Southeastern honors alumnus Alario for Lifetime Achievement
Thursday, December 1, 2016
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND – Louisiana Senate President John A. Alario Jr. will be honored by his alma
mater with a Southeastern Louisiana University Lifetime Achievement Award as part
of the university’s commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the
University Center.
That morning the university will confer more than 1,000 degrees on students who
are graduating with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
A 1965 graduate of Southeastern, Alario is being recognized for his lifetime
of public service including his 45-year tenure in both the Louisiana House of Representatives
and the Senate, as well as his civic service with numerous non-profit organizations.
“President Alario truly deserves this recognition, which is one of the highest
honors the university has ever bestowed,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain.
“His distinguished career in public service and his unifying influence have served
Louisiana well especially during contentious and difficult times. Our state has struggled
with economic and budget challenges in recent years. I have no doubt those issues
would have been even more treacherous had it not been for the leadership and wisdom
of John Alario.”
He has previously been recognized by Southeastern with its Golden Ambassador
Award in 1998 and was named the Southeastern Alumni Association’s 1981 Outstanding
Alumnus of the Year.
Alario is a tax consultant and owner of John A. Alario, Jr. Tax Service in Westwego.
He is the dean of the Louisiana State Legislature, having served nine terms as the
representative of House District 83 and currently in his third term as senator for
District 8. He is the first Louisiana legislator to serve twice as Speaker of the
House and twice as President of the Senate, and is the only legislator to serve multiple
terms as both Speaker of the House and President of the Senate.
Alario currently serves on several key bodies in the Legislature including the
State Bond Commission, the Revenue Estimating Conference, and the Joint Legislative
Committee on the Budget.
His civic activities have included service on the boards of the Louisiana Epilepsy
Association, the Task Force for Juvenile Facilities, the Louisiana Kidney Foundation
and the West Jefferson Metroplex Civic Center Committee. From 1979 to 1985, he served
as chairman of the Louisiana Exposition Authority, the body overseeing the 1984 World’s
Fair in New Orleans.
His recognitions include receiving the Jefferson Parish Public School System
Distinguished Citizen Award; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Champion Award;
and Legislator of the Year awards from the Professional Firefighters Association,
Police Jury Association, Louisiana State Troopers Association, Louisiana Federation
of Teachers and Association for Retarded Citizens. Additionally, he has received the
West Jefferson High School Outstanding Alumnus Award and the Hale Boggs Outstanding
and Dedicated Service to Community Award, among many others.