LOUISIANA COUNCIL ON HUMAN RELATIONS OLIVER-SIGUR HUMANITARIAN AWARDS

The awards are named for the late Dr. James Oliver, University of Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) Chemistry Professor and Graduate School Dean; and the late Msgr. Alexander Sigur, S.J., Director, ULL Catholic Student Center. In the 1950’s and 60’s when racial tensions were strong, African-American students were admitted to classes but not to dining halls, dormitories, or the Student Union. They were socially isolated and had no place to gather between classes until Fr. Sigur opened the doors of the Catholic center and declared that all were welcome. Dr. Oliver, who pioneered in computer science, took the social gospel of Christianity seriously; he worked untiringly for social justice and against racism. His life was a model for many of his students, colleagues, and others. Both of these distinguished men were involved in the Louisiana Council on Human Relations from its beginning in 1964. Dr. Oliver served as LCHR President for its first eight years.

The award consists of a wood plaque presented at the LCHR annual meeting, normally in June. Usually a black person and a white person are honored, normally not from Baton Rouge, since the BRCHR has its own humanitarian award. Below is a list of the award recipients.

2002 Lorna Bourg & Donald Ray Cravins, Sr.

Bourg: Long time Exec. Dir., Southern Mutual Help Association, New Iberia, which assists low-income blacks and whites to find work. Life member of LCHR.

Cravins, Sr.: Louisiana State Senator, supportive of issues important to LCHR members. From Opelousas.

2003 Jules Edwards & Burk Foster

Edwards: Judge, Juvenile Court. Supportive of LCHR issues. From Lafayette.

Foster: Sociology professor at ULL, specializing in opposing the death penalty. From Lafayette.

2004 Wilma Subra & Ernest Gaines

Subra: Holds Ph. D. in chemistry. Executive of Pesticide Task Force, New Iberia.

Gaines: Famous author, retired, associated with ULL in Lafayette. Agrees with LCHR on racial issues.

2005 J’Nelle Chargois & Helen Prejean.

Chargois: Head of NAACP Chapter, lives in Duson, La.

Prejean: Roman Catholic nun. New Orleans author & public speaker nationally famous for being opposed to capital punishment; counsels prisoners.

2006 Dennis Paul Williams & William P. Quigley.

Williams: Artist & guitarist from St. Martinville.

Quigley: Atty. & Loyola Law School Prof. from New Orleans, well known for his helping low-income persons and for being a leading advocate for human rights, peace, & justice.

2007 Roberta Madden & Hector LaSala

Madden: From Baton Rouge. Director of Public Policy & Women’s Health, YWCA Greater B.R. She has many years of community activism for better race relations in Baton Rouge. Previously awarded the BRCHR Humanitarian Award.

LaSala: From Lafayette. Prof. architecture, ULL. Led students to undertake projects to benefit low-income persons and to protect the environment.

2008 Patricia K. Rickels & Joseph Dennis

Rickels: From Lafayette. Retired ULL English prof & Honors Director, longtime Corresponding Sec. & former newsletter ed, LCHR. Activist in civil rights movement in southern La. since 1957.

Dennis: From Lafayette. Longtime President of LCHR. Active leader in local NAACP. Retired.