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Melvin “Kip” Holden
East Baton Rouge
Year Inducted: 2008
Melvin “Kip” Holden, Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, began his leadership development in 4-H and since has risen to become a nationally recognized leader and public servant. He has participated in the 4-H program as a club member, volunteer, benefactor and advocate for more than 40 years. He has served as a member of the Baton Rouge Metro Council and as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and Senate. While he was on the council and as a legislator, he was extensively involved with the Southern University Livestock show for more than 15 years, raising funds and purchasing livestock. During his term as senator, he awarded a mini-grant to the East Feliciana 4-H program to support school enrichment promoting science. He also served on the 4-H Advisory Council in East Feliciana Parish. Mayor-President Holden has increased funding to the East Baton Rouge Cooperative Extension office to expand programming efforts and supports funding for a new extension office building. He also supports the LSU AgCenter's "Smart Bodies" and "Smart Choices" programs in East Baton Rouge Parish and promotes the programs to others. After Hurricane Katrina, Mayor-Presdient Holden was recognized nationally for his leadership and management of the city-parish that hosted more than 200,000 evacuees, many of them 4-H'ers and their families. Under his direction, the parish Homeland Security Office received national accreditation for meeting the nation's highest standards. He has been inducted into the LSU Alumni Hall of Fame and the LSU Manship School of Communications Hall of Fame and earned other accolades on a local, state and national level.
6/4/2009 9:35:03 PM