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Drive-by public memorial on Friday to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Ray Authement

Dr. Ray P. Authement greets spectators at Cajun Field in an image from 2007.

Lafayette, La. – The public is invited to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Ray P. Authement at a drive-by memorial Friday at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Authement died Sunday, April 5.


He became UL Lafayette president in 1974 and served for 34 years, making him the nation’s longest-serving public university president at the time of his retirement in 2008.

The tribute will be on display from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Motorists should enter the circular driveway in front of Martin Hall, the University’s main administrative building, located at 104 E. University Ave.

To maintain social distancing, the public should remain in their vehicles while viewing the tribute.

A basket will be available for visitors to leave notes, cards and other small remembrances.

In lieu of flowers, the Authement family requests donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Lafayette or to the UL Lafayette Foundation.

Checks to the Foundation can be mailed to P.O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504. They should be made payable to the UL Lafayette Foundation.