During the banquet, we give out awards to honor those that are truly living out the meaning of LYS in their own lives and are making a difference in their community and world around them. Each year we award one of our most prestigious awards to a recipient whom we find is doing just that through the Roddy Richard Award.
Roddy Richard came to LYS from Teurlings Catholic High and joined Staff in 1983. Roddy was an exceptional young man whose life was taken in a tragic accident. To celebrate his life and honor his spirit, LYS created the Roddy Richard Lifetime Achievement Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding Louisiana native whose character and purpose in life has lessened the burden of others and made this a better place for their fellow man.
The 2026 Louisiana Youth Seminar Roddy Richard Life Achievement Award recipient is Senator Gerald Boudreaux, a lifelong public servant, community leader, and someone who has dedicated his life to making Louisiana stronger for the people and families who call it home.
A proud native of Lafayette, Senator Boudreaux is a graduate of Northside High School and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Long before his service in the Louisiana State Senate, he was already making a lasting impact on the lives of young people and families across Acadiana through his work with the Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department. Over a career spanning more than four decades, including many years as Director, Senator Boudreaux helped create opportunities for recreation, athletics, mentorship, and community connection for generations of Lafayette residents.
In 2015, Senator Boudreaux was elected to the Louisiana State Senate, where he has represented District 24 with distinction and is currently serving his third and final term. Throughout his tenure, he has served in key legislative roles, including on the Senate Finance Committee, Health and Welfare Committee, Local and Municipal Affairs Committee, Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and Senate Select Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. Through this work, he has been a strong advocate for veterans, education, healthcare, youth development, and community progress.
Senator Boudreaux’s service has extended far beyond elected office. He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Miles Perret Cancer Services Board, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Board, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System Board, the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee, United Way of Acadiana, the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis of Southwest Louisiana, the Ragin’ Cajun Athletic Foundation, the Louisiana State Parks Board, and the Lourdes Hospital Board of Directors.
He is also widely respected for his leadership in sports. Senator Boudreaux officiated NCAA basketball for more than two decades, including multiple Final Fours and national championship games. His contributions to athletics have earned him recognition including induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as the Dave Dixon Award recipient, the Naismith College Men’s Basketball Official of the Year Award, and the “Mr. Louisiana Basketball” honor from the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches.
Through every chapter of his life — public service, recreation, athletics, healthcare, education, faith, and community — Senator Boudreaux has modeled the kind of leadership LYS seeks to inspire in young people. He has shown that leadership is not only about the position you hold, but about the people you serve, the opportunities you create, and the example you set.
A faithful member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Senator Boudreaux serves as a trustee and is a member of the church’s Finance Committee and Usher Society. His life reflects one of LYS’s most enduring lessons: No Man Is An Island. Our lives are connected, our choices matter, and true leadership is measured by how we use our gifts in service to others.
Senator Gerald Boudreaux’s legacy is one of steady leadership, quiet strength, and lasting impact. Through his work with young people, his commitment to public service, his advocacy for communities across Louisiana, and his example of service over self, he has lessened the burdens of others and made Louisiana a better place.