The annual Kinder Chamber of Commerce held its 2023 Installation Banquet and Auction at the Coushatta Casino Resort Event Center on Monday evening, January 23.
Lewis Williams, Chamber president and chief deputy assessor for the Allen Parish Assessor’s Office, served as master of ceremonies.
Awards
During the evening’s festivities, the chamber recognized some of its citizens and business leaders. Citizen of the Year honors went to Marilynn and James Hamilton. In the announcement, Williams said, “In honor of your passion and commitment to this community and its people. Your unwavering faith and your caring nature have made an impression on us all. The love and actions you have shown have made a positive difference. Thank you for being an asset to our community. Our Citizens of the Year are Mr. James and Mrs. Marilyn Hamilton.”
Williams also named the Coushatta Casino Resort as Business of the Year. A history of the business, from a dream in the early 90s to the day it opened on January 16, 1995, he noted how huge crowds and lines of vehicles stretched for miles on opening day. He said the guests kept coming and the popularity of the business continued to grow. “This business has been a beacon of economic significance since its opening day, creating approximately 800 new jobs with its inception.”
As Williams named the Resort, Business of the Year, he noted how the resort has grown and expanded over the years, creating more jobs and adding a larger gaming floor, Bingo, off-track betting and sportsbook venues, restaurants and hotel rooms, along with an arena and golf course. He said they also added a dog park to its Red Shoes RV Park and has a 24-bay fuel station and convenience store. In May of 2022, the resort opened its doors to a new Conference Center with a huge ballroom and an 1,800-seat Entertainment Center. Williams welcomed Jonathan Cernek, chairman of the Coushatta Tribe, to the stage and presented him with the plaque.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Jason Hebert, vice president, was given to Arden Clement. His plaque was inscribed with, “For a lifetime of teaching our youth about work ethics and finding true enjoyment by helping a new generation of rodeo cowboys and cowgirls get the right start.”
According to Rodeo News, Clement began training colts and horses for roping those cows. He competed in the inaugural Louisiana High School Rodeo Association in 1950 and again in 1951. He was named the LHSRA Reserve Champion Calf Roper, Reserve Champion Cutter, and Reserve Champion All-Around Cowboy. After high school, Clement dedicated his life to training horses and kids for their own futures in rodeo, retiring from it in 2004, at the age of 72. He stepped back into the training arena in 2011, when his young great-grandson, Cole Ford, came to him with aspirations of becoming a calf-roper like his great-grandfather, and he was happy to get the fourth generation of cowboys started just right.
Clement told them, “I would break horses to make a little spending and rodeo money while I was in high school. My sisters would help me some, Veronica competed in rodeo through high school and would help work the cattle and the chute as I was training roping and cutting horses. Rena would help unless I raised my voice at her, and she’d head straight back to the house. At the end of the day, when I was done training on the colts, my sisters would ride them in the shade of a pecan tree grove by the house to cool them off, it was a pretty sight.” He would load horses up a ramp into the rice truck beds rigged with cattle racks to go to rodeos.”
In his career, Clement worked for Calcasieu Marine National Bank for 38 year working his way up to assistant vice president and manager of the bank. He never gave up his love for rodeo and even had an indoor arena built on his farm.
Clement helped form the Louisiana Rodeo Association, now known as the Louisiana Rodeo Cowboy Association, remaining a member for many years. He competed in the PRCA for two years as a calf roper before a knee injury kept him home. He also competed in the Old Timer’s Rodeo Association, formed in Texas, and although he was one of the oldest in his group, he enjoyed competing in the association for several years before his retirement. Clement remained supportive of the LHSRA from its beginning and was honored at a LHSRA state finals rodeo a few years ago.
Installation
District Judge David Deshotels was present to administer the oath of office to new board members and officers of the Kinder Chamber of Commerce.
Daniel Forestier, known as Mutzie, provided the comic entertainment with his witty humor.
The chamber also held its 11th Annual Auction with Auctioneer Sullivan Fontenot.
Officers for 2023 are Lewis Williams, president; Jason Hebert, vice president; and Barbara Savant, executive director.
The 2023 Board of Directors include Robert Thornton, Coushatta Casino Resort; Jason Hebert, Jason Hebert Enterprises; Chad Guidry, The Guidry Law Firm; Lewis Williams, Allen Parish Tax Assessor’s Office; Sara LaFargue, teacher at Kinder Middle; Veronica Karam, teacher at Kinder High; Ryan Nash, Allen Parish Farm Bureau; Lennie Boulet, Allen Parish Ambulance Service; Laura Bertrand, The Daiquiri Shack; Marilynn Hamilton, OHH Taste and See Catering; Sandra Burnette, JD Bank; Amy McMillen Bell, Allen Parish Community Healthcare; and Mayor Wayland LaFargue, ex-officio.
The chamber welcomed Landon Smith, Reed, Riley, Smith Funeral Home, as a new board member.
