

Paul Frey received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Wildlife Management from Louisiana State University in May 1974. Paul began his state service when he was employed by the Louisiana Forestry Commission in June 1974 as a Unit Forester serving Winn Parish. Four years later, Paul was promoted to Assistant Chief of Forest Management for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources - Office of Forestry working out of the Baton Rouge headquarters. In 1986, Paul became the Chief of Forest Management under the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry – Office of Forestry. At the height of Paul’s state career, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Commissioner and State Forester for the department and State of Louisiana in February 1989 and served in that capacity until his retirement December 28, 2007.

Throughout Paul’s advancing professional career, he has been involved in just about every aspect of the state forestry office, Louisiana’s natural resources and related forest communities. As State Forester, Paul easily emulated Louisiana’s forest resources, landowners and associated industries wherever he appeared. He was Louisiana’s representative to the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and Southern Group of State Foresters for which Paul served on numerous committees and held various positions including President of the NASF 1997-98. Paul continues to be involved in national issues as an officer of the NASF Foundation.

Paul was appointed Executive Director of the Louisiana Landowners Association on January 1, 2008 where he continues to apply his talent and knowledge representing the interests of landowners as they face ever increasing challenges.

Mr. Frey is a long-time member of the Society of American Foresters and has served as Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer of the Southeastern Louisiana Chapter. He is also a member of the Louisiana Forestry Association and has served on the Board of Directors for over 20 years and was elected to the executive committee in 2007. He is past President and active member of the LSU School of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Alumni Association.

Paul and his wife Maureen (Petitjean) reside in Baton Rouge where they have raised their three successful children Brandon, Celest, and Douglas who are now bringing their children into the world. Paul is an active member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church and School and is on the Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area Board of Directors.

Whether Paul Frey was/is practicing timberland management for swamp-loving or piney woods landowners, fighting wildfires, managing any number of state and federal program services, handling threatened and endangered species, addressing forest health issues or coastal protection, managing and reviewing forest inventories, developing best management practices, facilitating economic and industrial development efforts, editing professional documents, entertaining international delegations, working on local, state and national legislative issues and concerns, managing the Office of Forestry and representing the South’s natural resources, landowners and professional foresters, he has always been true-to-heart and one that can be counted on for a root-solid professional opinion. Paul is and always will be a Louisiana Cajun forester and especially one that Louisiana State University can be very proud to call one of its very own. Besides, Paul knows something about hunting and fishing and his cooking is second-to-none!

Professional Awards

• Louisiana SAF Forestry Leadership Award – 1986
• Outstanding Alumnus - LSU Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries Alumni Association - 1990
• Louisiana Urban Forestry Council President’s Award – 1997
• Louisiana Society of American Foresters Distinguished Service Award – 2003
• NASF Current Achievement Award for Leadership/Legislation - 2003

Dr. Paul Burns taught Rodney Foil when he was an undergraduate at the LSU School of Forestry 1955-56 and when he was a graduate student 1958-1960. When Burns was Director of the LSU School of Forestry in 1959 Rodney filled in as a teacher and a researcher when one of the faculty members resigned suddenly. Rodney was an excellent public speaker, a dedicated scholar, a leader, a capable teacher, and a skilled researcher.

Foil was born and raised in Bogalusa, La. He went to LSU, where he was awarded Xi Sigma Pi’s Outstanding Sophomore Award and was President of the Forestry Club. After receiving his B.S.F. in 1956 he served in the U.S. Army for two years. When he was released he returned to LSU, earning his Master of Forestry degree in 1960. While he was working on this degree, one of the School’s faculty members suddenly resigned, and Foil filled in, teaching and conducting research.

In June of 1960 Foil was employed by the LSU Agricultural Branch Station in Homer, La. He conducted a productive forest research program, focused mostly on growth and management of loblolly and slash pine plantations in North Louisiana. He took leave to study at Duke University for his doctorate in forestry, awarded in 1965. In 1967 Foil became Louisiana’s Extension Forester, and in September 1969 he became the Forestry Department Head at Mississippi State University. In 1973 he became Associate Dean of the School of Forest Resources and Associate Director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station., and a year later he was promoted to Dean of the School of Forest Resources. After five years as Dean, he became Director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

Dr. Foil was named Vice President of Mississippi State University’s Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine in 1986, retiring in 1999. However, in early 2000 he accepted a position in Washington, D.C. as Director of the USDA’s Initiative for Future Ag and Food Systems, and in October 2000 he became the Acting Associate Director for the Cooperative States Research, Education, and Extension Service, officially retiring in December of 2001.

Author or co-author of more that 70 professional and scientific publications, Dr. Foil edited one book, and he testified often before the Mississippi Legislature and committees of the U.S. Congress.

In 1983 Dr. Foil was honored as Alumnus of the Year, LSU School of Forestry & Wildlife Management, and he was named a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters. In 2004 he was inducted into the inaugural class of the CSREES Hall of Fame. In 2005, Dr. Foil was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction, to-date the only alumnus of our School to be so honored.

Jeff Hughes was born in Hammond. LA in 1924 and raised on a tree farm. He he earned college tuition at 16 hewing cross ties. A US Navy veteran, he participated in invasions of KeramaRetto IE Shima and Okinawa. Jeff is a 1949 graduate of LSU School of Forestry and Wildlife Management. He has served a term as Chairman of FWF Alumni Association. In 1967 he was named Alumnus of the Year of fro the LSU School of Forestry and Wildlife Management by the Faculty. for his continued involvement with the students. He has served as a guest Lecturer at a number of LSU Forestry and Wildlife Symposiums, asked by Professors to lecture to the or classes and take them on working field trips. For 20 years Jeff served on the LFA panel which interviews LSU students for LLF Forestry scholarships. Mr. Hughes has the distinction of being a Speaker at first Earth Day to LSU Forestry students.

As a forest professional, Jeff worked for Gaylord Container and its successors for 51 years. He retired in 1986 from CZ as Manager of Environmental Services and Association Affairs. In his second career, he retired in 2000 as Consultant to Weyerhaeuser as Manager of Governmental Affairs on Louisiana and Mississippi.

Mr. Hughes has served the greater forestry community in many capacities throughout the years. He was elected President of LFA on 1979 and served as Chairman of many LFA committees. He was the recipient of the Southern Forest Institutes Presidents Award in 1978. In 1979 he served as Chairman of Gulf States Section SAF, and was elected SAF Fellow being named Outstanding Forester of the Section. Additionally, Jeff is a member of Southern Forest and Paper Association, and served as Chairman of Resource and Environment Committee for many years. He has testified on Forestry matters before Congressional Committees many times. And was sent to Brazil by CZ in 1973 to evaluate acquisition of forestry plants. Appointed by the Sedentary of the US Army to serve on a three man Blue Ribbon panel to assess the way the US Army managed its resources on its civil and military installations, he spent the summer of 1983 traveling across the country.

Closer to home, Jeff Hughes was the first President of the Tangipahoa Parish Forestry Association. He was a board member of LFA, member of the Tangipahoa and Washington Parish Forestry Associations Louisiana Forestry Foundation, and member of Forest History Society and Forest Landowners Association. In Poplarville MS He was President of the Jaycees Chairman of the committee to erect the Community Center, Explorer Scout Leader and President of Field Trial Association.

In DeRidder, LA, he was President of Rotary, active on the Chamber of Commerce and rode a mule from DeRidder to Lake Charles to promote planting trees. In Denham Springs, LA He was President of Rotary, Cub Scout Leader, coached a Lottie League baseball team to an undefeated season. He received the Outstanding Citizenship Award in 1968. In Bogalusa, LA, a member of Rotary, Chairman of the United Fund, member of American Legion, and a hunting club President.

Jeff is especially known for his efforts on helping develop forestry legislation, environmental and land use policies and strengthening working relationships between foresters and wildlife managers.

His hobbies include hunting. fishing and gardening. He is a master gardener and a Master Logger.

He is married, father of three, and grandfather of two.

Bob Noble earned a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife Management from Louisiana State University in 1957. He received his M.S. in Game Management from LSU in 1958. Following three years of employment with the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission as a Wildlife Biologist and one year of active duty in the U.S. Army, Bob entered a Ph.D. program at Michigan State University where he received his terminal degree in Wildlife Ecology in 1969. Prior to completing his Ph.D. work, Bob taught for three years at Northwestern University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. In 1970 he began a 27 year career with Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. While at LSU, Bob Noble taught dendrology, big and small game management, wildlife techniques, and hardwood silviculture. In his tenure at LSU he served as major professor for 4 Ph.D. students and 27 M.S. students, along with instructing over 1,000 undergraduate students in Dendrology alone. Bob conducted several important research projects in Alaska, spending 7 summers in the far North, where he studied the impacts on bird populations from harvesting old growth forests in the Tongass National Forest and from herding reindeer on the Alaska tundra.

Noble was most proud of his teaching accomplishments while at LSU. He received the Amoco Foundation Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching 1n 1992 and the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Student Chapter of the SAF in 1987-88. He was also a member of two honorary societies and attended four language institutes in Mexico and Costa Rica where he learned to speak Spanish fluently.

Born on a farm near Franklinton, Washington Parish, Louisiana on September 9, 1900, Bryant A. Bateman was educated in Washington Parish schools and attended Louisiana State University for a year, then taught for three years in Washington Parish public schools. He returned to LSU in 1923 and completed his B.S.F. degree in 1926; he was the first graduate of LSU’s new Department of Forestry. He worked for the Great Southern Lumber Company as a field forester in the Florida Parishes until 1931, when he joined the forestry faculty in Baton Rouge as its Interim Head. In 1934 he earned the M.S.F. degree at Iowa State University and in 1949 the Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, with a major in forestry and a minor in game management. During World War II, Bateman assumed the duties of Extension Forester and traveled about the state, teaching forestry practices to rural residents. In 1947 he became the “father” of LSU’s game management (later “wildlife”) degree program. He was instrumental in bringing Leslie Glasgow to the wildlife faculty in 1948, and they worked well together until Bateman retired. Bateman taught forestry in the early days of the School, then upland wildlife management, and his title was changed from “Professor of Forestry” to “Professor of Forestry and Wildlife Management.” Fishing was his hobby, and he introduced fisheries into the School’s academic program. A few years later he helped to bring a fisheries specialist to the faculty. Bateman was major professor for 46 game management students and served on 32 other graduate student committees.

Research at LSU by Dr. Bateman concentrated on pine management for both timber and straw, forest thinnings and pruning, use of prescribed burning in forestry and wildlife management, and forest management for upland game.

Several honors were received by Dr. Bateman during his long career in forestry and wildlife education. In 1965 he won the first Governor’s State Conservation Award, and in the same year the Conservationist of the Year award from the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association. In 1972 he was named “Alumnus of the Year” by the L.S.U. Forestry-Wildlife-Fisheries Alumni Association. He was a member of honorary organizations: Alpha Zeta (agriculture) and Xi Sigma Pi (forestry), and professional organizations: the Society of American Foresters and The Wildlife Society. He helped organize the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and served on its Board of Directors.

Dr. Bateman served as an adviser to state legislators in wildlife legislation and to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on the management of bottomland hardwood forests as wildlife habitat.

Dr. Bateman was known, loved, and respected by hundreds of fellow teachers, former students, professional colleagues, agricultural leaders, farm and forest landowners, and just plain people throughout the South. His dedication to wise land use and harmony of all interests in forest and wildlife management was felt by all who came under his kindly spell. He was a quiet man, had an unequaled sense of fairness, strong in conviction but gentle in advancing his views. He retired in 1971 and was made Professor Emeritus. He died in 1985 at age 84, In 2004 the Bryant A. Bateman Professorship in Natural Resources was established in the School; this position is currently held by Dr. D. Allen Rutherford.

A World War II veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, Leslie L. Glasgow earned a B.S. in forestry at Purdue University, an M.S. in wildlife at the University of Maine, and a Ph.D. in wildlife at Texas A. & M. He joined the LSU faculty in 1948, specializing in marsh wildlife. Promoted to professor in 1964, he helped to establish the Cooperative Wildlife and Fisheries units at LSU and the new M.S. in fisheries. Major professor for 44 graduate students, he served on 150 graduate student committees. He was a member of four honorary societies and seven professional organizations and Assistant Director of the Forestry-Wildlife-Fisheries School 1971-1980.

Glasgow’s conservation service was extensive. On leave from LSU he was Director of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission 1966-69, and Assistant Secretary, Interior Department, 1969-70. In these two positions he enhanced the cause of wise natural resource management. In Louisiana he was responsible for a wave of hope that management of natural resources would be elevated above partisan politics. He received many conservation awards and was active in community service. He served on 20 commissions and advisory boards. Glasgow retired from LSU in 1980 and died soon thereafter.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Paul Y. Burns earned a B.S. at the University of Tulsa in 1941 and began work on an M.F. at Yale University. Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942, he served as a weather officer in Europe during WW II, returning to Yale in 1945 to finish his M.F. and to begin Ph.D. studies in forestry, which he completed in 1949. He began a 38-year career in forestry education in 1948 at the University of Missouri. Seven years later he was recruited by LSU as professor and Director of its School of Forestry, serving for nearly 22 years as Director. Retiring in 1986, he became professor emeritus and was elected Honorary Alumnus by the LSU Forestry-Wildlife-Fisheries Alumni Association. At LSU Dr. Burns regularly taught remote sensing, mensuration, and forest policy, and occasionally taught other forestry courses. He taught every B.S.F. LSU graduate 1956-1987. Major professor for 20 graduate students, he is author or co-author of 117 publications.

Dr. Burns is sketched in several Who’s Who biographies, including Who’s Who in America, in the South and Southwest, in the World, and in Science and Engineering. A member of honor societies Sigma Xi, Xi Sigma Pi, and Phi Kappa Phi, he received the Distinguished Alumnus award from the University of Tulsa in 1974. An active member of the Society of American Foresters since 1946, he was named a Fellow in 1986 and received an award for Distinguished Service to Forestry from the Gulf States Section in 1989. His work in the SAF has included membership chair, secretary, and vice-chair of the Ozark Section; historian of the Gulf States Section; chair of the Louisiana SAF; and chair of the national Accrediting and the Definition-of-Forestry committees.

As a community service volunteer, Dr. Burns received the Powell-Reznikoff Humanitarian Award from the Baton Rouge Council on Human Relations, the Wade Mackie Peacemaking Award from the Bienville House Center for Peace and Justice, a Volunteer Activist Award from the Baton Rouge Speech & Hearing Foundation, and a Brotherhood Award from the Baton Rouge Chapter of the NCCJ. He founded Operation Hope in 1970, a local nonprofit self-help organization for low-income families, and served as one of its officers for 34 years. He was Chair of the YMCA-YWCA Advisory Board at LSU and the Southwest Faculty Conference; President of the LSU Chapter, AAUP; member of the Human Needs Committee, Baton Rouge Goals Congress; member of the Board of Directors, Louisiana Conference of Churches; Program Chair and General Chair, Mt. Sequoyah Ecumenical Mission Conference; President of the Louisiana Council on Human Relations; Treasurer of the Bienville House Center for Peace and Justice; President and driver for THE FISH organization, providing transportation locally for low-income persons; and adviser, Lao Association of Baton Rouge. He is member of several local and national civic organizations. He has served 54 years as an Elder and 30 years as a lay preacher in the Presbyterian Church.

Born in Greenfield, Tennessee in 1923 Thomas Hansbrough served during World War II as a pilot in the Pacific Theater with the Marines. He completed his B.S.F. degree at LSU in 1949 and accepted a research position in forestry with the North La. Hill Farm Experiment Station, Homer. In 1952 he was called to active duty during the Korean conflict. He returned to his LSU research position in 1955 while continuing as a reserve officer. In 1960 he joined the forestry faculty in Baton Rouge. LSU awarded him the M.F. in 1957 and the Ph.D. in sociology in 1961. He was promoted to professor. He taught dendrology, forest ecology, and artificial reforestation and served as major professor for 20 graduate students.

In 1970 Hansbrough was called as Department Chair of the University of Kentucky’s new Department of Forestry, where he was able to help it become accredited. In December 1976 he returned to LSU as Director of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Management, where he concentrated his efforts into acquiring a new building for the School’s crowded programs. With a great deal of effort and diplomatic skill at dealing with many kinds of people, Hansbrough succeeded in getting approval by the legislature and the governor of $8.3 million for a new Forestry-Wildlife-Fisheries building in 1983; the building was finished in 1986. Hansbrough retired in July 1988, becoming Director Emeritus and Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Hansbrough received many honors during his long career in forestry education. The LSU Forestry-Wildlife-Fisheries Alumni Association named him Alumnus of the Year in 1983. He joined the Society of American Foresters in 1955, attended numerous SAF meetings, and encouraged colleagues and students to be active in their professional associations. In 1982 he received the Distinguished Service to Forestry award in Louisiana, and in 1990 he was elected Fellow in the SAF. He was a member of the Louisiana Forestry Commission and the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Forestry Association 1977-88. He served on the Advisory Board, USDA Cooperative Forestry Research 1978-8. He was Chair, Southern Region, National Association of Professional Forestry Schools & Colleges 1977; Chair, Kentucky Forest Council 1974; Secretary-Treasurer, Kentucky Conservation Council 1974-76; member, Forest Commission, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Natural Resources Commission, Kentucky Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Protection 1972-76. Author or co-author of 35 technical and scientific articles, he was a member of four honor societies. As head of LSU’s forestry, wildlife, and fisheries educational programs, he took a keen interest in the welfare of the School alumni and of his faculty colleagues.

Col. Hansbrough served as Vice-President, Baton Rouge Chapter, Reserve Officers Association 1964-65; as a member of the Baton Rouge Chapter, Navy League; and as President of the LSU Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Alumni Association 1989-90. After he retired he maintained his strong interest in the welfare of the School of Renewable Natural Resources and in its alumni association.

Born in Comal County, Texas, Norwin E. Linnartz served in the U.S. Navy 1944-46. He earned a B.S. in range management at Texas A. & M. in 1953, and after working as a range conservationist with the Soil Conservation Service in Texas and Louisiana, he earned his M.F. in 1958 and Ph.D. at LSU in 1961. He served on the LSU School of Forestry faculty 1961-92. He worked half-time as assistant dean of the LSU Graduate School 1977-80. Retired in 1992, he was recalled to LSU as Interim Director of the School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries from 1997 until 2000. Dr. Linnartz taught forest soils, silviculture, reforestation, and bottomland hardwoods management and was major professor for 19 graduate students. Author or coauthor of 56 scientific and technical publications, he served as editor of two volumes of the Proceedings of the annual LSU Forestry Symposium. He presented numerous talks on various aspects of forest management to foresters and to the general public.

In 1995 the LSU Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Alumni Association named Dr. Linnartz its Alumnus of the Year. He received many other awards, especially from the Society of American Foresters, in which he was a volunteer leader for 43 years. He was elected Fellow in 1983. In 1978 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Gulf States Section and in 1998 the national John Beale Memorial Award for promoting forestry though voluntary service to the Society of American Foresters. At the state and chapter level, he chaired and edited the newsletter of the Gulf States Section, the Louisiana Chapter, and several committees. He held many national offices and positions, including membership on the SAF Council 1980-83 and several national SAF committees. He chaired the SAF Ethics Committee, the Student Affairs Committee, and the 1976 national convention Registration Committee. Honor societies to which Dr. Linnartz belonged include Xi Sigma Pi, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Alpha Zeta. He was a Fellow in the American Association for Advancement of Science and was sketched in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest and American Men and Women in Science. He was a member of the Forest Farmers Association, Louisiana Forestry Association, Society for Range Management, Soil Science Society of America, and Ecological Society of America.

Professional accomplishments of Dr. Linnartz include helping to educate approximately 800 professional foresters, charter membership and holding an office in the Southern Forest Soils and Southern Forest Environment Research Councils, and membership on the editorial advisory committee of Forests and People magazine. His community activities involved being a volunteer docent, LSU Alumni Center; executive secretary, LSU School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Alumni Association; service on the diaconate of his Baton Rouge church; and a participant in the Livingston Parish Forest Awareness program for school children.