Southeastern honors alumnus Alario for Lifetime Achievement

Thursday, December 1, 2016 John A. Alario Jr.
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.




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