>>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS
PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY TRUST
BANK, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
NORTH LOUISIANA, TEXAS AND
MISSISSIPPI FOR MORE THAN A
CENTURY.
COMMUNITY TRUST BANK IS A PROUD
PARTNER OF LPB'S "LOUISIANA
LEGENDS."
>>> 200 YEARS AGO, LOUISIANA
JOINED THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA ADDING AN 18th STAR TO
HER FLAG AS WELL AS A LAND
BLESSED WITH ABUNDANT NATURAL
RESOURCES AND EXTRAORDINARY
PEOPLE.
FOR MORE THAN 36 YEARS, LPB HAS
SHARED THESE STORIES AND HONORED
OVER 100 "LOUISIANA LEGENDS."
TONIGHT FIVE MORE WILL BE
RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE GLORY
THEY HAVE BROUGHT OUR STATE.
>> I ASK YOU TO NAME TEN
GREATEST ATHLETES IN AMERICA,
I'LL BET YOU NINE OUT OF TEN
CHARLES BARKLEY, JACK NICKLAUS,
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, BO JACKSON.
>> RICHARD POURED HIS HEART AND
HIS COMPANIES INTO ASSISTING THE
POOR PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS WHO
WERE SO DEVASTATED.
>> TO THINK THAT AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN FROM SUCH
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS WOULD MAKE
SUCH AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD
MAKES HER A LEGENDS.
>> VERY, VERY HIGH INTEGRITY.
HE WILL TAKE NOTHING LESS.
[SINGING]
>> A MAN WHO DOESN'T HAVE HIS
FIRST NUMBER ONE HIT UNTIL HE
WAS 38 YEARS OLD.
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO STRUGGLE.
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO FILE.
>> IT ISN'T WHAT WHERE YOU COME
FROM, WHAT YOU HAVE, HE JUST
WANTS TO BE YOUR FRIEND.
>> HE WILL BE ONE OF TRUE
LEGENDS.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME
TO THE 2012 "LOUISIANA LEGENDS"
GALA.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT
TO HONOR THESE FIVE EXCEPTIONAL
INDIVIDUALS WHOSE OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTIONS IN THEIR FIELDS
AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
REPRESENT THE VERY BEST OF
LOUISIANA.
JIM, WE COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A
BETTER PLACE FOR THE
BICENTENNIAL EDITION OF
"LOUISIANA LEGENDS" THAN THE OLD
STATE CAPITOL.
ONE OF LOUISIANA'S MOST HISTORIC
AND BELOVED SITES.
WE'RE PROUD TO CELEBRATE 200
YEARS OF STATE HOOD AND THE
ACHIEVEMENTS THAT THESE FIVE
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE THAT HAVE
ENRICHED OUR STATE AND LEFT
THEIR MARK ON ITS HISTORY.
>> THE PAIRING OF THE "LOUISIANA
LEGENDS" GALA AND OUR STATE'S
BICENTENNIAL MAKE THIS YEAR'S
EVENT EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR.
THE GALA WAS CREATED IN 1990 TO
HONOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR
STATE'S BEST AND BRIGHTEST.
THE PREVIOUS HONOREES ARE HAVE
INCLUDED PIEWLTS ARE AWARD
WINNERS, ALL OF -- HALL OF FAME
ATHLETES, MUSIC LEGENDS LIKE
ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAMER
JAMES BURTON, GRAMMY AWARD
WINNERS.
TONIGHT FIVE MORE INDIVIDUALS
RECEIVE THIS PRESTIGIOUS HONOR.
>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL LIST.
NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE
ARE PLEASED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
LPB'S 2012 "LOUISIANA LEGENDS."
WORLD RENOWNED ORTHOPEDIC
SURGEON DR. JAMES ANDREWS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS, RICHARD RICHARD
ZIRINGUE.
>> LYNN DAN THOMAS.
[AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE]
>> UNITED STATES OLYMPIC
WEIGHT-LIFTING COACH GALE HATCH.
>> SIX TIME ACADEMY OF COUNTRY
MUSIC AWARDS WINNER MICKEY
GILLY.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR
2012 LPB "LOUISIANA LEGENDS."
[APPLAUSE]
>> THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT
DR. JAMES ANDREWS IS ONE OF THE
WORLD'S TOP AUTHORITIES IN THE
FIELD OF SPORTS MEDICINE.
HIS SUCCESS BEGAN WHILE ROAMING
THE HALLS OF LSU.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
BORN IN THE SMALL TOWN OF HOMER,
LOUISIANA, WORLD RENOWNED
ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON DR. JAMES
ANDREWS DECIDED EARLY ON TO
JUMP-START HIS CAREER, A
PROMISING SEC CHAMPION POLE
VAULTER AT LSU HE GAVE UP
ATHLETICS IN 1963 TO WORK HIS
WAY THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL
OBTAINING AN M.D. FROM LSU AND
OR THE PEAD ICK DEGREE
>> HE'S THE HARDEST WORKING
PERSON I EVER MET.
HE SETS REALLY LOFTY GOALS AND
ALWAYS MAKES SURE HE REACHES
THEM.
HE NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME.
>> I FOLLOWED HIM FROM THE TIME
HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
HE'S A MASTER AT EVERYTHING.
HE'S THE FINEST ORTHOPEDIC
SURGEON I THINK IN THE WORLD.
>> AN ACCOMPLISHED SURGEON WITH
UNPARALLELED BEDSIDE MANNER AND
GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR DR. ANDREWS
HAS LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON
THE FIELD OF SPORTS MEDICINE.
CO-FOUNDER OF SEVERAL LEADING
MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES IN
ALABAMA AND FLORIDA HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO INJURY
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ARE
PROFOUND.
FOSTERING CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH,
MENTORING HUNDREDS OF FELLOWS
AND CHAMPIONING INJURY
PREVENTION FOR CHILDREN.
HE'S DEDICATED HIS LIFE
ADVANCING MEDICINE AND CARING
FOR OTHERS.
>> I THINK HE'S TOPS.
IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF
IT WAS A 70-YEAR-OLD LADY OR A
HIGH CALIBER ATHLETE.
>> HE HAS EXCELLED 24/7.
IF YOU'RE A PATIENT YOU CAN CALL
HIM ANY TIME.
>> IF I ASKED YOU TO NAME THE
TEN GREATEST ATHLETES IN
AMERICA, YOU NAMED THEM, I'LL
BET NINE OUT OF TEN HE'S
TREATED.
>> CHARLES BARKLAY, JACK
NICKLAUS, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, BO
JACKSON.
THE GREATEST ATHLETES IN THE
WORLD.
ALL SPORTS.
>> HE'S A GO-GO-GO.
HARD TO KEEP UP WITH JIMMY MOST
OF THE TIME BECAUSE HE'S GOT SO
MUCH GOING ON.
THERE WAS ONE TIME WHEN HE FLEW
TO A GAME AT AUBURN, GOT ON HIS
PLANE, FLEW TO ATLANTA TO WATCH
ALABAMA PLAY, THEN FLEW BACK TO
DALLAS BECAUSE THE REDSKINS WERE
PLAYING THE COWBOYS.
THAT'S ALL IN ONE DAY.
>> WHILE HE'S ALWAYS ON CALL,
DR. ANDREWS NEVER FAILS TO BE
THERE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
FOR DESPITE HIS HIGH PROFILE
CLIENTELE AND MANY ACCOLADES,
SUCCESS HAS NOT CHANGED HIM.
A PRACTICAL JOKESTER, AVID
SAILOR AND WINNER OF NUMEROUS
YACHT RACING OFFSHORE REGATTAS
HE REMAINS A DEDICATED FAMILY
MAN WITH SIX CHILDREN, SIX
GRANDCHILDREN, AND COUNTING.
>> HE IS SO -- DAD.
SO LOUISIANA.
SO COUNTRY BOY WHO LOVES FRIED
CHICKEN ADD CATSUP.
>> HE'S HUMBLE ABOUT EVERY
PLAYER THAT WALKS THROUGH THE
DOOR.
HE REALLY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT HE'S MADE THAT HE REALLY
IS A LEGEND IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S
EYES.
>> DR. JAMES ANDREWS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> MY GOODNESS.
I THINK SURGERY IS A LITTLE
EASIER THAN THIS.
[LAUGHTER]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW
HONOREES, TO BE HONORED BY MY
HOME STATE AND ITS PUBLIC
BROADCASTING COMPANY AS A
LOUISIANA LEGEND MEANS ALL THE
WORLD TO ME.
PROBABLY MORE THAN YOU CAN
IMAGINE.
IN ACCORDANCE I AM TRULY BLESSED
AND HUMBLED TO ACCEPT THIS
AWARD.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
CONGRATULATE ALL OF THIS YEAR'S
OTHER HONORED INDUCTEES AND SOME
FROM THE PAST.
THANKS TO BETH COURTNEY, THE CEO
OF LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING
, FOR SUCH A
FLATTERING INTRODUCTION.
BY THE WAY, AS I LISTENED TO
THAT INTRODUCTION AND AS I
ACCEPT THIS HONOR, IT SEEMS
APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO CONSIDER
THE QUOTE, THE OLDER I GET THE
BETTER I WAS.
[LAUGHTER]
IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN.
ACTUALLY WHEN I WAS FIRST
CONTACTED BY THIS HONOR I WAS
REALLY TAKEN BACK BY THE WORD
LEGEND.
I ACTUALLY LOOKED UP THE WORD IN
THE DICTIONARY TO SEE WHERE IT
APPEARS, AND I ACTUALLY WAS, AND
HOW IT APPLIED TO ME.
AS I DISCOVERED THERE ARE THREE
TYPES OF LEGENDS.
FIRST IS THE RENEGADE, THE
REBEL, THE TROUBLEMAKER.
THE OUTLAW SUCH AS JESSE JAMES.
I RULED THAT OUT FOR ME HOWEVER
IN MY EARLY DAYS I WAS SOMEWHAT
OF A FUN-LOVING RULES BREAKER.
EVEN TODAY SOME OF MY CLOSEST
FRIENDS THINK OF ME AS BEING
THAT TYPE OF LEGEND.
THE NEXT TYPE OF LEGEND IS A
LEGEND IN YOUR OWN MIND.
[LAUGHTER]
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I'M HUMBLE
AND THAT DESCRIPTION DOESN'T FIT
ME.
AS THIS HONOR DICTATES, THE
THIRD TYPE OF LEGEND IS AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS GIVEN BACK TO
HIS ROOTS IN LOUISIANA AND
ADVANCED OUR STATE IN SOCIETY.
I'M VERY PROUD AND AGAIN HUMBLED
TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT
DEFINITION IN THAT CATEGORY.
ON THE SOFT SIDE, ONE OF THE
THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT WE
SHOULD NEVER TAKE OURSELVES AND
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TOO SERIOUS.
ALSO MY WIFE JANELLE FREQUENTLY
REMINDS ME IF YOU'RE STILL
TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU DID
YESTERDAY YOU'RE NOT DOING MUCH
TODAY.
JUST TO TELL YOU ABOUT HER
DEDICATION I HAVE COUNTED UP ONE
YEAR AND YOU KNOW FOOTBALL IN
THE SOUTH A LITTLE BIT IN
LOUISIANA, I UNDERSTAND, IS
KING.
THAT PARTICULAR YEAR SHE
ACCOMPANIED ME TO 55 FOOTBALL
GAMES WHEN I WAS ON THE FIELD
AND LEFT HER UP IN THE
GRANDSTANDS.
THAT'S REAL DEDICATION.
ALSO I'M OFTEN ASKED ABOUT MY
DESIRES FOR RETIREMENT.
DO I FEEL OLD.
MY ANSWER IS THE ONLY TIME I
FEEL OLD IS WHEN I LOOK IN THE
MIRROR, SO I QUICK LOOKING IN
THE DAMN MIRROR!
[LAUGHTER]
I FREQUENTLY GIVE INTERVIEWS AND
I'M FREQUENTLY ASKED HOW MANY
SURGERIES HAVE I DONE IN MY
CAREER?
I HAVE AN ANSWER.
IT'S TOO MANY TO COUNT AND NOT
ENOUGH TO QUIT.
THAT SHUTS THEM UP REAL QUICKLY.
ON A SERIOUS NOTE, THANK YOU,
LOUISIANA.
CERTAINLY MY ROOTS ARE HERE IN
LOUISIANA AND BECAUSE OF THAT
I'M SIMPLY A SMALL TOWN SOUTHERN
MAN FROM NORTH LOUISIANA EVEN
THOUGH I WAS BORN IN NEW ORLEANS
I CAN CLAIM BOTH SIDES OF THIS
COIN IN THIS STATE.
AS A KID I GREW UP IN A
CONSERVATIVE NORTH LOUISIANA
SMALL TOWN OF HOMER WHERE MY
GRANDADDY PLANTED A SEED, BY THE
WAY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO PLANT
SEEDS FOR YOUR YOUNG GIDDINGS,
YOUR GRANDKIDS AND YOUR OWN
KIDS.
HE PLANTED A SEED WHEN HE USED
TO ROCK ME ON HIS KNEE AND TOLD
ME ONE DAY I WOULD BE HIS YOUNG
DOCTOR.
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS ALSO A
SPECIAL BREED AND ACTUALLY
GRADUATED FROM NORMAL TEACHERS
COLLEGE IN NACOGDOCHES.
MY MOTHER, BLESS HER SOUL, WAS A
TEACHER, AND SHE AND HER
BROTHERS ALL GRADUATED FROM LSU.
MY FATHER PLAYED FOOTBALL IN
NORTHWESTERN STATE, SO SPORTS
WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
ATHLETICS IN THIS STATE PROVIDED
ME WITH A FREE UNDERGRADUATE
EDUCATION AND LATER THE SAME AT
LSU MEDICAL SCHOOL.
FOR THAT I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL
AND INDEBTED.
AS I HAVE ALLUDED TO IN MY
CAREER, IT'S NEVER BEEN AN I
SITUATION BUT A WE SITUATION.
EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE EVER
ACCOMPLISHED IN LIFE WAS BUILT
AROUND THE TEAM CONCEPT
DEVELOPED BY SPORTS.
THANK YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY
MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND
THANK YOU, JANELLE, FOR HELPING
ME GET MY LIFELONG PRIORITIES IN
ORDER.
NUMBER ONE, MY FAMILY AND FAITH;
NUMBER TWO, THE PASSION FOR
WORK.
AS I CLOSE, HOW CAN I SAY THANKS
TO ALL OF YOU?
SO I'LL QUOTE LATE GREAT COACH
JOHN WOOTEN WHEN HE SAID,
ALTHOUGH THANKS IS A RATHER
SIMPLE ONE SYLLABLE WORD THAT IS
TOO OFTEN USED WITHOUT TRUE
FEELING, BUT WHEN USED WITH
SINCERITY NO COLLECTION OF WORDS
CAN BE MORE MEANINGFUL OR
EXPRESSIVE.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU TO THE
STATE OF LOUISIANA AND FOR THIS
PRESTIGIOUS HONOR.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>>> WE ALL KNOW RICHARD ZIRINGUE
IS A THE FOUNDER OF ACAD YAIN
AMBULANCE AND FOR THE INCREDIBLE
ROLE IT PLAYED IN THE AFTERMATH
OF HURRICANE KATRINA.
FOR OVER 40 YEARS HE'S
ENTHUSIASTICALLY SERVED HIS
COMMUNITY AND THIS STATE BOTH AS
A BUSINESS LEADER AND GENEROUS
PHILANTHROPIST.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
>>> PENNSYLVANIA NATIVE RICHARD
ZIRINGUE CAME AS A
COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEER FOR
WESTINGHOUSE, MARRIED A KAY
JUDGE GIRL AND MADE LOUISIANA
HIS HOME.
A GRADUATE OF THE CAPITAL
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY HE WAS A
BORN LEADER AT HIS BEST DURING A
CRISIS.
LAFAYETTE FUNERAL HOMES
DISCONTINUED THEIR AMBULANCE
SERVICES DUE TO NEW FEDERAL
REGULATIONS HE ANSWERED THE
CALL, CO-FOUNDING ACADIAN
AMBULANCE IN 1971.
>> RICHARD IN MY JUDGMENT IS AN
EXAMPLE FOR SO MANY OF US.
RICHARD CAME TO THE LAFAYETTE
COMMUNITY AND PLUNGED HIMSELF
WHOLLY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY INTO
THE ENDEAVORS OF THIS COMMUNITY,
ENDEAVORS THAT WOULD REACH OUT
AND HELP.
>> HE AND MY MOM TAUGHT US THE
IMPORTANCE OF BEING GENEROUS.
THEY ARE GREAT ROLE MODELS.
HE'S ALWAYS TAUGHT US THAT
THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN'T
OBTAIN, THAT NO GOAL IS
UNACHIEVABLE.
I THINK THAT'S BEAN REALLY
IMPORTANT TO MY TWO BROTHERS AND
I TO SHOOT FOR THE MOON.
>> SERIOUSLY, RICHARD IS A
WORKAHOLIC.
WE GREW UP TOGETHER SORT OF LIKE
A FRATERNITY.
>> WHAT STARTED SOMEWHAT BY
ACCIDENT HAS EVOLVED INTO A
CORPORATE FAMILY OF NEARLY 3,000
EMPLOYEES CARING FOR MORE THAN
1250 PATIENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ACADIAN COMPANIES MEDICAL,
SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION AND
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES HAVE
REVOLUTIONIZED PRE-HOSPITAL
EMERGENCY CARE IN LOUISIANA AND
BEYOND.
SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES.
>> HE NEVER BACKS DOWN FROM A
CHALLENGE.
HE'S ALWAYS SURROUNDED HIMSELF
WITH GOOD PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP
HIM MAKE QUICK DECISIONS IN A
HURRY.
HE'S REALLY GOOD UNDER THE GUN
AND CAN TURN A SITUATION AROUND
IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS.
>> NEVER WAS THAT MORE EVIDENT
THAN IN THE AFTERMATH OF
HURRICANE KATRINA.
>> LIKE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO
GET THEM OUT.
>> SLASHING THROUGH RED TAPE THE
HEROIC STAFF CAME TO THE RESCUE,
CONSTRUCTING MAKESHIFT HELL I
PADS.
STRETCHERS.
USING EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY AND
INGENUITY THEY HAD TO EVACUATE
THOUSANDS.
>> RICHARD POURED HIS HEART AND
HIS COMPANY SO VERY MUCH INTO
ASSISTING THE POOR PEOPLE OF NEW
ORLEANS THAT WERE SO DEVASTATED.
TREMENDOUSLY DEVASTATED.
HE WAS SO MOVED BY THEIR
SUFFERING.
>> HE CARES ABOUT EVERYONE FROM
HIS CHILDREN TO HIS EMPLOYEES TO
THE PEOPLE HE SERVES.
I CERTAINLY THINK THERE ARE MANY
PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HE HAS SAVED
WHO WOULD ATTEST TO THE FACT
THAT HE'S A LOUISIANA LIVING
LEGEND.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, RICHARD
ZIRINGUE.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOU KNOW, ABRAHAM LINCOLN
SAID, MOST PEOPLE ARE ABOUT AS
HAPPY AS THEY MAKE UP THEIR
MINDS TO BE.
WELL, I'M ONE HAPPY INDIVIDUAL
TONIGHT.
AND I WANT TO THANK BETH
COURTNEY AND THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF LPB FOR THIS GREAT
HONOR.
I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL
THE OTHER DISTINGUISHED LEDGE
ENDZONE THAT ARE BEING HONORED
HERE THIS EVENING.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU HAD TO BE
BORN IN LOUISIANA TO BE A
LEGEND.
SO I WAS PRETTY EXCITED WHEN
THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW THAT
I WOULD BE THE RECIPIENT OF THIS
VERY PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
I WAS BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA AND I
HAVE WORKED HERE FOR THE LAST 42
YEARS.
I'M VERY PROUD TO RECEIVE THIS
AWARD TONIGHT FROM LPB, AND I
APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO FOR THE
EDUCATION AND EXCELLENT
PROGRAMMING IN OUR STATE.
LPB IS CERTAINLY A LEADER OF
EDUCATION TELEVISION AND I THANK
THEM FOR ALL THEY DO FOR THE
GREAT STATE OF LOUISIANA.
IN 1970 WHEN I GRADUATED FROM
ENGINEERING SCHOOL IN
WASHINGTON, I WENT TO WORK FOR
WESTING HOUSE DEFENSE CENTER IN
BALTIMORE AND MY BOSS WAS
RICHARD FUSELIR, FROM LOUISIANA.
HE GRADUATED FROM LSU.
HE KEPT TELLING ME HE WANTED ME
TO COME TO LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA,
FOR A ONE-YEAR FIELD ASSIGNMENT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO COME.
HE WORKED HARD GETTING ME
CONVINCED TO COME DOWN, EVEN
TOLD ME AFTER I GOT TO LOUISIANA
I WOULD PROBABLY QUIT
WESTINGHOUSE TO STAY DOWN HERE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS ALL A BIG
GIMMICK TO GET ME DOWN HERE.
COMING DOWN TO LOUISIANA WAS A
DIFFICULT TRANSITION FOR ME
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE SPOKE A FUNNY
LANGUAGE, THE MOSQUITOES WERE AS
BIG AS WHAT THE HOUSES WERE --
THEY HAD MONSOON RAINS AND I HAD
DISS INTERRI FOR SIX MONTHS
BECAUSE OF THE HIGHLY SEASONED
FOODS.
I WORKED AT MY JOB THAT FIRST
YEAR AND BEGAN TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH THE WAY OF LIFE HERE IN
LOUISIANA.
RICHARD WAS RIGHT.
I DID QUIT WESTINGHOUSE AND I
WAS FORTUNATE TO FOUND ACADIAN
AMBULANCE WITH MY TWO PARTNERS
IN 1971.
WE STARTED WITH JUST TWO
AMBULANCES AND EIGHT VIETNAM
MEDICS.
THE REST IS HISTORY.
I LIKE TO TELL MY EMPLOYEES FROM
TIME TO TIME THEY TOOK A DAMN
YANKEE TO COME SOUTH AND
ORGANIZE ALL THESE SOUTHERNS.
ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS LIKES TO
SAY, ENOUGH SOUTHERNERS MADE YOU
SOME MONEY.
LET ME SAY THIS.
WE DID MAKE SOME MONEY.
WE PUT IT BACK INTO SAVING LIVES
AND WE CREATED GREATLY ENHANCED
RETIREMENT OF ALL OUR EMPLOYEES.
IN 1993 WE FORMED A 30% ESOP,
AND IN 1938 WHEN MY PARTNERS
EXITED THE BUSINESS WE CONTINUED
AND NOW 80% OF THE COMPANY IS
OWNED BY THE EMPLOYEES AND I
RETAIN THE OTHER 20% WITH MY
FAMILY.
IN THE BEGINNING WE TRANSPORTED
EIGHT PATIENTS A DAY.
NOW ACADIAN AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS
APPROXIMATELY 1400 PATIENTS A
DAY IN LOUISIANA, TEXAS AND
MISSISSIPPI.
FROM THE ORIGINAL EIGHT MEDICS
OUR COMPANY NOW EMPLOYS JUST
UNDER 4,000 PEOPLE IN FIVE
DIVISIONS.
THE AMBULANCE DIVISION, THE
SAFETY AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
DIVISION, MOBILE MONITORING
DIVISION, NATIONAL EMS ACADEMY
DIVISION AND THE AIR AMBULANCE
DIVISION.
OUR GROWTH OVER THE PAST 40
YEARS HAS TRULY BEEN A TEAM
EFFORT.
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE CONTRIBUTED
TO OUR SUCCESS AND I'M SO
APPRECIATIVE OF OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, OUR
LEGISLATORS, FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS, THE HEALTHCARE
COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY THE
MEDIA.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF
THEM.
I WOULD LIKE TONIGHT TO THANK
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM.
MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN WITH ME
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND I'M
BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO SURROUND
MYSELF WITH THESE OUTSTANDING
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE
ACADIAN AMBULANCE WHAT IT IS
TODAY.
THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT SPECIAL
ARE THE SAME PRINCIPLES AND
IDEALS THAT SET LOUISIANA APART.
THE FAMILY CULTURE, THE WORK
ETHIC, THE COMMITMENT TO HELPING
OTHERS.
IN LOUISIANA MORE THAN ANYWHERE
ELSE FAMILY COMES FIRST.
FAMILY IN MAKING SURE ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY ARE TAKEN
CARE OF IS WHAT DROVE TO US SET
UP AN EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP
PROGRAM.
IN THAT COMPANY, IN THAT SUCCESS
STORY I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD
OF WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
THE ESOP BENEFIT FROM THEIR OWN
HARD WORK AND FEW PLACES HAVE A
WORK ETHIC LIKE LOUISIANA.
WE MIGHT BE NONFOR LAY SAY BON
DON ROULET, BUT WE WORK HARDER
THAN WE PLAY.
MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME HARD WORK
WAS ESSENTIAL AND FROM THE TIME
I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL I ALWAYS
HAD TWO OR THREE PART-TIME JOBS.
I INSTILLED THAT WORK ETHIC IN
MY OWN CHILDREN AND IT'S ONE OF
THE CORE VALUES OF OUR COMPANY.
THAT COMES NATURALLY AND IS A BY
PRODUCT OF THE LOUISIANA CULTURE
AND HERITAGE.
WE EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
REACHING OUT, OF GIVING BACK.
LOUISIANA EMPLOYEES ALREADY KNOW
HOW TO DO THAT.
IT'S IN THE HEART OF OUR
EMPLOYEES, IN THE HEART OF EVERY
PERSON WHO CALLS LOUISIANA HOME.
YOU CAN SEE IN GOOD TIMES AND
BAD, SIMPLE EVERYDAY JOY
DEVIVRE, THE NATURAL DISASTERS
THAT BRING OUT OUR BEST IN THE
WORST OF TIMES.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES LOUISIANA A
SPECIAL PLACE.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE OUR STATE,
LOUISIANA, MY HOME.
I'M GRATEFUL TO THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF ACADIAN AMBULANCE.
I'M ALWAYS THE ONE WHO RECEIVES
ALL THE CREDIT AND THEY DO ALL
THE WORK.
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURROUND
MYSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE WHO CARE
ABOUT THEIR PATIENTS, CUSTOMERS
AND COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE
AND THEY HAVE GONE OUT AND
ATTRACTED OTHER GOOD AND CARING
PEOPLE TO WORK FOR OUR
ORGANIZATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL THE
EMPLOYEES OF ACADIAN AMBULANCE
TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED
TONIGHT.
[APPLAUSE]
DAVID PIERCE IS THE ROCK OF
GIBRALTAR.
HE'S BEEN MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE FOR 40 YEARS AND HE
HAS HELPED PUT TOGETHER AN
ORGANIZATION TO LEAD THIS GREAT
TEAM WHICH I CONSIDER THE BEST
IN THE SOUTH.
I'M GRATEFUL TO OUR MANAGEMENT
AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES FOR
THEIR LOYALTY AND HARD WORK IN
CREATING THIS THE UKSES OF
ACADIAN AMBULANCE.
I ALSO THANK MY WIFE ELAINE, MY
BRIDE OF SOME 36 YEARS.
TOGETHER WE HAVE RAISED THREE
WONDERFUL CHILDREN, LARA, BETH
AND BLAZE.
THUS FAR I HAVE ONE GRANDCHILD,
AND I HAVE A GRANDSON ON THE
WAY.
I LOVE ALL OF YOU, AND I LOVE
YOUR SPOUSES, MONICA AND ROSS,
AND I THANK YOU, ELAINE, FOR ALL
YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR PATIENCE
AND YOUR PATIENCE.
YOU HAVE BEEN THE ONE THAT HAS
KEPT ME WELL GROUNDED AND ON
TRACK AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR LOVE AND YOUR SUPPORT.
ERIC HOVER, THE 20th CENTURY
CONTEMPORARY WRITER SAID, I
QUOTE, THE HARDEST ARITHMETIC TO
MASTER IS THAT WHICH ENABLES US
TO COUNT OUR BLESSINGS.
TONIGHT I REALIZE HOW MANY
BLESSINGS THE GOOD LORD HAS
BESPOEDE UPON ME WITH FRIENDS,
FAMILY AND WORK COLLEAGUES.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND BLESSED
THAT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN HERE
TONIGHT SO I CAN SHARE THIS
AWARD WITH YOU.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS LOUISIANA NATIVE HAS
DEDICATED HER LIFE TO
INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY,
EDUCATION AND PROVIDING A VOICE
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE
MEANS TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
THREE DECADES INTO HER
DIPLOMATIC CAREER LINDA
THOMAS-GREENFIELD CONTINUES HER
FIGHT FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE
AROUND THE WORLD.
>>> LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD IS A
DISTINGUISHED DIPLOMAT WHO HAS
DEDICATED HER LIFE TO THE
FOREIGN SERVICE.
THE SECOND OLDEST OF NINE
CHILDREN, SHE WAS BORN AND
RAISED IN BAKER, LOUISIANA,
DURING THE 1950'S.
BLESSED WITH A CLOSE KNIT FAMILY
AND UNFALTERING FAITH, LINDA'S
OUTLOOK ON LIFE WAS SHAPED AT AN
EARLY AGE.
LINDA IS A PERSON WHO BELIEVES
THAT THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.
SHE CAME FROM A VERY STRONG
CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND.
SHE CAME FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.
SHE KNEW HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF
WHAT SHE HAD.
>> LINDA GRADUATED FROM
NORTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL IN
ZACHARY IN 1970, THE SAME YEAR
IT DESEGREGATED.
>> SHE ALWAYS HAD GREAT
POTENTIAL AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT
WHAT LINDA HAS ACHIEVED AND HER
BACKGROUND, IS NOT WHERE YOU
COME FROM BUT WHERE YOU'RE
GOING.
>> AFTER EARNING A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE FROM LSU A MASTER'S FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AND
TEACHING AT BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
SHE JOINED THE FOREIGN SERVICE
IN 1982, SERVING IN JAMAICA,
NIGERIA, GAMBIA, PAKISTAN AND
SWITZER LUN.
LINDA ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS
WITH HER HUSBAND, DAUGHTER AND
SON AT HER SIDE.
IN 2008 SHE WAS SWORN IN AS THE
AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF
LIBERIA.
>> IT'S A BIG SACRIFICE.
SHE JUST LOVED FAMILY AND LOVED
TO BE AROUND HER FAMILY.
SHE LIKED TO COME HOME EVERY
CHANCE SHE WOULD GET.
SHE GOT TO HAVE RED BEANS WHEN
SHE COME HOME.
SHE COOKS IT.
SHE GOT TO HAVE HER CRAYFISH.
HER SEAFOOD.
>> THOUGH HER LOUISIANA ROOTS
RUN DEEP, HER GENUINE SOUTHERN
CHARM AND GUM INTO DIPLOMACY
HAVE TAKEN HER FAR.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE
WHAT THE DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN
AMBASSADOR IS LIKE.
WE WENT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND
WE WERE HANDS ON ALONG WITH HER.
THE PEOPLE LOVE LINDA.
SHE IS SO GIVING.
SO DOWN TO EARTH AND SO -- COME
ON, LET'S HAVE FUN.
SHE MAKES EVERYBODY FEEL
WELCOME.
>> KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S
AMBASSADOR, LINDA
THOMAS-GREENFIELD HAS WORKED
TIRELESSLY TO PROMOTE EDUCATION,
EQUALITY AND DEMOCRACY AROUND
THE WORLD.
EARNING HER CURRENT APPOINTMENT
IN APRIL 2012 AS A DIRECTOR
GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES
FOREIGN SERVICE.
>> TO THINK THAT A PERSON, AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, FROM
SUCH HUMBLE BEGINNINGS WOULD
MAKE SUCH AN IMPACT ON THE
WORLD.
>> LINDA IS JUST AN AMAZING
PERSON.
I'M JUST REALLY HONORED AND GLAD
TO HAVE HER AS A SISTER.
WE ARE ALL REALLY PROUD OF HER.
>> LINDA'S FORMER TEACHER BEST
DESCRIBES HER QUOTING THE POEM
TRUE GREATNESS.
SHE'S TEACHES ITS MEANING BY WAY
OF EXAMPLE.
>> A MAN IS AS GREAT AS THE
DREAMS HE DREERNLINGS AS GREAT
AS THE LOVE HE BEARS, AS GREAT
AS THE VALUES HE REDEEMS, AND
THE HAPPINESS HE SHARES.
A MAN IS AS GREAT AS THE TRUTH
HE SPEAKS, AS GREAT AS THE HELP
HE GIVES, AS GREAT AS THE
DESTINY HE SEEKS, AS GREAT AS
THE LIFE HE LIVES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOU KNOW, I LEFT LOUISIANA IN
ABOUT 38 YEARS AGO, 1974, AFTER
I GRADUATED FROM LSU.
I HAD NO CLUE WHERE I WAS GOING.
THE LESSON FROM THAT IS, WHEN
YOU LEAVE, YOU GO SOMEWHERE,
APPEARED I EVENTUALLY ENDED UP
LIVING ON FOUR CONTINENTS AND
EIGHT COUNTRIES AND I HAVE
TRAVELED ALL OVER THE UNITED
STATES AND ALL OVERT WORLD.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS
ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE IS THAT I
MEET PEOPLE FROM LOUISIANA
EVERYWHERE I GO.
[LAUGHTER]
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IN NIGERIA, IN JAMAICA NLIBERIA,
EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY I HAVE EVER
BEEN IN, I HAVE MET SOMEONE FROM
LOUISIANA.
SO I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF US OUT THERE
LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE REACHED OUT
AND MOVED AWAY FROM LOUISIANA TO
TAKE WHAT LOUISIANA GAVE US AND
SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.
I AM TRULY HUMBLED TO HAVE BEEN
SELECTED AS A "LOUISIANA
LEGENDS" FOR 2012.
I HAVE AS THE PIECE SHOWS
RECEIVED RECOGNITION IN MANY
PLACES IN THE WORLD.
I JUST LEFT LIBERIA, WHERE I WAS
MADE HONORARY CITIZEN AND GIVEN
AN AWARD, BUT THERE'S REALLY
NOTHING LIKE COMING HOME AND
GETTING AN AWARD IN FRONT OF
YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE AND I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK THEM TO STAND.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
THEN I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
OTHER PEOPLE.
MY HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER,
MR. BAILEY.
MAY I ASKED YOU TO STAND?
[APPLAUSE]
MR. BAILEY TAUGHT US THAT
SPEAKING PROPER WAS THE PROPER
WAY TO SPEAK.
[LAUGHTER]
I HAVE SPENT SO MANY YEARS
RACING AWAY FROM LOUISIANA AND
RACING BACK TO LOUISIANA, AND
AGAIN, WHEN I LEFT HERE IN 1974,
I RACED AWAY FROM LOUISIANA
BECAUSE LOUISIANA WAS AT THAT
TIME FOR ME A PLACE WHERE I
WASN'T SURE THIS WAS WHERE I
WANTED TO MAKE MY LIFE.
AND I WAS SURPRISED YEARS LATER
WHEN I KEPT RACING BACK TO
LOUISIANA AND REFERRING TO
LOUISIANA AS HOME AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO
LOUISIANA, AND I EVENTUALLY MET
A MAN IN LIBERIA WHOSE NAME IS
LAFAYETTE, MY HUSBAND OF 30
YEARS, AND SO I WOULD GO AROUND
THE WORLD AND MR. BAILEY, I WAS
SPEAKING PROPER, SO NOBODY KNEW
I WAS FROM LOUISIANA BY THE WAY
I SPOKE.
BUT PEOPLE WOULD SAY TO ME, BUT
WE KNOW WHERE YOU'RE FROM.
I WOULD SAY HOW DO YOU KNOW
WHERE I'M FROM?
YOU CAN'T KNOW WHERE I'M FROM.
BUT YOU'RE FROM LOUISIANA.
I SAID, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
BECAUSE YOUR HUSBAND'S NAME IS
LAFAYETTE.
[LAUGHTER]
LAFAYETTE IS FROM NORTH
CAROLINA.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT IN ANY CASE, PEOPLE REALIZED
THAT I WAS FROM LOUISIANA, AND
I'M SO PROUD TO BE FROM THE
STATE, TO HAVE GRADUATED FROM
LSU TO HAVE TAKEN EVERYTHING
THAT MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES HAVE GIVEN ME ALL
THESE YEARS AND SHARED THAT WITH
THE REST OF THE WORLD.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ONE MOMENT
AND SHOUT OUT FOR MY MOTHER, WHO
HOPEFULLY WILL SEE THIS FILM.
MOHOMED OSMAN MAHMUD, I'M SORRY
YOU COULDN'T BE HERE -- MOMO,
I'M SORRY YOU COULDN'T BE HERE
TONIGHT BUT I KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY
WATCHING THIS FILM.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AMONG THE
OTHER LEGENDS AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO GOING BACK TO BEING A LEGENDS
IN MY OWN MIND.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I HAVE ONE OTHER LITTLE
LETTER THAT JUST CAME IN.
IT'S JUST FROM ANOTHER OFFICIAL.
IT SAYS, DEAR LINDA,
CONGRATULATIONS AS YOU ARE
HONORED BY THE FREBDZ OF LPB,
AND AS YOU CELEBRATE THIS
MILESTONE I HOPE YOU TAKE PRIDE
IN YOUR REMARKABLE LIFE AND YOUR
MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR
COUNTRY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINE EXAMPLE
OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO
AMERICA.
YOU HAVE DONE A FINE JOB AND
GIVEN LOUISIANA A REASON TO BE
PROUD.
LAURA AND I SEND OUR BEST WISHES
ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION.
GOD BLESS YOU.
SINCERELY, GEORGE W. BUSH.
[APPLAUSE]
>>> GALE HATCH'S GROUNDBREAKING
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OLYMPIC STYLE
WEIGHT-LIFTING AND STRENGTH
TRAINING HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY
BOTH HIS FELLOW COACHES AND THE
THOUSANDS OF ATHLETES HE HAS
INSPIRED TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR
ATHLETIC GOALS NOT ONLY IN
LOUISIANA BUT AROUND THE WORLD.
>> BORN IN MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA,
TO DELAWARE INDIAN AND REDHEADED
IRISH SCHOOL TEACHER, GALE HATCH
GREW UP TENDING CATTLE AND
HORSES BUT HIS HERO, HIS DAD.
AT AGE EIGHT HESS FAMILY MOVED
TO IMROWJ.
A -- TO BATON ROUGE.
A TRUE COWBOY, GALE'S NATURAL
ATHLETICISM TRANSLATED INTO
NEARLY EVERY SPORT.
>> HE WENT TO CATHOLIC HIGH AND
WAS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN
BASKETBALL.
TRACK.
AND FOOTBALL.
>> AFTER EARNING THE BEST DOUBLE
DOUBLE RECORD IN THE HISTORY OF
LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL
BASKETBALL, HE WENT ON TO SET
MANY MORE RECORDS AT
NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY IN
NACOGDOCHES.
HIS .857 FIELD GOAL AVERAGE
AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN IN
1961 REMAINS A LOUISIANA STATE
COLLEGE RECORD AND RANKS AS ONE
OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL'S ALL TIME
BEST.
>> HE WAS A GREAT BASKETBALL
PLAYER.
BIG, STRONG, COULD SHOOT.
HE WAS MOBILE.
BELIEVE ME, IF HI BEEN THERE I
WOULD HAVE RECRUITED HIM TO PLAY
AT LSU.
>> HAD THAT HAPPENED HATCH WOULD
HAVE MISSED OUT ON HIS COLLEGE
SWEETHEART PEGGY, THE MOTHER OF
THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS AND LOVE OF
HIS LIFE.
AFTER A FEW YEARS OF PRO BALL HE
TURNED TO REAL ESTATE AND HIS
TRUE PASSION, COACHING.
WHEN HIS FORMER TRAINER AND
MENTOR, THE NFL'S FIRST STRENGTH
COACH, ALVIN ROY, RETIRED IN THE
LATE '70s HATCH CARRIED ON HIS
LEGACY, TAKING OVER AS STRENGTH
COACH AT HIS TRAINING CENTER.
SINCE THEN HATCH HAS BECOME A
LEGEND HIMSELF, REVOLUTIONIZING
THE PORT OF WEIGHT-LIFTING,
PIONEERING OLYMPIC STYLE
STRENGTH TRAINING AND FIGHTING
TO ENACT LAWS BARRING DRUG USE.
>> WE WORKED OUR BEHIND OFF.
THERE'S NO GREATER COACH.
RIGHT OR WRONG.
HE'S PRETTY MUCH -- BY THE BOOK.
>> SENIOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL
COACH HEAD COACH OF THE 2009
WORLD TEAM, AND 2004 U.S.
OLYMPIC WEIGHT-LIFTING TEAM, HIS
PROVEN METHODOLOGY KNOWN AS THE
HATCH SYSTEM IS USED BY STRENGTH
COACHES ACROSS THE NATION.
FROM LOCAL KIDS AND NEIGHBORHOOD
GYMS TO PRO PLAYERS WINNING
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND
OLYMPIANS ON THE WORLD STAGE, HE
CHALLENGES HIS ATHLETES TO BE
THE BEST THEY CAN BE, BUILDING
STRENGTH OF BODY, MIND AND
CHARACTER.
>> HE IS A FATHER FIGURE TO ME.
ALWAYS WILL BE.
HE HAS VERY, VERY HIGH
INTEGRITY.
HE WILL TAKE NOTHING LESS THAT
THAN FROM YOU.
>> HERE'S A GUY THAT'S A
SUPERSTAR.
WHAT A BETTER WAY TO HONOR HIM
THAN TO START A SCHOLARSHIP IN
GALE'S NAME AT NORTHWESTERN?
>> THOUGH TROPHIES LINE HIS
SHELVES AND HIS NAME IS ETCHED
IN STONE IN THE HALLS OF FAME,
COACH HATCH'S GREATEST LEGACY
LIES IN THE LIVES OF THOSE HE
HAS COACHED AND THE IMPACT THEY
WILL IN TURN HAVE ON OTHERS.
>> HE IS A VERY LOVING HUSBAND
AND FATHER.
HE IS VERY STRONG.
IT'S AS IMPORTANT TO HIM THAT
HIS ATHLETES BE GOOD CITIZENS,
DON'T LIE, DON'T CHEAT, AND
DON'T BREAK YOUR WORD.
>> HE'S GENTLE.
DON'T FOOL WITH HIM.
HE CAN SNAP YOU IN HALF.
AS BIG AS HIS HEART IS AND HIS
STATURE HE'S JUST A SUPER GUY.
YOU'RE A BETTER PERSON FOR BEING
AROUND HIM.
I KNOW I AM.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
GAYLE HATCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THOSE WORDS
FROM YOUR ATHLETES.
I TELL YOU, WHAT I WAS REALLY
AMAZED TODAY WHEN WE WENT TO THE
GOVERNOR'S MANSION THEN CAME
OVER HERE TO SEE ALL OF THE
BEAUTIFUL WOMEN THAT ARE HERE
TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, MICKEY, YOU
MAY HAVE TO HELP ME WITH THIS,
THE CLOSER WE GET TO CLOSING
TIME --
[LAUGHTER]
THEY ARE LOOKING EVEN MORE
BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[LAUGHTER]
OF COURSE THAT WAS ONE OF MILKY
GILLY'S GREATEST HITS.
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T BECOME A
LEGEND BY YOURSELF.
IT STARTS WITH YOUR FAMILY, WITH
YOUR ROOTS.
MY FATHER WAS INDIAN AND MY
MOTHER WAS IRISH.
I WAS BORN IN MUSKOGEE,
OKLAHOMA, AND WE MOVED TO BATON
ROUGE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG CHILD.
AND HE WORKED HIS WAY UP OUT OF
THE OIL FIELDS AND MADE
SOMETHING OF HIMSELF, AND HE
JUST TAUGHT ME A CODE TO LIVE BY
AND TOLD ME TO KEEP MY NOSE
CLEAN, WORK HARD, TRUST IN THE
GOOD LORD AND GOOD THINGS WILL
HAPPEN TO YOU.
BUT YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS THAT
HELP YOU WHEN YOU'RE GROWING UP
IS TO BE INSPIRED, TO HAVE A
HERO THAT INSPIRES YOU.
I WAS FORTUNATE WHEN I WAS YOUNG
TO LIVE THREE BLOCKS FROM BATON
ROUGE HIGH, AND THE GREAT JIMMY
TAYLOR WENT TO BATON ROUGE HIGH.
I WENT OVER EVERY SINGLE DAY
DURING FOOTBALL PRACTICE, EVERY
SINGLE DAY DURING BASKETBALL
PRACTICE, JUST TO WATCH JIMMY.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST
THRILLS IS WHEN HE GOT THROUGH,
HE JUMPED ON HIS BIKE WITH NO
SEAT AND TOOK OFF DELIVERING
PAPERS.
AND JUST SOMETHING JUST HIT ME
WITH THAT, YOU KNOW.
THIS GUY, HE WANTS IT AND HE
WANTS IT BAD.
SO THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN DRILLED
INTO MY HEAD BY MY DAD THAT IF
YOU WANT SOMETHING YOU GOTTA
WORK FOR IT.
SO THAT'S BEEN MY PHILOSOPHY MY
WHOLE LIFE.
AND YOU KNOW, THE THINGS ARE
GOING TO HAPPEN.
I COULD NOT LOSE THIS YEAR WHEN
LSU AND ALABAMA PLAYED BECAUSE
ONE OF MY PROPERTY JAYS, HEAD
STRENGTH COACH TOM MOFFAT, ONE
IS THE COACH AT ALABAMA, SCOTT
COCHRAN.
I PRETTY MUCH HAD IT MADE GOING
INTO THAT.
THAT GAVE US MY SIX BCS NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP WHICH I'M VERY
PROUD OF.
BUT THE TO HAVE SUCH GREAT
ATHLETES THAT I HAVE HAD OVER
THE YEARS, TO TRAIN, YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY
UNLESS YOU GOT A THOROUGHBRED,
AND SO BUT YOU CAN BE A
THOROUGHBRED AND IF YOU DON'T
HAVE THAT DRIVE AND THAT WORK
AND MY PROGRAM IS TOUGH.
IT'S REAL TOUGH BECAUSE IT'S
DONE WITHOUT STEROIDS.
SO WE HAVE TO TRAIN HARDER THAN
THESE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE
COMPETING AGAINST.
[APPLAUSE]
WE STARTED OFF WITH DEVELOPING
LOCAL STATE WEIGHT LIFTERS,
REGIONAL, NATIONAL, THEN MY
FIRST OLYMPIAN WAS -- WHO HAS
BECOME LIKE A SON TO ME EVEN TOE
THIS DAY WAS TOMMY CALANDRO, THE
1984 OLYMPIC TEAM, FOLLOWED UP
BY BRING BRYANT IN 1988 AND 1992
OLYMPIC TEAM.
WE HAD BLAIR LEBRON UP MAKE THE
2011 OLYMPIC SQUAD AND MY
CURRENT STAR MATT BRUCE HAS JUST
MADE THE 2012 OLYMPIC SQUAD AND
WILL BE COMPETING IN THE PAN AMS
NEXT WEEK TO SEE IF HE GETS TO
COMPETE IN LONDON.
SO WE'RE PROUD OF IT.
WE'RE PROUD OF THESE YOUNG
PROTEGES THAT WANT TO BE
STRENGTH COACHES.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IT'S A
LONG, HARD ROAD.
YOU BETTER HAVE THE RIGHT WOMAN
WITH YOU I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
I MARRIED MY SWEETHEART.
I WENT TO NORTHWESTERN, GREAT
UNIVERSITY, AND I'M SO PROUD
THAT PRESIDENT RANDALL WEBB AND
HIS WIFE ARE HERE TODAY, BUT I
WAS VERY FORTUNATE, MARRIED A
STRAIGHT A STUDENT AND A REAL
HOTTIE.
SHE'S STILL PRETTY --
[LAUGHTER]
SHE'S STILL PRETTY HOT AFTER 51
YEARS OF MARRIAGE.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY WIFE,
WANT HER TO STAND UP.
PEGGY!
[APPLAUSE]
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS
GREAT HONOR AND TO GO IN WITH
THIS GROUP RIGHT HOARE IS
TREMENDOUS.
[AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE]
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
MICKEY WILL BE UP NEXT.
HE KNOWS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THIS
FARRADAY NATIVE BORN IN NATCHEZ
HAS HAD A REMARKABLE MUSIC
CAREER NOT TO MENTION HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS TELEVISION
ACTOR, ENTERTAINER AND BUSINESS
VISIONARY.
MICKEY GILLY IS LIVING PROOF
THAT GREATNESS CAN BE ACHIEVED
DESPITE THE ODDS.
RAISED ON GOSPEL MUSIC WITH HIS
FAMOUS COUSIN IN THE SMALL TOWN
OF FARRADAY, LOUISIANA, MICKEY
GILLY NEVER DREAMED HE WOULD
BECOME A COUNTRY MUSIC
SUPERSTAR.
NEITHER DID HIS DEVOUT MOTHER,
WHO PRAYED HE WOULD STEER CLEAR
OF THE DEVIL'S MUSIC.
>> WELL, BACK WHEN I WAS IN
JUNIOR HIGH, WE WOULD GO TO THE
GYM AND JERRY LEE WOULD GET ON
THE PIANO MISSING A COUPLE KEYS.
MICKEY WOULD SING DRINKING WINE.
>> THE YOUNGEST OF FOUR CHILDREN
MICKEY WAS A SURPRISE BABY AND
BELOVED MAMA'S BOY BUT AT 17 HE
LEFT HOME, MARRIED HIS HIGH
SCHOOL SWEETHEART AND STARTED A
FAMILY OF HIS OWN.
>> HE WORKED FOR MEAGER SUMS
LAYING SANITARY SEWER LINE.
IT WAS VERY MUCH BASE EXISTENCE
GETTING FROM ONE WEEK TO THE
NEXT IN HOUSTON.
>> INSPIRED BUY HIS COUSIN JERRY
LEE LEWIS'S SUCCESS IN THE
1960s HE BEGAN PLAYING THE
CLUBS BUT DESPITE A DIVORCE AND
CONTINUED STRUGGLE TO SUPPORT
HIS SECOND WIFE AND FOUR
CHILDREN HE NEVER LOST FAYE IN
HIS DREAM.
>> HE'S A MAN WHO DIDN'T HAVE
HIS FIRST NUMBER ONE HIT UNTIL
HE WAS 38 YEARS OLD.
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO STRUGGLE,
TO FAIL, AND HE NEVER FORGOT
WHAT IT WAS TO BE A REGULAR JOE.
>> HIS LUCK CHANGED IN 1971 WHEN
HE PARTNERED WITH SHERWOOD PRYOR
TO OPEN GILLY'S NIGHTCLUB IN
PASADENA.
IT WOULD BECOME THE WORLD'S
LARGEST HONK I CAN TONG, SET THE
STAGE FOR NEARLY A DECADE OF
HITS STARTING IN 1974, AND
INSPIRED THE 1980 BLOCKBUSTER
MOVIE URBAN COWBOY.
IT REVOLUTIONIZED THE COUNTRY
MUSIC SCENE.
[SINGING]
>> MY FAVORITE SONG OF MICKEY'S
IS STILL GOT TO BE DON'T THE
GIRLS ALL GET PRETTIER AT
CLOSING TIME.
HE EPITOMIZES THE URBAN COWBOY
TO ME.
>> HE'S ONE OF THE MOST
FRIENDLIEST GUYS YOU'LL EVER
MEET.
HAD WEE DO ANYTHING IN THE WORLD
FOR YOU.
♪ IF I SENT A ROSE TO YOU ♪♪
♪ FOR EVERY TIME YOU MADE ME
BLUE ♪♪
>> HE LOVES THREE THINGS, LIFE,
GOD AND SINGING.
>> HE WOULD FLY IN AND PLAY GOLF
ALL DAY AND JUST HAVE A BLAST
WITH EVERYBODY AND ALL HIS
FRIENDS FROM FARRADAY.
HE LOVES LOUISIANA.
THAT'S HIS HOME.
>> AFTER CLOSING HIS TEXAS HOT
SPOT IN 1989, HE FOUND A NEW
HOME IN BRANSON, MISSOURI.
IN THE EARLY '90s HE OPENED
GILLY'S THEATER AND TEXAS CAFE,
ENTERTAINING FANS NIGHT AFTER
NIGHT, BUT AN ACCIDENT ON JULY
5, 2009, CHANGED EVERYTHING.
>> WE WERE OBVIOUSLY DEVASTATED.
MICKEY WAS TRYING TO MOVE A
PIECE OF FURNITURE AND FAILED.
>> HE WAS TOTALLY PARALYZED IN
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, FOR THREE
MONTHS.
COULDN'T MOVE NOTHING BUT HIS
EYES.
>> AT AGE 73, DESPITE
OVERWHELMING ODDS, MICKEY FOUGHT
BACK.
NINE MONTHS LATER HE WAS BACK ON
STAINING.
-- ON STAGE.
>> MICKEY IS SOMETHING ELSE.
HE'S A TREASURE.
NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
HE'S ENTERTAINED ALL THESE YEARS
BUT A TREASURE TO HIS FAMILY.
HE'S A TREASURE TO EVERYBODY
THAT HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEND
TIME AROUND HIM.
HE DOESN'T CARE WHERE YOU COME
FROM OR WHAT YOU HAVE, HE JUST
WANTS TO BE YOUR FRIEND.
>> I THINK MICKEY INSPIRES
EVERYONE THAT'S CLOSE TO HIM BY
THE FACT THAT HE'S SUCH A NICE
GUY.
GENUINELY WILLING TO DO WHATEVER
IS ASKED OF HIM AND TO GO ABOVE
AND BEYOND TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE
AROUND HIM.
AND THAT'S A PRETTY DAUNTING
TASK EVEN FOR THOSE OF US THAT
ARE JUST EVERY DAY PEOPLE.
>> HE NEVER TURNS US DOWN.
REGARDLESS WHAT YOU ASK HIM.
I CAN'T EVER REMEMBER HIM
TURNING US DOWN FOR ANYTHING.
SO HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS ONE
OF THE TRUE LEGENDS OF
LOUISIANA.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
SO YOU THOUGHT I WAS AN
OVERNIGHT SENSATION, HUH?
[LAUGHTER]
I'M TELLING YOU, I GOT TURNED
DOWN SO MANY TIMES BECAUSE
EVERYBODY SAID, WHAT YOU TRYING
TO DO COPY YOUR COUSIN JERRY
LEE?
I SAID, NO, I'M TRYING TO BE
EXACTLY LIKE HIM.
HE'S SUCCESSFUL.
I WASN'T.
GOT TO BE PROUD OF REVEREND
SWAGERT, THOUGH.
HE MADE MORE MONEY THAN ME AND
JERRY LEE PUT TOGETHER.
[LAUGHTER]
TAX FREE.
[LAUGHTER]
I GREW UP IN LOUISIANA, I SPENT
17 YEARS THERE, WENT TO HOUSTON,
TEXAS, TO DO CONSTRUCTION WORK.
I WAS NOT THE SMART ONE IN THE
GROUP.
KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
FOR A DOLLAR AND A QUARTER AN
HOUR.
JERRY LEE CAME IN, PULLED OUT
MORE MONEY THAN I EVER SEEN IN
MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I SAID, I'M
IN THE WRONG BUSINESS.
I THREW MY HAT IN THE RING AND
THINKING I WAS GOING TO BE A
SUPERSTAR, MADE MY FIRST RECORD,
EVERYTHING WAS TURN DOWN.
TOOK ME 17 YEARS BEFORE I
RECORDED IF I SENT A ROSE TO
YOU, AND WHEN I FOUND OUT THE
LADIES LIKED FLOWER SONGS I
RECORDED EVERY ONE I COULD FIND
FOR YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
TRUE STORY.
I RECORDED ROOMFUL OF ROSES
WHILE SEARCHING FOR A ROSE, BIG
BOUQUET OF ROSES, SAN ANTONIO
ROSE.
ONLY ONE I MISSED WAS TIPTOE
THROUGH THE TULIPS.
[LAUGHTER]
IN 1977, I HAD THE SHOCK OF MY
LIFE.
THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC
AWARDS SHOW, THAT PARTICULAR
NIGHT THEY GAVE ME EVERY AWARD
EXCEPT THE FEMALE VOCALIST
AWARD.
[LAUGHTER]
WAS I IN SHOCK?
YES.
THEN I WAS AWARDED THE STAR ON
THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME.
IF YOU FOLKS WONDER WHERE IT'S
AT, I ONLY HAVE ONE.
NOT LIKE GENE AUTRY.
HE HAS SEVEN.
THERE'S ONE OUT THERE WITH
MICKEY GILLY'S NAME ON IT IN
HOLLYWOOD RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE
CHINESE THEATER.
GO TO THE CHINESE THEATER, WALK
ACROSS THE STREET, THAT'S WHERE
THE STAR IS AT.
POLISH THE STAR FOR ME.
BUT IT IS A PLEASURE AND AN
HONOR TO BE A PART OF LOUISIANA
BECAUSE THIS IS MY HOME STATE.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH ALL
THESE HONOREES HERE.
LOUISIANA HAS BEEN GREAT TO ME.
I LIKE TO PROMOTE THE MUSEUM IN
FARRADAY.
URBAN COWBOY TURNED MY CAREER
AROUND AND I WAS LAUNCHED INTO
THE STRATOSPHERE, SO TO SPEAK.
WHEN I RECORDED ROOMFUL OF ROSES
NEVER DREAMED IT WOULD BE A HIT.
SHE HI A LOCAL TV SHOW ON THE
HOUSTON MARKET.
I SAID, WHAT DO YOU NEED THAT
FOR?
SHE SAID, I HAVE 300 JUKE BOXES
I'M GONE IN AVILA PUT THEM ON
EVERY ONE.
I RECORDED SHE CALLED ME BABY
AND I SAID WHAT IS THE OTHER
SIDE?
I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
LET'S DO THE OLD ONGOING ROOM
FULL OF ROSES.
I GREW UP SINGING THAT WITH
JIMMY AND JERRY.
I WENT THROUGH THE SONG.
WE STARTED THE RECORDING.
I GOT HALFWAY THROUGH, I SAID, I
DON'T WANT TO DO THIS SONG.
WHY NOT.
IT'S GOING TO SOUNDS LIKE JERRY
LEE LEWIS.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
NOBODY IS EVER GOING TO HEAR T.
TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF MY
BIGGEST SONGS.
THE LADIES GET PRETTIER AT
CLOSING TIME IS MY BIGGEST SONG.
THE GUYS START LOOKING BETTER TO
THEM AT CLOSING TIME.
[LAUGHTER]
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE
TONIGHT.
WHAT AN HONOR IT IS.
I HAVE RECEIVED A LOT 6 AWARDS
BUT THIS IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING
ME COME UP AND BE A LOUISIANA
LEGEND.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR
20,000 -- 2012 "LOUISIANA
LEGENDS."
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A
FANTASTIC EVENING SEEING SO MANY
OF YOU HERE AND BEING ABLE TO
HONOR THESE EXTRAORDINARY
PEOPLE.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING,
WE ARE CELEBRATING 200 YEARS
BEING A STATE.
AND AS WE CELEBRATE THESE LIVES,
I'M REMINDED OF THE DOCUMENTARY
WE'RE WORKING ON NOW FOR THIS
BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
AS WE CLOSE THIS EVENING I WOULD
LIKE YOU JUST TO TAKE A PREVIEW
OF A LITTLE SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE
DOCUMENTARY WE'RE GOING DO BE
AIRING IN AUGUST CELEBRATING OUR
WONDERFUL HISTORY.
LET'S JUST TAKE A BRIEF LOOK.
>> AFTER 1812, AMERICA ADDED AN
18th STAR TO HER FLAG.
LOUISIANA HAD BECOME ONE OF THE
UNITED STATES.
IT WAS A UNIQUE ADDITION TO THE
YOUNG NATION.
ALL THOSE CULTURES AND
COLLUSIONS PRODUCED SOMETHING
THAT'S MORE THAN THE SUM OF THE
PARTS BY FAR AND SETS LOUISIANA
APART FROM THE REST OF THE
UNITED STATES.
>> IT'S THE MOST INTRIGUING
PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN.
I THINK FOR THE ARTIST A LOCALE
LIKE LOUISIANA IS AN ENORMOUS
GIFT.
>> THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
LOUISIANANS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR
CELEBRATORY SPIRIT.
>> LOUISIANA IS A PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO HAVE A GOOD
TIME.
AND 200 YEARS OF STATE HOOD
GIVES US MUCH TO CELEBRATE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL
EVENING.
WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
WE CONGRATULATE LEGENDS AGAIN
AND FOR JIM NICHOLS, BETH
COURTNEY, I SAY GOODNIGHT,
EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
>>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM
PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY TRUST
BANK, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
NORTH LOUISIANA, TEXAS AND
MISSISSIPPI FOR MORE THAN A
CENTURY.
COMMUNITY TRUST BANK IS A PROUD
PARTNER OF LPB'S "LOUISIANA
LEGENDS."
>>> FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM
CALL 1-800-973-7246, OR GO
ONLINE TO WWW.LPB.ORG.