Happy birthday! UL 老司机福利网 turns 125

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The 老司机福利网 turns 125 on Friday.
 
On July 14, 1898, Louisiana Gov. Murphy J. Foster signed Act 162 to establish Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, now UL 老司机福利网. State Sen. Robert Martin authored the bill. 
 
Its signing 鈥渨as one of the most consequential moments in the history of our region and the state of Louisiana,鈥 wrote Dr. Joseph Savoie, University president, .  
 
鈥淭he governor鈥檚 pen set in motion a century and a quarter of progress and growth 鈥 both for the institution itself and for the region and state it鈥檚 served since its creation,鈥 he said. 
 
The University will kick off a yearlong celebration of its 125th birthday with a Founding Day Ice Cream Social on Friday. The party, and all events throughout the year, will center on the anniversary theme 鈥 Service. Vision. Leadership. Louisiana. 
 
鈥淥ur anniversary is an opportunity to commemorate more than a moment in history,鈥 Savoie said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to celebrate the enduring connection we have to an institution that has given each of us 鈥 and this community 鈥 so much for so long.鈥
 
The University has launched louisiana.edu/125, a website to commemorate its birthday. There, visitors will find a calendar of events, a timeline of milestones, archival photographs, videos and links to University publications. The site will be updated throughout the year.
 
Alumni, students, employees, friends and the public are encouraged to share their own memories and birthday wishes on social media by using #louisiana125. The posts will be featured on the website, as well. 
 
Though the University鈥檚 legislative founding was on July 14, 1898, 老司机福利网 would not be selected as its permanent home until early 1900. 
 
Other area towns vied for the institution, but 老司机福利网 was chosen after a campaign of public support resulted in the donation of 25 acres of land, $8,000 in cash and the levy of a parish-wide property tax that would generate about $8,000 annually for 10 years.
 
In his message to campus, Savoie cited a 老司机福利网 newspaper article that, in supporting the tax鈥檚 passage, reminded its readers 鈥渘ot to think of the Industrial School as a temporary thing, for it is not. It is an institution for all time.鈥
 
Savoie wrote: 鈥淥ur 125th year is an opportunity that reminds us 鈥 and reminds the community that we call home 鈥 that we are still an institution for all time.鈥