More than 400 help SULC celebrate 60 years at gala

(left - right) Chancellor Freddie Pitcher Jr., gala keynote speaker Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Wanda Henton Brown of Bermuda, and Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden attended the Southern University Law Center 60th Annniversary Gala.

More than 400 persons attended the Southern University Law Center's 60th Anniversary Gala, Friday, November 9, at the Holiday Inn Select Premier Ballroom.

Brace B. Godfrey, Jr., and Sylvia Weatherspoon, news anchor for WBRZ-TV, served as emcees for the celebration that carried the theme: "SULC 60 Years and Counting ... Changing Our World Forever."

National Steering Committee co-chair Wanda Henton Brown, the first lady of Bermuda, welcomed the gala participants and presented a gift from her country to each dinner guest. Brown served with other committee co-chairs Godfrey and Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, and honorary co-chair, former Governor Murphy "Mike" Foster.

Law Center alumni Mayor President Melvin "Kip" Holden, State Senator Robert Marionneaux, Vice President of the National Bar Association Sonya D. Hoskins, and President of the Baton Rouge Bar Association Barbara Baier greeted the audience. U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu also made remarks.

Marcus Brown of Entergy Corporations gave the statement of occasion. Chancellor Emeritus B. K. Agnihotri gave reflections on his more than 30-year affiliation with the Law Center. He served as dean/chancellor from 1974-2001. State Representative Willie Hunter of Monroe, Louisiana, gave reflections on behalf of students and alumni. Hunter is a member of the Class of 1977 and has two sons who are Law Center graduates.

SULC 1989 alumnus Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Sr. Vice President and Chief Tax Officer for Wal-mart Stores, Inc., gave the keynote address and was honored at a pre-gala reception hosted by the Greater Baton Rouge Louis A. Martinet Legal Society. Babineaux-Fontenot, who now lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, is a past president of the Martinet Society. She was introduced by Afi Patterson, SBA president and member of the SU Board of Supervisors.

Chancellor Freddie Pitcher, Jr., made the following special presentations: Education Leadership Award, Phelps Dunbar, accepted by Alston Johnson, managing partner of the Baton Rouge office, for meritorious financial support of Law Center student scholarships ; Alumni Leadership Award, Walter C. Dumas of Dumas and Associates, for his meritorious financial support of two SULC endowed professorships; Equal Justice Award, Robert Williams of Baton Rouge, for his years of legal service in the area of civil rights; Lead Sponsor Award, Entergy Corporation, accepted by associate general counsel Marcus Brown and general counsel and executive vice president Robert D.Sloan; and Legislative Service Awards to State Senators C. D. Jones and Cleo Fields, State Representatives T. Taylor Townsend, Willie Hunter, and Rick Farrar, for their years of support to the Southern University System and Law Center. During closing remarks, Chancellor Pitcher and SU System President Ralph Slaughter acknowledged the support of Law Center faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends who have helped the institution be the best that it can be.

Sponsorships for the anniversary gala and promotions were Platinum Sponsors: Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans and Attorney W. James Singleton, Shreveport, Louisiana; Gold Sponsors: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Monroe Chapter; Silver Sponsors: Lamar Advertising and Premier Ewart and Mrs. Wanda Henton Brown, Bermuda; and Bronze Sponsors: Phelps Dunbar and Coca Cola Companies. Liberty Bank helped to underwrite a 60th Anniversary video presentation that was screened at the gala.

Chancellor Freddie Pitcher, Jr., thanked all who joined the celebration and made it successful, especially members of the local planning committee: Rachel Emanuel, Cynthia Buggage, Cynthia Reed, Ruth Bailey Wesley, Angela Gaines, Carla Ball, Carolyn Stephens, and Berryl Gordon-Thompson. Pupils of the SULC American Inn of Court served as hosts and hostesses.