Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 12/4/98
      Contact:                           Tim Ardillo   28

MATHENY HONORED WITH DEGREE; LIVINGSTON TO ADDRESS GRADUATES
     HAMMOND -- Hammond attorney Tom Matheny will receive an honorary doctorate of
humanities degree from Southeastern Louisiana University at the university's December 12
commencement exercises.
     U.S. Speaker of the House designate Robert L. "Bob" Livingston, who will become the
third highest ranking elected official in the nation in January, will give the keynote address to
more than 950 Southeastern graduates at the 10 a.m. ceremony at the University Center on
University Avenue. 
     Matheny, a 1954 Southeastern graduate, has a long and distinguished record of service to
the community and to his church. As an unprecedented six-term president of the World United
Methodist Judicial Council, his influence on the future of the many church-affiliated educational
institutions has been felt internationally.
     "Mr. Matheny is an effective and quiet leader who is always willing to lend a hand when
called upon to do good work for others," Southeastern President Sally Clausen said.
"Southeastern is very proud to award him this honorary doctorate. He is a devoted humanitarian
and well deserving of this special recognition."
     On the state and local level, Matheny has served on the Council for a Better Louisiana,
the American Academy for Political and Social Sciences and the Louisiana Historical Society.
He has been a tirelessly advocate for the rights of people with mental illness as president of the
Tangipahoa Parish Mental Health Association and the Louisiana Mental Health Association.
     A strong supporter of Southeastern and higher education in general, Matheny has served
on the boards of trustees of American University, Centenary College, Iliff School of Theology
and Scarritt College.  He has served as president of Southeastern's Alumni Association and a
member of the Development Foundation board of directors. The history and government
                                
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department lecture series during Southeastern's Fanfare arts festival is named for Matheny, who
was the 1981 Southeastern Alumnus of the Year.
     Commencement speaker Livingston has represented Louisiana's First District since 1977
and was elected Speaker by his House of Representatives colleagues on Nov. 18, 1998.  He will
officially take the office after the swearing in ceremony in January. 
     Previously, the veteran congressman from Metairie chaired the House Appropriations
Committee, which has jurisdiction over all discretionary federal government expenditures. Under
Livingston's leadership, the Appropriations Committee eliminated more than 300 programs and
maintained a freeze on spending. Livingston was the first Republican in more than 40 years to be
re-elected chair of the powerful House committee.
     "We are eagerly anticipating the address from our new Speaker," Clausen said. "I am
certain that the message he will leave with our graduates will be both a significant and thought
provoking one. Southeastern is delighted to welcome him to our campus on such an exciting
day."
                             -SLU-
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