LU News Archive

Lamar University formally dedicated the Wayne A. Reaud Building today before an appreciative crowd of university faculty, staff, students and administrators joined by many others from the Southeast Texas community.

The three-story building houses administrative offices, marketing, institutional research and reporting, information technology functions, reception areas and the Reaud Honors College.  Nearly 100 of the university’s 1,300 employees work in the building.

Participants heard greetings from Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall, LU President Ken Evans, Honors graduate Kristeen Reynolds, Jon Huntsman Sr., and Wayne Reaud.

“I want to thank Wayne Reaud, Jon Huntsman and the Beaumont Foundation for their incredible support of Lamar University and the formation of the Wayne A. Reaud Building,” Evans said. “Mr. Wayne Reaud is one of Lamar University’s most ardent and generous supporters. His philanthropy is legendary, with his impact extending across educational and public service organizations throughout the State of Texas, most specifically in our community.”

“The classes of students to come are all going to be a part of this legacy,” Evans added.

"There are a couple traits in life I hope to recognize that make Wayne Reaud the man he is,” said Jon Huntsman, founder of the Huntsman Chemical Corporation. “He gives life his very, very best. Everything he does, he does with full energy, full involvement. Wayne Reaud became successful in life because of his drive to succeed. It's not hard to see why this building is named for Wayne.”

“I want you all to know that you don't need magic to change the world,” Reaud said, addressing the students of the crowd. “All of the power we need we can find within ourselves. But we do need education. When we combine this inner strength with quality education, we truly can change the world.”

“The building is stunningly beautiful – classic and modern,” said Reaud Honors College Summa Cum Laude graduate and M.B.A. student Kristeen Reynolds of Port Arthur. “It makes an impression on everyone who arrives by Rolfe Christopher or Jim Gilligan Way – and it makes an impression on future Lamar University Cardinals who aspire to become a part of the rapidly growing Reaud Honors College.”

The Reaud Honors College will host the annual Great Plains Honors Council conference March 31 to April 2, 2017, bringing student leaders from six states to Southeast Texas and to the new facility.

“The Wayne A. Reaud Building is the first new academic building on campus in four decades and it is an absolute game changer in terms of appearance and facilities,” said James Marquart, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“The Reaud Building creates a fantastic learning environment and will help us attract the very best students to the university,” Marquart said. “The state-of-the-art classrooms for our honors students, new conference room to showcase speakers and host events, and facilities for campus Information Technology make this multi-use building a wonderful addition to this side of the campus.”

The dedication program was followed with a reception.

The Reaud Building is located at 985 Jim Gilligan Way in the south end of the Lamar University campus. Across the street is the nearly completed Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship. Together the Reaud Building and the CICE help create a stunning new entrance to the campus, Evans said.

“Soon, construction will be underway for new on and off ramps from the highway directly to Rolfe Christopher Drive. This is now the gateway to Lamar University, and that happened because of this building,” Evans said.

A third new building will soon be under construction about two blocks north of the Reaud Building. The new science and technology building will provide badly needed laboratory and classroom space for courses in the science, engineering, technology and mathematics disciplines.

The building is named in honor of nationally known attorney and Distinguished Alumnus of Lamar University Wayne Reaud of Beaumont. A generous benefactor to the university, Reaud’s ties include a decade of service as a Lamar Regent from 1985 to 1995 as well as establishment of the Albert E. and Gena Reaud Scholarship and, through the Beaumont Foundation of America, 16 endowed Texas Legends Scholarships.  He is a generous supporter of KVLU Public Radio, the Judge Joe J. Fisher Distinguished Lecture Series, and Cardinal Athletics.

Reaud is listed in Best Lawyers in America. He is the founder of Reaud, Morgan & Quinn. He has represented clients in significant cases involving personal injury, product and premises liability, toxic torts and business litigation. Reaud has handled first impression mass tort litigation involving asbestos premises liability claims, including the largest asbestos product liability class action lawsuit in the history of Texas courts. He also represented the State of Texas in its landmark litigation against the tobacco industry.

Reaud is chairman of the board of the Beaumont Foundation of America and director of the Reaud Charitable Foundation. He is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, a member of the Philosophical Society and a member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee. He has been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas Tech University Law School, and a Distinguished Alumnus of Lamar University. He was awarded the Honorary Order of the Coif by the University of Texas School of Law in 2011.