Former Gov. Edwin Edwards (center) is greeted by family members of the late Raymond Laborde prior to ceremonies renaming the state prison in Cottonport the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center. Edwards, a lifelong friend and political ally of Laborde’s, was a special guest speaker. at the event. {Photo by Raymond L. Daye}
Raymond Laborde remembered, honored at renaming of Cottonport prison
Thu, 11/03/2016 - 05:00
Raymond Daye
Raymond L. Daye
It was a time of joking and a time of serious remembrance, but it was mostly a time to honor Raymond Laborde for his many years of public service to the people of Marksville, Avoyelles Parish and Louisiana.
Avoyelles Correctional Center became Raymond Laborde Correctional Center the moment Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the bill making that change into law this past May.
Former Gov. Edwin Edwards, a long-time friend and political ally of Laborde’s, was the main guest speaker at the renaming ceremony at the Cottonport prison on Oct. 25.
“I apologize for being late,” Edwards said. “We got caught in traffic in Baton Rouge and we were given directions by your district attorney and he misled us,” he joked.
“Thanks, governor,” Riddle called from the audience.
Edwards kept the crowd’s attention by noting that he “was never in a hurry to get to a prison, but I sure as hell was in a hurry to get out.”
Edwards said he is Gov. Edwards number one. John Bel Edwards is Edwards governor No. 2 and his 3-year-old son Eli is Edwards governor No. 3.
“I already have shirts printed saying ‘EWE for Governor 2043,” he remarked.
Getting serious, Edwards noted that he and Laborde had worked together throughout their political careers.
“It is appropriate this prison be dedicated to him,” Edwards said. “There is nobody more responsible for this prison being here than Raymond Laborde.”
Memories of Laborde
Others also shared memories of Raymond Laborde.
Laborde’s son Donnie, who works at the correctional center, said all of his father’s children worked for him in his store and in his political campaigns.
“I spent many years working for Raymond Laborde,” Donnie said with a smile, “and now I’m still working for Raymond Laborde (Correctional Center), loving every minute of it.”
Donnie Laborde recalled his father’s efforts first to have the regional prison located in Avoyelles Parish and then to stave off attempts to sell it to a private prison company.
A particularly touching moment was when Laborde’s widow, Nellie, was called on to unveil the painting of the correctional center that will hang in the administration building.
State Rep. Robert Johnson recounted how “Mr. Raymond” had advised him to “visit every house” in his first run for the representative’s position. Johnson lost.
“He told me that you can lose an election and not lose in life,” Johnson said.
Four years later, he followed Laborde’s campaigning advice and won the seat Laborde had held for many years.
Johnson said Laborde believed in people, he believed in second chances and he believed in the Cottonport prison.
“This is not just a place where people come who did wrong, but a place where people learn to do right,” Johnson said.
James M. Le Blanc, secretary of the Department of Corrections, said Laborde “was a statesman. With him, it was not about the rich or the poor, but about people."
Le Blanc said RLCC “is a place of opportunity for the offenders here and for the staff who work here."
Le Blanc said the state spends a lot of money on corrections that could be spent on education, and there are efforts underway to make changes in the corrections system to make that possible.
Although he made several jokes about his time in prison on federal racketeering charges, Edwards was serious in calling for reforms in the state prison system.
“I am concerned about our state having the highest per capita incarceration rate,” Edwards said.
He said the state must examine minimum and maximum sentences and give courts more discretion in sentencing offenders.
Edwards said one of the main reasons he proposed several regional prisons in the state was so offenders could be incarcerated closer to family, friends and their community support network.
“I believed it was important for inmates to be visited by family and friends,” he said. “Before, they would have to travel hundreds of miles to Angola to visit the inmate.”
For the poor, that was impossible.
Edwards said he knows from personal experience how much visits mean to inmates.
Edwards closed his remarks by saying, “I know Raymond is looking down on us today and is saying, ‘I did what I could to make things better for people. If you want to honor my memory, do the same.’”