Jokes on retiring leader at ULL

• By HEATHER MILLER
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: May 8, 2008 - Page: 1BA - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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LAFAYETTE — Friends, colleagues and esteemed community members gathered Wednesday at a luncheon to pay tribute to retiring University of Louisiana at Lafayette President Ray Authement.

The luncheon, an annual fundraiser for the Evangeline Area Boy Scouts, honored Authement with the 2008 Distinguished Citizen Award.

“I’m speaking for the university, community and state when I say Ray Authement is an intellectual educator with a kind heart,” Acadian Ambulance CEO Richard Zuschlag said. “People know his achievements with the university, but so many people don’t know how much he’s done for the community.”

City-Parish President Joey Durel made a surprise announcement at the luncheon, proclaiming May 7 as Ray Authement Appreciation Day.

As part of the tribute, three colleagues roasted him with memories and embarrassing moments — ULL professor J.J. Burdin, local businessman Bill Fenstermaker and ULL Vice President for Academic Affairs Steve Landry.

“Few, if any, deserve this more than Ray,” Burdin said. “He’s been associated with the university for over 50 years. Friends were beginning to think he couldn’t get a job anywhere else.”

The roasters joked about Authement’s long reign as president — 34 years — and his frugal spending habits.

“He was a big procrastinator,” Fenstermaker said. “He’s told many departments on campus, ‘If you don’t get the money this year, there’s always next year.’ ”

“People always said, ‘He won’t retire. He’ll die in office,’ ” said Landry, who has worked with Authement for 37 years. “I have 50 or so days left with him, and I want to make sure he doesn’t die in office.”

In his acceptance speech, Authement thanked his wife, Barbara, for her continued support and also revealed that he plans to teach again after he retires.

“This goes to show that if you stay somewhere long enough, people will celebrate you leaving,” Authement said. “It’s been a labor of love. I’ve enjoyed every day I’ve served.”

Authement, who became president of the university in 1974, is scheduled to retire in June. He will be succeeded by state Commissioner of Higher Education Joe Savoie.