SHREVEPORT, La. – The Junior Achievement of North Louisiana introduced their Junior Achievement Laureates on Wednesday.
The Junior Achievement of North Louisiana mentioned the laureates encourage and put together younger folks to achieve a worldwide financial system.
These honored included, retired CPA, Lennis S.Elston, President of the Romph Pou company, Robert G. Pou, and President and CEO of Fibrebond, Graham Walker.
Louisiana got some positive media coverage in The New York Times this month, scoring a nice publicity coup in part because of the lively bookstore scene in New Orleans. The Times article, written by Crescent City native Maurice Carlos Ruffin, was a timely reminder that in a region known for great food and music, bookstores are an important part of Louisiana’s civic life, too.
Ruffin, a novelist and professor of creative writing at LSU, wrote the June 5 Times story, “Read Your Way Through New Orleans.” He suggested books that help explain the local culture and pointed travelers to a few literary landmarks, including neighborhood bookstores. Among the New Orleans stores getting a shout-out were Baldwin & Co. near Jackson Square, along with Community Book Center and the recently renovated Octavia Books.
Ruffin’s story pointed to a reality worth keeping in mind as another summer reading season unfolds. Our local bookstores, whether they be in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport or other communities around the state, are more than venues to buy books. They’re places where people from all walks of life can gather. In a divided world, these sources of connection are needed more than ever.
That thought’s been very much with me these days as I join many others in mourning the recent death of longtime Baton Rouge bookseller Danny Plaisance. Plaisance, who died June 4, ran Cottonwood Books for many years until ill health forced him to close it in 2022.
Cottonwood’s mix of new and old books was a perfect classroom for me after I took my first newspaper job in Baton Rouge in 1986, becoming a store regular. The eclectic selection nudged me to explore cheap editions of the classics when I stopped by to catch up on just-published titles. Plaisance’s store was a draw for out-of-towners, too. Actor Tom Hanks combed the shelves a few years ago when he was in Louisiana to film a movie. It’s easy to see why Hanks, a history buff, would have been charmed. With its wealth of vintage volumes, Cottonwood smelled of must and dust, old paper and glue, a scent that seemed like inhaling the past.
While dealers in old books can be known as a crotchety bunch, there was nothing gruff about Danny. We were more likely to discuss family than reading when I saw him at his counter, underscoring Danny’s idea that books are a part of, not apart from, the rest of life.
Peering through Cottonwood’s vacant storefront some weeks ago, I was wistful when I spotted the empty shelves, but the quiet aisles seemed like the deeper absence. People, more than books, make a bookstore a community — a truth made clear when I joined other mourners at Danny’s bereavement service.
The family had printed prayer cards with a picture of Danny at his bookstore counter. I took one home, and I’m using it for a bookmark.
Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Earlier Saturday morning former McNeese Quarterback Kerry Joseph was officially inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame alongside eight other athletes.
Joseph and the rest of the class had an introduction day on Thursday, along with the presentation of their Hall of Fame Jacket. During Joseph’s speech during the introduction day he touched on his determination and drive to be great.
“I just kept pushing myself and kept being determined, persevering, and whatever life threw at me, I was able to overcome. I was just able to find a way,” said Joseph. “It goes back to the way mom and dad raised us, when I really think about that journey, I think about as an 11-year-old kid being on the basketball court and my dad just pushing me to the point where I walked off the court crying, mom wasn’t very happy about that, but what he was doing was building that perseverance and that character.”
Joseph as a Cowboy finished his career as the all-time leader in passing and total yards, and then during his professional career as both an NFL and CFL player, he made a major impact. He first played with the Cincinnati Bengals as a quarterback, a slot receiver, a running back, and then he spent four years with the Seattle Seahawks as a safety.
After his formal induction, Joseph caught up with the media and explained just how emotional of a moment it was for him.
“I got a little teary-eyed, just thinking about the accomplishment, thought about my dad not being here to experience it with us, but it was an emotional moment because you put in the work, you don’t think about these types of accolades, you just think about winning, when you realize the hard work that you’ve put into it, the sacrifices that you have made, you’ll appreciate being recognized and being part of a great family of hall of famers in Louisiana that have come before,” said Joseph. “I mean with this accomplishment, I have a lot of people that come in the hall of fame with me, from family, friends, teammates, coaches, everybody.”
Kerry joins the Hall of Fame with the likes of New Orleans Saints and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Drew Brees, LSU and WNBA standout and Olympic Gold Medal winner Seimone Augustus, UFC champion Daniel Cormier, high school coaching legend Frank Monica; LSU and Olympic wrestler Kevin Jackson; horse racing jockey champion Ray Sibille, Grambling baseball coaching legend Wilbert Ellis, Tulane basketball coaching great Perry Clark, and award-winning Louisiana sports writers Bobby Ardoin and Ron Higgins.
Copyright 2024 KPLC. All rights reserved.
Daniel Cormier will be part of another Hall of Fame.
A Lafayette, Louisiana native, Cormier this weekend will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He is also already a member of the UFC Hall of Fame, National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame and Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Cormier made his mark early in the Louisiana sports world, even before getting to Oklahoma State. He was a three-time state champion for Northside High School, then went to Colby Community College, where he won a pair of NJCAA titles and was 61-0.
Once at OSU, Cormier immediately cracked the starting lineup at 184 pounds in 2000 and 2001. He was 52-10 as a Cowboy, qualifying for the NCAA Wrestling Championships both seasons. Cormier was an NCAA runner-up in 2001, losing to Cael Sanderson in the finals. He also lost to Sanderson twice in the Big 12 finals. Of Cormier’s 10 collegiate losses, six were to Sanderson.
Cormier achieved most of his success after leaving Stillwater, first on the international wrestling circuit. He qualified for the Olympics as a member of Team USA in 2004 and 2008, placing fourth at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Cormier didn’t get to compete in 2008 after having to drop out of the tournament because of illness. He also earned a bronze medal at 96 kilograms at the World Championships in 2007.
Cormier started his mixed martial arts career in 2009 with Strikeforce, becoming the King of the Cage heavyweight champion and winning the 2012 Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. He then joined the UFC and became the second fighter in UFC history to hold belts in two weight divisions at the same time as the champion at light heavyweight and heavyweight. He was the first to have title defenses in two divisions. Cormier was 22-3 in his MMA career.
The 2024 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class features eight other inductees, including former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
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