Posted on 08/22/2005 9:01:38 AM PDT by Ellesu
In October 2006, Louisiana College in Pineville Louisiana will celebrate it’s 100th birthday. When celebration time rolls around, the small Baptist college will have some big celebrities on campus.
At a press conference this morning, Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard announced that George Hebert Walker Bush, will be the keynote speaker for the Centennial Celebration. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Louisiana College,” said Aguillard, “We are honored and blessed to have a man of his stature here on campus.” Bush will be on hand for several events including a brief reception for area business and civic leaders.
According to Aguillard, the visit has been in the works for several months. “We have been in touch with his office for quite some time now, trying to arrange for a visit,” said Aguillard, “To have him agree to come for our 100th birthday is just great.” Louisiana College received confirmation of the visit last Friday. “We had to scramble to put this press conference together on short notice, but we wanted to get the word out as quickly as possible,” said Aguillard.
The rest of Central Louisiana is excited as well. The press conference was packed with business leaders and elected officials from across the area. “This is great news!” said Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields, “Anytime you can get someone of that stature here in Central Louisiana, particularly in Pineville, my hat goes off to them.”
Roy Hebron, Mayor of Ball, was equally excited about the arrival of President Bush. “It’s great to be at a facility like Louisiana College and hear that they have one of our past presidents here to help us celebrate the success of L.C. 100 years is reason enough to celebrate, but to have former President Bush here also is good news for all of Central Louisiana!”
Both Mayor Fields and Mayor Hebron agreed to commit whatever resources the cities could provide in order to make President Bush’s visit a success. ‘We’re prepared to help Louisiana College in anyway possible,” said Fields, “Whatever we are called to do from a security standpoint, or a promotion standpoint, we’ll help in any way possible.”
The campus of Louisiana College has been engulfed in controversy since a small group of faculty members demanded that Louisiana College adopt a more secular view of higher education. The college is a private Baptist school, owned by the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “I can’t see how, even the most liberal faculty member could deny that this is great news for Louisiana College,” said Gerrald Waites, an alumni, “Even if they disagree with some of the policy, they have to agree that Bush’s visit is good for the school. If they can’t see that, then their agenda is something other than what is best for L.C.”
The entire Central Louisiana community welcomes the positive attention the former president’s visit will bring. Mayor Hebron said, “We’ll certainly roll out the welcome mat for him. After all he led this country for 4 years. He fought a war for us. We’ll do everything possible to make him feel at home.”
Pineville, LA
City
Population 2000: 13,829
Metro area: Alexandria
Ahhh, the city of my birth.
I visited Alex years ago. I remember driving around looking for the town of Cenla. Wasn't on any map.
I'd love to! I can't plan that far in advance with my children and no I have never been. Will let you know when it gets close if I am going.
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