Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           
    Date: 5/7/98
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  1

Editors: Photo accompanies release
REP.  JOHN ALARIO TO RECEIVE SLU'S "GOLDEN AMBASSADOR" AWARD
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University will present its prestigious "Golden
Ambassador Award" to Rep. John A. Alario Jr. of Westwego,  a veteran member of the
Louisiana Legislature and a 1965 Southeastern graduate.
     The Golden Ambassador Award was established by President Sally Clausen in 1996 to
honor outstanding service, achievement and/or humanitarian efforts. 
     Alario will receive the Golden Ambassador Award at Southeastern's May 16
commencement ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m. in the University Center arena.
     "Golden Ambassadors are selected based on extraordinary contributions to the success of
our university, community and our state," Clausen said. "Rep. Alario has been a leader, mentor
and a quiet long term supporter of Southeastern. He tends to look for solutions rather than
headlines. We are honored to present this award to one of our own graduates."
      Alario was nominated by Rep. "Tank" Powell of Ponchatoula. "John Alario cares about
people more than he does about politics," Powell said. "We represent different parties, yet John is
willing to work together if it benefits Louisiana. I respect him and so does every member of the
legislature. He is a statesman."
     Now in his seventh term as District 83 state representative, Alario served two terms as
Speaker of the House of Representatives. Currently, he is chairman of the House Ways and
Means Committee and is a member of the State Bond Commission, the Joint Capital Outlay
Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and the House Executive 
Committee.                                                                           
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            ALARIO HONORED BY SLU -- Add One
     The Southeastern Alumni Association named Alario its "Distinguished Alumnus" in
1982, and he received the College of Business' "Business Alumnus Award" in 1992. Alario also
has received the Police Jury Outstanding Legislator Award, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers
1996 Representative of the Year Award, the Hale Boggs Memorial Award, the Waggaman
Jaycees Distinguished Service Award and the West Jefferson High School Outstanding Alumnus
Award.
     Alario serves as chairman of the Louisiana Exposition Authority and the Development
Advisory Board of Archbishop Shaw High School. He also is a member of the West Jefferson
Metroplex Civic Center Committee, Task Force for Juvenile Facilities in Jefferson Parish and
Board of the Louisiana Epilepsy Association. He is active in the Knights of Columbus, the
Westwego Volunteer Fire Department, the National Society of Public Accountants and the
Louisiana Kidney Association.
     After graduating from Southeastern, Alario taught in the Jefferson Parish School System.
He was elected in 1965 to serve on the Democratic Executive Committee in Jefferson Parish and
in 1972 attended the Democratic National Convention in Miami, Fla. He was elected to the
Constitutional Convention in 1973 and was a delegate to the 1996 Democratic National
Convention in Chicago.
     Alario and his wife, the former Alba "Ree" Williamson, have four children. Sons
Christopher and Kevin attend Southeastern.
                                 - SLU -
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