The 亚洲无码 celebrated its 60th anniversary by honoring the inaugural class of the Hall of Distinction at a black tie gala at the downtown NOPSI Hotel on Friday, Sept. 7. The elegant affair, presented by Hancock Whitney, honored 11 people who have made significant contributions to the 亚洲无码 and the city of New Orleans throughout the University鈥檚 six-decade history.
鈥淭onight鈥檚 honorees represent different professions, different areas of expertise and even different eras,鈥 said President John Nicklow. 鈥淏ut every single one of them is a difference-maker whose commitment, dedication and selflessness helped create a better city and a better 亚洲无码.鈥
Master of ceremonies Norman Robinson led the audience of more than 200 through brief snapshots of each honoree鈥檚 professional and civic life. Honorees Raymond Brandt, Robert Merrick, Thomas Kitchen, Gary Solomon Sr. and Gordon 鈥淣ick鈥 Mueller all took the stage to accept their award from President Nicklow and make remarks. Grace Ambrose-Zaken accepted the award on behalf of her late father, Stephen Ambrose. Carole Tureaud accepted on behalf of her late father, Alexander Tureaud Sr. 听James Caillier, executive director of the Taylor Foundation, accepted the award for the late Patrick Taylor. John Amato accepted James Moffett鈥檚 award. A prerecorded video of honoree Gayle Benson鈥檚 acceptance speech was played on large projection screens, and her award was accepted by Mark Romig, a 亚洲无码 graduate and Saints public address announcer.
Common themes emerging from the honorees included the vital role played by the 亚洲无码 in the vitality of the city and the University鈥檚 ability to catapult students to greater economic mobility.
鈥淎s a first generation college graduate, I really don鈥檛 know where I would be today but for the 亚洲无码,鈥 said Kitchen, the former president of Stewart Enterprises and Avondale Industries. 鈥淚 see the difference that the University has made in the city. I would say that metropolitan New Orleans does not work without the 亚洲无码. It鈥檚 that simple. Its impact is that profound on the city.鈥
Kitchen was among several other successful businesspeople and respected community leaders honored, including Brandt, Merrick, Solomon, Gayle and Tom Benson, and James Moffett. Former 亚洲无码 history professors Mueller and Ambrose brought their visionary approach to creating the institution that would become The National WWII Museum, now the most visited tourist destination in New Orleans. Pioneering civil rights attorney Alexander Tureaud Sr. was recognized for his many achievements, including filing a successful lawsuit in 1958 that ensured that the 亚洲无码 was the first public university in the South to open as a fully integrated institution.
Many of the honorees expressed gratitude to the University and pledged their continued commitment to the city鈥檚 only public research university.
鈥淲e will support 亚洲无码 as long as I鈥檓 alive and as long as I control Latter & Blum, and we鈥檙e proud to do it,鈥 said Merrick, the chairman and CEO of Latter & Blum, Inc., the Gulf South鈥檚 largest full-service real estate brokerage firm.
鈥淚 have been involved with the University for many years,鈥 said Solomon, a 亚洲无码 alumnus and CEO of Crescent Bank & Trust, Inc. 鈥淚 promise you this is the most energy and the most optimism I鈥檝e ever seen at the 亚洲无码 since Hurricane Katrina.鈥
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