Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2011-11-15

Duration: 00:24:59

Subjects: LEACH, LAURA | Leach, Buddy | Politics | Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.) | Louisiana State University System | HIGHER EDUCATION | Arts | Opera | Groves, Paul (Tenor) | Environment | Education

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Leach, Laura Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from November 15, 2011, features an interview with Laura Leach conducted by Beth Courtney. Leach, a native of Lake Charles, is a businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the chairwoman of Sweet Lake Land and Oil Company and North American Land Company, as well as a member and past chair of the LSU Board of Supervisors. She discusses: growing up in Lake Charles; her grandfather’s interest in preservation; studying business at LSU in 1956; her interest in sports; her marriage to former Congressman Buddy Leach; being a political wife; her role on the LSU Board of Supervisors; the importance of LSU as a flagship university; her support of the arts; bringing Luciano Pavarotti to Baton Rouge; working with opera singer Paul Groves and the LSU Opera; her work with the Nature Conservancy and the importance of the environment; the importance of education; and the 501c-3 nonprofit she started with a friend, Education First Louisiana.