The career of Dr. Ray P. Authement, retiring UL Lafayette president, is reflected in two exhibits currently at Dupré Library on campus.
Display cases in the stairwell on first floor and in the Jefferson Caffery Reading Room on the third floor are filled with memorabilia drawn from the University Archives. Photographs, brochures, clippings, copies of speeches and letters offer insight into Authement’s contributions to the university and the Acadiana community.
Authement has held the position of UL Lafayette president since 1973, and he has been a part of the institution for almost 60 years. Authement graduated from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI) in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in math and physics. After earning graduate degrees at LSU and teaching at McNeese, he joined the SLI Mathematics Department faculty in 1957. Except for one year as a visiting professor, he has been a member of the SLI/USL/ULL faculty and administration ever since. He taught in the Mathematics Department until 1966, when he became vice president for Academic Affairs. He served as acting president during the 1973-1974 academic year and was then appointed to the position on a permanent basis.
His tenure as president has seen tremendous accomplishments for the university in academic and physical growth. Authement has also made significant contributions to the community and the state. He was the recipient of the coveted Lafayette Civic Cup in 1991.
Dr. Bruce Turner, head of Special Collections, created the exhibits, which will run through June. These exhibits are free and open to the public.
Call 482-6031 for Jefferson Caffery Reading Room and library hours.