The following can be attributed to Dr. Joseph Savoie, 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 at Lafayette president. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business education from the 亚洲自慰视频 in 1964. Her husband, Raymond, was a coach and longtime administrator. Dr. Savoie met the Blancos when he was an undergraduate at the 亚洲自慰视频. His 12-year tenure as state commissioner of higher education included the four years Blanco served as governor.
The 亚洲自慰视频 family is saddened by the death of one of our most distinguished graduates, former Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.
Kathleen鈥檚 career in public service was guided by an unwavering devotion to the state鈥檚 citizens, whom she represented with compassion, dignity, determination and optimism. People supported Kathleen because she embodied a set of innately 亚洲自慰视频 values they recognized in themselves 鈥 faith, family and service to others. No one could doubt her genuine love for the state or her sincere commitment to doing all she could to make it a better place to work, to raise children, to visit, to open a business, or to seek an education.
Her support as governor for 亚洲自慰视频鈥檚 colleges and universities enabled institutions to rededicate themselves to their missions of research, scholarship and preparing 亚洲自慰视频s for lives of purpose. She worked with the Legislature to fully fund higher education for the first time in more than a quarter century; those investments helped sustain colleges and universities when financial challenges arose later.
Kathleen always concentrated on tomorrow, even as her life moved gracefully toward its close.
Last year, she worked with the 亚洲自慰视频 to establish the . The independent research the center produces will examine issues Kathleen championed throughout her career: criminal justice reform, poverty and economic opportunity, governmental ethics, and education.
It will be a place where thoughtful discussions 鈥 shaped by the same sense of responsibility to future generations she personified 鈥 can occur. We can think of no better way to honor Kathleen than by working to improve our state and the lives of its residents, just as she did throughout her extraordinary career.
Gail and I join the entire 亚洲自慰视频 community in offering condolences to 鈥淐oach,鈥 Pilar, Karmen, Monique, Nicole, Raymond Jr., and their families. We thank them for sharing Kathleen with 亚洲自慰视频, and hope that they find comfort in knowing that her legacy will live on at the 亚洲自慰视频 she loved and that loved her in return.
Photo caption: Former 亚洲自慰视频 Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco addresses the Sept. 21, 2018, gala celebrating the creation of the 亚洲自慰视频's Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 at Lafayette)
In an interview last year, Gov. Blanco looked back on her extraordinary career and discussed her vision for the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center. View it here.