March 4, 1997
FOUNDATION CREATES MILLION-DOLLAR ENDOWED
CHAIR
IN ENGLISH AT NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY
THIBODAUX
– For the second time this year, Nicholls State University
became the benefactor of a million-dollar endowed chair, NSU
President Donald J. Ayo announced. The Belle L. and Leonard
J. Toups Endowed Chair in English became a reality Friday as
the University of Louisiana System Board of Trustees approved
state funds to match those of a 1984 donation from Mrs. Toups
solicited by President and Mrs. Ayo.
The chair is the result of combining two existing endowed professorships
in English and the remaining principal and interest added to
matching funds from the Louisiana Board of Regents’ Support
Fund, Nicholls State University Foundation President Allen Danos
said.
Nicholls Vice President for Institutional Advancement Ray Carney
said, “Thanks to the Nicholls Foundation’s excellent
management of dedicated funding, the Toups endowment has grown
more than 300 percent. That is quite an accomplishment.”
Dick Barker III, chairman of the NSU Foundation’s Membership Committee, said endowments such as the Leonard and Bell Toups Endowed Chair in English provide a perpetual memorial for loved ones. “I can think of no better way to make a lasting tribute than to create an endowment with the Nicholls State University Foundation,” he said.
Dr. David Boudreaux, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
and former head of the English Department, said, “True
to Mrs. Toups’ wishes, the endowed chair will help the
university to attract a proven scholarly educator to the English
Department. When she gave the funds, Mrs. Toups expressed her
desire to do those things that provide the most good. Our commitment
must be to see that her dream is fulfilled.”
Leonard J. Toups began his professional career as an English
teacher, then as principal, at St. Charles Senior High School
in Lafourche Parish. Later he was a coach, teacher and principal
at Thibodaux High School. He served as state representative
from 1948 to 1952 and as mayor of Thibodaux from 1954 to 1966.
Toups was appointed to the board of directors of the Lafourche
Parish Fresh Water District in 1958 and chaired the board from
1969 until his death in March 1982. He also founded and directed
Leonard J. Toups Insurance Agency and Toups Realty for over
50 years.
His wife, the former Belle LeBlanc of Abbeville, taught in
the Lafourche and Terrebonne parish school systems for 20 years.
Before her death in 1984, she was a charter member and past
president of the Thibodaux General Hospital Ladies Auxiliary,
a member of the Thibodaux Women’s Club for more than 50
years, and was active in the St. Genevieve Ladies Altar Society,
the League of the Sacred Heart, and the Third Order of Mount
Carmel.
In a 1984 interview in the Nicholls faculty and staff newsletter, Mrs. Toups said, “I hope this endowment inspires others to consider helping Nicholls and its academic programs. The good truly can spread over many people and many generations.”
August 11, 1997
SAVOIE PRESENTS MATCHING FUNDS FOR FIRST ENDOWED CHAIR AT NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY
THIBODAUX – Louisiana’s Commissioner of Higher Education,
Dr. E. Joseph Savoie, presented a $400,000 check from the Board
of Regents’ Support Fund to Nicholls State University President
Donald J. Ayo Monday morning to complete a $1 million endowment
to benefit the University’s Lang uages and Literature Department.
The Belle and Leonard Toups Endowed Chair in English will result
from the monies. Earlier this year, the Nicholls State University
Foundation presented a $600,000 check to Ayo. The Toups funds
had been invested by the Foundation for about 15 years to reach
a level sufficient to be able to apply for the state’s
matching funds.
The Toups chair will be the first endowed chair to be in place at Nicholls State University. Savoie commended Ayo and his late wife, Betsy Cheramie Ayo, for making the original donation possible and seeing the wishes of Mrs. Toups through to become a reality. The Bollinger family of Lockport committed earlier this year to donating another endowed chair in the College of Business Administration. Monday’s presentation was part of the Nicholls State University Faculty Institute, where university leaders welcome new and returning faculty members for the fall semester. Classes begin Monday at NSU.
Leonard J. Toups began his professional career as an English
teacher, than as principal, at St. Charles Senior High School
in Lafourche Parish. Later he was a coach, teacher and principal
at Thibodaux High School. He served as state representative
from 1948 to 1952 and as mayor of Thibodaux from 1954 to 1966.
Toups was appointed to the board of directors of the Lafourche
Parish Fresh Water District in 1958 and chaired the board from
1969 until his death in March 1982. He also founded and directed
Leonard J. Toups Insurance Agency and Toups Realty for over
50 years.
His wife, the former Belle LeBlanc of Abbeville, taught in
Lafourche and Terrebonne parish school systems for 20 years.
Before her death in 1984, she was a charter member and past
president of the Thibodaux General Hospital Ladies Auxiliary,
a member of the Thibodaux Woman’s Club for more than 50
years, and was active in the St. Genevieve Ladies Altar Society,
the League of the Sacred Heart, and the Third Order of Mount
Carmel.
In a 1984 interview with the Nicholls faculty and staff newsletter, Mrs. Toups said, “I hope this endowment inspires others to consider helping Nicholls and its academic programs. The good truly can spread over many people and many generations.”