MR. william dudley "Dud" lastrapes, jr.
MR. phillip arleigh "phil"Lank
2016 Recipients
International Achievement Award
The International Center Foundation, advisory board of The International Center of Lafayette, gathered today to announce the 17th recipients of the International Achievement Award. Established in 1998, the Award honors an outstanding individual, company, or organization that has significantly enhanced the international reputation of Acadiana through economic development, tourism, art, music or goodwill ambassadorship. The award ceremony will take place on April 21, prior to the opening ceremonies of Festival International.
During the March 22 announcement of the award recipients, IAA chair Leslee Haseltine stated, "It is with great pleasure and extreme respect that we recognize two outstanding gentlemen, former City of Lafayette Mayor Dud Lastrapes and former City of Lafayette Director of Community Development Phil Lank. Dud served as mayor from 1980 to 1992, and Phil served as Community Development director from 1977 to 1992."
Dud, an Opelousas native, came to the city government following a sixteen-year career in broadcasting, eleven of those years as News Director of KLFY TV 10, in Lafayette; and an eight-year career as an elected member of the Lafayette Parish School Board. He served as Mayor for three consecutive terms that witnessed significant achievements, including the design and construction of Lafayette's Cajundome, the public approval of financing for the future Camellia Boulevard bridge, and the expansion and strengthening of Lafayette's ties with it sister cities and other cities and regions abroad.Phil grew up in Lafayette and San Francisco, and after getting Bachelor's and Master's degrees in City and Regional Planning worked as a planner for the Evangeline Economic Development District and then for a private consulting firm, Sellers, Dubroc and Associates. He was then tapped to head Lafayette's Department of Community Development. Phil's tenure saw major developments in Lafayette: the Acadiana Recovery Center, expansion of the Heymann Performing Arts and Convention Center, the Acadiana Park Nature Station, development at the Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium (now the Lafayette Science Museum) and numerous other programs and community enhancements. Among his flagstone accomplishments was participating in the creation of Festival International de Louisiane--itself, a recipient, in 2008, of the International Achievement Award.
Haseltine continued, "Though the accomplishments of both men have been numerous and significant, the one that is so meaningful to the Foundation and the International Center is the establishment of the International Trade division and of Le Centre International in 1989. Though the accomplishments of both men have been numerous and significant, the one that is so meaningful to the Foundation and the International Center is the establishment of the International Trade division and of Le Centre International in 1989.
"They had the idea to bolster the distressed local economy by parlaying Lafayette’s existing cultural and educational ties with other countries into opportunities for commerce and international tourism."Their vision coupled with our unique culture and industries have given Lafayette and Acadiana a huge business advantage in the international arena. We are one of the smallest communities in the U.S. with an international center in place, which makes us even more unique."
A few of the Center’s exceptional accomplishments over the last 27 years are:
· generating over 78 million dollars in direct economic impact into Lafayette
· leading trade missions to other countries, and receiving trade missions here,
· conducting seminars and organizing conferences
· winning the President’s E-award for excellence in export services and
· sending musicians and visual artists overseas to promote Lafayette and Acadiana, and
· working diligently to place and keep Lafayette in the world spotlight.
Thank you so much, Dud and Phil, for your service to the community, and your foresight, planning and ingenuity that has made the International Center the extremely successful organization that it is today..