Twelve new members of the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame will be inducted at the grand opening of the Louisiana 4-H Museum in Mansura on Saturday, July 18, 2009, from 2 to 4 p.m.
One hundred members were inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame last year in honor of the 4-H’s centennial in the state.
New Hall of Fame inductees are:
Diane Duhe
(deceased)
St. John Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Diane Duhe served St. John Parish 4-H from 1976-2005. Each year she led the St. John 4-H/St. Jude Wheels for Life Bike-A-Thon promoting cancer research for children and raising thousands of dollars. She served as 4-H club leader, 4-H Junior Leader coordinator, foundation board secretary/treasurer and 4-H Club organizational leader coordinator.
C. L. Flowers
(deceased)
East Baton Rouge Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Charles Lesley “C. L.” Flowers of East Baton Rouge Parish began his career with the 4-H Youth Development Program in DeSoto Parish in 1937, specializing in the livestock project. Flowers retired from Cooperative Extension in Baton Rouge Parish in 1972 after serving as county agent and as parish chair. After retiring and until his death in 1999, Flowers continued to be a strong presence in 4-H, especially the livestock program, as a volunteer and philanthropist. In 1984, Flowers and his wife donated $10,000 to the Louisiana 4-H Foundation.
Loretta Guidry
Lafourche Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Loretta Guidry of Lafourche Parish has been a 4-H leader who whose club won Achievement Day in its division 15 years in a row. A large number of her club members won state and national contests. She was a teacher at Larose-Cut Off Junior High School for 30 years. She now devotes her time to helping her grandchildren with 4-H record books, contests and activities.
Mable Yvonne Lorenz
Beauregard Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Mable Yvonne Lorenz of Beauregard Parish, as a school bus driver for 15 years (1973-1988), volunteered her time and fuel to transport 4-H’ers to the annual Beauregard Parish 4-H Achievement Day, where she also served as a contest judge. For three years, she held summer workshops for 4-H’ers at her home, teaching girls how to sew, cook, complete handicraft projects and work on 4-H record books. During her 48 years as an adult leader, she hosted 4-H exchange students from South Carolina and Kansas.
Nancy W. Marceaux
Vermilion Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Nancy W. Marceaux of Vermilion Parish has served as an organizational leader at Kaplan High School for 30 years. She was named State 4-H Alumni winner in 1999. She has been an active member in the parish 4-H Advisory Committee, serving as chairman for five years. All four of her children were active in 4-H and are now serving as adult volunteers.
Marleen Mayfield
St. Bernard Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Marleen Mayfield of St. Bernard Parish organized one of the first 4-H clubs to return to St. Bernard after Hurricane Katrina at Andrew Jackson Elementary. She received a Toyota Prius after Hurricane Katrina from Phoenix Suns basketball player Amar’e Stoudemire and was recognized with 4-H Gold Awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005. This award has not been given since Hurricane Katrina.
Billy B. Nutt
Bienville Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Billy B. Nutt of Bienville Parish began his career in extension in 1966 in Lake Providence as an associate county agent. He transferred to Lincoln Parish and in 1972 moved to Bienville Parish as county agent and parish chair. Now retired, he assists in garden contests and beautification activities at his church, library and the courthouse.
Virginia Shehee
Caddo Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Virginia Shehee of Caddo Parish was recognized in 1974 for purchasing the champion market hog at a record price for a special needs youth. The pig provided the youth support to enable him to learn to walk as a result of cerebral palsy. She was later recognized on the national broadcast of Paul Harvey news for her impact on the youth and his compelling story with his pig. She annually contributes more than $20,000 to the youth during the Junior Livestock Sale at the State Fair of Louisiana. She routinely donates to 37 non-profit organizations, including the Louisiana 4-H Foundation.
Mansel S. Slaughter
(deceased)
East Baton Rouge Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Mansel S. Slaughter of East Baton Rouge Parish served on the East Baton Rouge Parish 4-H livestock sales committee and the LSU AgCenter’s Agribusiness Council. He served as superintendent of the parish swine show. He continues to give through the Mansel S. Slaughter Memorial Fund through the East Baton Rouge Parish 4-H Foundation. While serving in World War II, he received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, four Battle Stars and the Victory Medal.
John Stamper
Bossier Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
John Stamper of Bossier Parish was an avid supporter of 4-H throughout his career as an educator and continued to support Bossier Parish 4-H as a volunteer leader after his retirement. He began his education career in Bossier Parish as a coach and teacher in 1956 and retired as principal of Curtis Elementary in 1984. He conducted educational and competitive events at the annual National Hunting and Fishing Day at the Bodcau Wildlife Management Area each fall. Stamper was a National Wild Turkey Federation member and shared his knowledge with a presentation and a video that he showed in his camp house.
Lafayette Fearn Swoope Jr.
Calcasieu Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Lafayette Fearn Swoope Jr. of Calcasieu Parish joined the Cooperative Extension Service in 1957 as an assistant county agent in Caldwell Parish. In 1958 he transferred to East Carroll Parish, and then served as county agent in Calcasieu Parish from 1967 until his retirement in 1989. Swoope now serves as a volunteer leader in the livestock program. Through his advisory committee, Calcasieu Parish was the first to conduct a fundraiser through “World’s Finest Chocolate,” which has continued going strong for 45 years. Swoope has raised 4-H club lambs for 50 years.
Denise Turner
Lafayette Parish
Year Inducted: 2009
Denise Turner of Lafayette Parish began volunteering with 4-H when her sons Chad and Cody joined their local 4-H Clubs. She enters data into the enrollment program and pulls and labels hundreds of project books to be delivered to Lafayette 4-H members each year. She received training in the Louisiana 4-H Sportsfishing Program and has served as an angling skills instructor for seven years, providing lessons on casting and knot tying to youth. She also helps plan and coordinate the annual 4-H “Let’s Go Fishing” clinic each year.