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C. Ed Nelson served the Louisiana
Association of Fairs and Festivals well in his 23 years of
membership. A board member for 15 of those years, he was elected
vice president in 1976 and 1984 and President in 1977.
As Vice President and General Manager
of the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport, Ed's accomplishments were
legendary and included expansion and renovation of State Fair
Stadium (1975); construction of the Horse Pavilion and Office
(1979); construction of the Barnyard, Dorm and Milking Parlor,
initiation and adoption of the Fair Grounds Master Plan in
conjunction with Economic Research Associates and the construction
of a storage building 1980); establishing and serving on the
advisory committee for the construction of Fair Grounds Field
Baseball Stadium (1984); construction of
the State Fair Administrative Building (1985); the demolition of the
race track and blacktopping the new carnival lot 1986); construction
of a new Maintenance Building (1988), and the demolition of the
grandstand (1989). He was also responsible for major renovations to
Hirsch Coliseum which seats 10,500, the livestock barns, exhibit
buildings and the purchasing of major equipment items for
improvements of operations.
Working with 4-H and FFA youth since
1953, he organized the Ark-La-Tex Agricultural Council which has
generated over six (6) million dollars for the youth of Louisiana.
In recognition of his efforts on behalf of he 4-H and FFA, he has
received numerous awards and citations for these organizations in
Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, including the
outstanding Service to 4-H Award (1984) and the Junior Livestock
Sale Hall of Fame Award 1987. . .
In recognition of his outstanding
work with the Louisiana State Fair, he received the Performance
Magazine Fair Manager of the Year Award in 1984.
In addition to serving as President
of L.A.F.F., he has served as President of the Ark-La-Tex
Agricultural council, Mid-West Fairs Association, Red River
Showman's Association and the International Association of Fairs and
Expositions, which made him a member of its Hall of Fame in 1991.
The benefits of Ed's knowledge,
experience and insight were frequently sought by other fairs and
festivals throughout the state and nation and he never failed to
give it cheerfully.
Retired, Ed doesn't stray
too far from his rocking chair. But, he is always ready and willing
to talk fairs and festivals. And, when C. Ed Nelson talks fairs and
festivals, people should listen. |
