Photo courtesy of McNeese Office of Marketing and Communications

The veil was removed from the front of the new student union on Wednesday afternoon to reveal its new name, the Elizabeth and Leslie Richard Student Union.

Members of the McNeese State University administration, engineers who made the building possible, Mayor Marshall Simien Jr. and family members of the building’s new namesakes gathered in front of the new student union to debut the building’s new name to the public. Interim president of McNeese State University, Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, expressed his gratitude to the members of the Richard family who were present.

“We will be forever grateful for the philanthropic and altruistic legacy of your family that will forever be embedded in the identity of this facility,” said Nicholas.

Executive director of the McNeese Foundation, Laura Bowers, said that the late Leslie Richard was one of the original founders of the Cameron State Bank, which was established in the late 1970s. Richards did not have any children of their own, so they chose to pour into McNeese State University by funding multiple scholarships for McNeese students.

Upon the passing of the Richards, the instruction of their estate was to donate $8 million to the McNeese State University Foundation to be endowed and added to their existing scholarships. After damage from Hurricanes Laura and Delta, McNeese State University was able to borrow funds from that donation in order to complete the new student union, with the understanding that the loan would be paid back to the Richard’s endowment from student fees so it could continue to fund scholarships for McNeese students.

As a McNeese State University graduate herself, the great niece of the Richards, Kristi LeDoux, was thankful to have her family’s name enshrined at her alma mater.

“To have our family associated with a place so close to our hearts that will serve others for years to come is something that we never imagined,” said LeDoux. “Our hope is that this building becomes a place where lives are changed, dreams are discovered and people feel welcome, supported and inspired.”