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Dr. Ray P. Authement, who led the ������ο��Ƶ of ������ο��Ƶ 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 ������ο��Ƶ saw itself and how others perceived it as well. He guided our growth from a strong regional ������ο��Ƶ to one recognized nationally and globally for its research and scholarship,” Savoie said. 

Dr. Jim Henderson, president of the ������ο��Ƶ of ������ο��Ƶ 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 ������ο��Ƶ. Countless ������ο��Ƶs and multiple generations were blessed by his leadership.”

Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, ������ο��Ƶ’s commissioner of higher education, said Authement “brought his sharp mind, vision for academic excellence and ������ο��Ƶ 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, ������ο��Ƶ. He enrolled in 1947 at Southwestern ������ο��Ƶ 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 ������ο��Ƶ State ������ο��Ƶ, in 1952 and 1956, respectively. He taught at LSU and McNeese State ������ο��Ƶ 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 ������ο��Ƶ of Southwestern ������ο��Ƶ. 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 ������ο��Ƶ 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 ������ο��Ƶ’s culture.

Despite its growing reputation, Authement ensured the ������ο��Ƶ remained committed to Acadiana.

When the area oil industry collapsed in the early 1980s, the ������ο��Ƶ’s budget was cut by $10 million. In spite of its own financial straits, the ������ο��Ƶ, 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 ������ο��Ƶ established 17 research centers during Authement’s tenure and opened ������ο��Ƶ 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 ������ο��Ƶ 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 ������ο��Ƶ Art Museum; Moody, Abdalla, Fletcher and Oliver halls; Legacy Park, apartment-style ������ο��Ƶ residences; and an indoor practice facility for ������ο��Ƶ 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 ������ο��Ƶ also:

• changed its name from USL to the ������ο��Ƶ of ������ο��Ƶ at Lafayette;
• implemented academic admission standards;
• became the first Doctoral II institution in ������ο��Ƶ;
• 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 ������ο��Ƶ and once again taught mathematics.

The ������ο��Ƶ of ������ο��Ƶ System recognized him as UL Lafayette president emeritus in 2009.

The ������ο��Ƶ’s 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 ������ο��Ƶ 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. 

Memorial contributions can be made to the or to the . Checks should be made payable to the UL Lafayette Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504.

La Louisiane, the magazine of the ������ο��Ƶ of ������ο��Ƶ at Lafayette,

(Graphic credit: ������ο��Ƶ of ������ο��Ƶ at Lafayette)