Lt. General Russel Honoré to address Southeastern graduates
Contact: Rene Abadie
4/25/07
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HAMMOND -- Lt. General Russel L. Honoré, the U.S. Army commander and Louisiana native who led the task force charged with the recovery of the area in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, will address Southeastern Louisiana University graduates at the university’s spring commencement on May 12.
Southeastern will confer associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees on more than 1,050 students at the 10 a.m. ceremony in the University Center.
The commanding general of the First Army at Fort Gillem, Ga., since July 2004, Gen. Honoré was designated commander of Joint Task Force Katrina with the responsibility for coordinating relief efforts for the New Orleans and Gulf coast areas. Called “one John Wayne dude” who was “getting some stuff done” by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Gen. Honoré was recognized for his leadership following the hurricane with the Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award presented at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport in December 2005.
Gen. Honoré has served in a variety of command and staff positions, including overseas assignments in Korea and Germany. Prior to assuming command of the First Army, he served as commander of the Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Security. He has also served as deputy commanding general for the Army Infantry Center and School at Fort Benning, Ga., and assistant division commander for the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
A native of Lakeland, La., in Pointe Coupee Parish and holding the nickname “The Ragin’ Cajun,” he was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry and awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in vocational agriculture upon graduation from Southern University in Baton Rouge in 1971. He holds a Master of Arts degree in human resources from Troy State University. He has been awarded an honorary doctorate in public administration from Southern University and a Doctor of Laws honorary degree from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The general’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, the Global War on Terror Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
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