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Cortez Hicks Laurence Donates $10,000 to Union Parish Youth

Cortez Hicks Laurence Donates $10,000 to Union Parish Youth Livestock Council in Honor of Mr. H.P. “Sleepy” Roberts
Cortez Hicks Laurence, age 98, of Bernice, a former 4-H Leader has donated $10,000 to the Union Parish Youth Livestock Council in honor of Mr. H. P. “Sleepy” Roberts. Mr. Roberts was appointed Assistant County Agent in Washington Parish September, 1954 and was called on active duty as a reserve officer in the United States Air Force in June, 1955 during which time he served fifteen months in Japan until his release as First Lieutenant in January, 1958.
He returned to work with the LSU Extension Service as Assistant County Agent in Avoyelles Parish and was promoted to Associate County Agent in Union Parish July 1, 1959. On November 1, 1965, Roberts was appointed Associate County Agent Farm and Home Development in East Carroll Parish where he served until his appointment as County Agent in Union Parish.
Mr. Roberts was named County Agent in Union Parish October 1, 1966, replacing Mr. Woodrow Downs who was appointed Assistant District Agent on the same date.
The donation will help fund awards, scholarships, and trips for Union Parish youth involved in the Livestock program. The 4-H program has projects for all interests, but Mrs. Laurence chose the livestock project as her daughter was involved in it showing Hereford Cattle and Quarter Horses during her time in 4-H.
Mrs. Laurence stated that “Mr. Roberts went above and beyond the duties of an Assistant County Agent. He was firm and fair with every young person showing and set a good example for those around him.” As an outstanding judge of livestock, he developed many winning livestock judging teams. Some of his team members were on winning judging teams at the College level and went on to become nationally known livestock judges.
My family and I wanted to honor Mr. Roberts and we chose livestock because of his love of livestock and many of his former 4-Hers that showed during his time in Union Parish who still keep in contact with him. Many are in their late 60’s. Her daughter, Margeann Laurence Warden, quotes Mr. Roberts frequently. Son-in-law, Hank Warden grew up in Oklahoma and showed livestock in 4-H and FFA. Mrs. Laurence’s husband, the late Dr. Wick Laurence, Jr. supported the Union Parish 4-H Club in many ways. He sent the state winning Livestock judging team in 1966 to Virginia for the American Jr. Hereford Expo. That team won every award given in that contest. Mrs. Laurence stress the importance of young people getting involved in an activity such as 4-H that centers around responsibility, citizenship, leadership, time management, and the development of good values. During her years as a 4-H leader, her most enjoyable activities was gathering up a car load of young people and driving them to district and state judging contests in any project, helping clerk at livestock shows and helping out on show days at the wash rack. She was also chosen to attend the J C Penny Foundation 4-H Leader Conference in Georgia in the early 1960’s