<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Lake Charles Port Board member and former state Rep. Elcie J. Guillory will be the recipient of this year’s Charles A. Downing Humanitarian Award presented by the Southwest Louisiana Law Center, said Mark Judson, law center executive director.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Judson will present the award to Guillory during the annual Fall Court Ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, in Courtroom A, on the top floor of the parish courthouse. The annual award is named for the late psychologist who provided services to the disadvantaged.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In 2010 Guillory was named to fill an unexpired term on the Port Board and was later reappointed to a full term. Prior to his tenure on the board, Guillory served three terms as a state House District 34 representative.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In the Legislature he served as chairman of the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee and served on the Health and Welfare Committee. He was a member of the National Council of State Legislators Labor Committee, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, and the Acadiana Delegation.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Before his tenure in the Legislature, Guillory served 17 years on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. He served on many committees and also as president of the state Police Jury Black Caucus.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Guillory is a former president of the Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning Commission board and the Community Action Board and was a member of the National Association of County Official Labor Committee.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">He is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Knights of Peter Claver Council 141, and he served two consecutive two-year terms as Grand Knight. He formerly served as Louisiana state treasurer for the Knights of Peter Claver and is a member of Vernon W. Joseph Fourth-Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly 22. Guillory was a member of KC Council 1207 and is past president of the Serra Club.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Guillory, a graduate of Tyler and Caddo Barber Colleges, attended McNeese State University. He is married to the former Ruby Bellard and has three daughters and five grandchildren.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">This marks the 22nd year the Downing Award has been presented by the Southwest Louisiana Law Center, which provides low-cost and reduced-fee legal representation in the areas of family and elder law and landlord/tenant disputes.</span>18881729-jpg