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

On the day New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio called for a national draft of retired doctors and medical workers to be rushed to New York City, Louisiana COVID-19 cases broke above 10,000 to 10,297 cases. That's up by 1,147 new cases but that number represents half the increase seen Thursday which set a record 2,726 new cases. Governor John Bel Edwards said in his Friday press conference that's due in large part because Louisiana now ranks second in the nation for testing per capita. But more concerning, he says, is that Louisiana suffered 60 additional deaths in one day, bringing the total to 370 in 3 weeks.
"What we're seeing is looking like what we're going to see as the daily normal going forward," said Governor John Bel Edwards in his Friday press conference, "though the 13 percent increase is more in line than the 42 percent increase we saw Thursday. We are engaged in a marathon, not a sprint. I urge Louisianans to take the stay-at-home mandate seriously. We and we alone will determine just how bad the Coronavirus gets. Your neighbor's life depends on it and, quite frankly, so might your own.
"And I suspect we will continue to have a higher death rate per capita than the rest of the nation because we have underlying problems in a higher proportion of our population, mostly diabetes, obesity, kidney and heart disease."
Edwards expects a surge of COVID-19 patients next week that may overwhelm hospitals and, through the State Board of Medical Examiners, is asking retired physicians and medical staff who still have certifications to consider reentering healthcare. New York Mayor DeBlasio wants the federal government to institute an outright draft of retired doctors, surgeons, and nurses back into service to head off what he terms a juggernaut health crisis in his city. "We need 45,000 more medical personnel," said DeBlasio Friday and wants them pulled from all over the country.
"As much as I love New York," Governor Edwards replied, "I am not interested in having our medical professionals drafted and sent to New York because we know we have real problems here in Louisiana in the not-too-distant future with respect to our capacity to deliver healthcare. That's our problem in the [2,000-bed] standup hospital we're building in the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. You still have to staff it."
Retired Chief Medical Officer of Baton Rouge's Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, Dr. Ron Radzikowski, 80-years-old, says drafting retired physicians will be difficult for several reasons. "I'm not afraid of dying and would love to jump in on Coronavirus," he says, "but my certification lapsed years ago and I wouldn't begin to know current procedures, medicines or dosages. Our creed is 'to do no harm' and I'm afraid I might harm someone in the rush of this crisis." Radzikowski practiced medicine from 1975 to 1995 before advancing to the administration of OLOL. He retired in 2008. "I guess I could re-learn but you don't want somebody training-on-the-job on you if you're sick."
Projections from the Louisiana Department of Health expect hospitalizations just in New Orleans will not peak until early May, a time when 2,500 new COVID patients per day will inundate healthcare facilities. The state is already running low on ventilators, "and without ventilators, some patients will die," Edwards said.

BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel Edwards today formally extended his Stay at Home order until April 30, as Louisiana works to slow the spread of COVID-19, which extends the length of time that schools and some businesses are closed and continues limits on the size of gatherings. On Thursday, April 2, the number of reported cases reached 9,150 and the number of deaths rose to 310.
The updated proclamation unites several proclamations the Governor issued in March, extending them to April 30. A separate order relating to unemployment is forthcoming. Guidelines for funeral services and licensure for healthcare workers were already extended to April 30th in the proclamation that was issued earlier this week. School closures will continue through April 30 and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is in the process of determining what could potentially happen beyond April 30.
“It is absolutely critical that each Louisianan take this Stay at Home order seriously. Act as if your life depends on it – because it does. We have seen federal modeling data that shows that Louisiana could see more than 1,800 deaths by August. It doesn’t have to be that way. By working together, we can help flatten the curve in Louisiana, but we need all of our people to comply with the order,” Gov. Edwards said. “The order means you still cannot gather in groups of more than 10 people. Frankly, you shouldn’t be gathering in groups at all. I’d love to see that Louisiana ingenuity put to use in finding ways to connect without being physically together. We all need to Stay at Home, Stop the Spread and Save Lives.”
The following businesses shall remain closed to the public:
• All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, trampoline parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, pool halls, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, any theaters, concert and music halls, adult entertainment venues, racetracks, casinos, video poker establishments, movie theaters, bowling alleys, bars and other similar businesses.
• All personal care and grooming businesses, including but not limited to, barber shops, beauty salons, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, tattoo parlors, fitness centers, gyms and other similar businesses.
• All malls, except for stores in a mall that have a direct outdoor entrance and exit that provide essential services and products as provided by CISA guidelines.
• Businesses closed to the public pursuant to this provision shall not be prohibited from conducting necessary activities such as payroll, cleaning services, maintenance or upkeep as necessary.

UPDATED COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES:
As Gov. Edwards extends the time for the Stay at Home order, Louisianans can get updates directly from the Governor in two new ways:
To get texts from the Governor’s office text LACOVID to 67283.
Visit coronavirus.la.gov, which hosts all news about the COVID-19 response in Louisiana.
In addition, the Governor’s Office shares information on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts and on its website, gov.louisiana.gov. Members of the public with general questions can also call 211.

The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office is receiving information about another SCAM which involves scammers posing as AT&T customer service.
The scammer advises the customer that it appears someone has attempted to, or has already hacked their account and that they are in need of changing their information. The scammer then sends a “CODE” to the customer, asking the customer to confirm the “CODE”. This gives the scammer access to your account.
If you receive this type of call please remember that especially in times such as these there are always persons out there preying on the public. If you are fearful that someone has accessed your account, contact your AT&T customer relations personnel via the company and speak to an actual customer service representative. Be safe and vigilant.