LOUISIANA La. -- The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Communications Department on Friday honored The Advocate publisher Douglas Manship Jr. as its outstanding alumnus for 2004.

Fellow ULL graduate Gov. Kathleen Blanco attended the ceremony to congratulate Manship and give him a certificate of appreciation.

Blanco said she understands and values the role journalists play, even when elected officials such as herself come under scrutiny. She also praised Manship's work in the field.

"I'm just glad to call him friend," Blanco said.

A 1968 graduate of ULL, Manship said he well remembers Blanco and her husband, ULL's vice president for student affairs, from his days at the school.

"Back then, it was Coach and Mrs. Blanco. Now, it's Gov. and Mr. Blanco," Manship said.

Michael Maher, head of the ULL Communications Department, said he was surprised when he learned Manship was a graduate of the school.

The Manship name has long been associated with "high levels of support" for LSU, Maher said.

"We're proud to claim him," he said.

Manship said he's one of the graduates for whom ULL will always be USL. The school was known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana until a name change in 1999.

"I love LSU, but I adore USL," Manship said.

The rest of the story

By PATRICK COURREGES
pcourreges@theadvocate.com
Acadiana bureau