Harold J. Aymond, Phd

Harold Aymond, PhD, was born in Bunkie, LA and reared in Evergreen, LA. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Southwest Louisiana (now Louisiana University at Lafayette). He obtained his BS degree in agronomy. After graduating, he entered the “Naval Officer’s Candidate School” in Newport, RI in May 1964. He was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy in September 1964. From Newport he came home on leave and married his college sweetheart, Carolyn Billeaud. After a short honeymoon in Pensacola, FL, he attended the “Nuclear Weapons School” at the Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM and completed that training in March of 1965. After a complete background check by the FBI, he was granted a “Top Secret” clearance to continue his nuclear weapons training.

From Albuquerque, he was assigned to the carrier, USS Lexington CVS 16, stationed out of Pensacola, FL. He started his naval career as a gunnery officer and was reassigned to the intelligence gathering division where he was the Combat Information Officer. While on active duty, the GI Bill was approved. That gave him the financial ability to pursue a graduate program at LSU after completing his tour of active duty.

He entered graduate school at LSU in August of 1967. He earned his MS degree in Soil Microbiology in January of 1970 and his PhD in Soil Fertility in August 1972. From graduate school he was employed by the Department of Agriculture at McNeese in August 1972 as an “Assistant Professor”. He taught plant science courses as well as courses in Agricultural Economics. In 1975 he was promoted to “Associate Professor” and assumed the responsibility for teaching all plant and soil science courses. In July, 1980, he was promoted to “Professor” and assumed duties as head of the Department of Agriculture. He remained in the position until June, 1997, then returned to full-time teaching. He retired from the University in December, 2005. In March 2012, he was granted “Professor Emeritus” status.

He served in various capacities while with the Department of Agriculture. He was faculty advisor to “General Ag” students, the Agronomy Club, Delta Tau Alpha, and the “Council of Clubs”. He initiated the Ag Alumni Association and served as its advisor. He was Chairman of the Ag Alumni Scholarship Committee. He helped organize the “McNeese Classic Livestock Show” and served on the Board of Directors for the show and as Chairman for two years. He was Chairman of the Departmental Recruiting Committee. He was coordinator of the General Ag and Ag Education curricula. He served on the College of Science Curriculum Committee. He initiated the Department’s “Internship Program” and served as supervisor. He judged numerous FFA Field Days, 4-H Demonstrations and related events. He served as Chairman of the Calf Scramble for the SWLA Livestock Show in 1977 & 1998. He made numerous presentations to agricultural, professional, and civic groups. He also was a member of the SWLA Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee.

Dr. Aymond served on the university “Tenure & Promotion Committee”, and on the Sherman Grant Committee. He held the “Seaman Asahel Knapp Endowed Professorship” from its conception to the time he retired. He was selected as King of the “Basile Swine Festival” in 1980.

He initiated cooperative research with the LSU Ag Center in the area of both cool and warm season forages and conducted that research for 13 years. Other research included a study of the feasibility of growing sugar cane on soils of SWLA and the double cropping of wheat and red clover. He received numerous grants ($500,000) and awards related to his research. He authored and co-authored over 20 publications.

Dr. Aymond was heavily involved in soil & water conservation. He was appointed to the Gulf Coast Soil & Water Conservation District by the La. Commissioner of Agriculture in 1982 and served on the Board of Supervisors for 30 years. He served as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for more than 15 years. He was an active member of the Marsh Committee of the La. Assoc. of Conservation Districts for 28 years and served as Chairman of that committee for four years. He was selected to serve as Vice Chairman of the La. Assoc. of Conservation Districts’ Political Action Committee. He was appointed to a two-year term to the National Coastal Erosion Committee of the National Assoc. of Conservation Districts.

He received numerous awards and accolades for his work in soil & water conservation. He was selected as “Outstanding Supervisor of the La. Assoc. of Conservation Districts” in 1988. He received the “Distinguished Service Award” from the La. Association of Conservation Districts in 2001. In 2008 he was presented with the prestigious “Guy Carrie Memorial Award”. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated accomplishments and leadership in soil and water conservation issues. He received the “Outstanding Area IV Non-Supervisor” awards in 2013 & 2015 for his leadership and special achievements in the Soil & Water Conservation Movement. He was recognized by the Bush Administration for his leadership and work on the Cameron Creole Conservation project.

Dr. Aymond was involved in professional and civic duty as well. He served on Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church Parish Council for two terms. He was elected President of the La. Assoc. of Agronomist in 1982 and 1983. He was a very active board member of the Imperial Calcasieu Resource Conservation & Development Council and served as chairman of several projects.

Dr. Aymond was a charter member of the La. Assoc. of Ag Consultants. He served on the board of directors of the organization for 4 years. He owned and operated Aymond’s Agricultural Consulting Service for about 15 years. He was certified by the La. Dept. of Agriculture to address problems concerning plant pathology, entomology, weed control, and soil & water management. Due to health issues he closed the business in December 1998.

Dr. Aymond was very active in both professional and civic organizations. Over his career, he was a member of over 15 organizations. He held leadership positions in most of these organizations. For his work with FFA youth in SWLA, he was granted the “Honorary State Farmer Degree” by the La. FFA Association in 1986. In 1984, he was recognized for “Outstanding Service” to the MSU Ag Alumni Assoc. In 2016, the university established the “Dr. Harold Aymond Endowment Scholarship”.

Dr. Aymond is preceded in death by his parents Clifton and Lena Galland Aymond. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 53 years, Carolyn Ann Billeaud Aymond, his sister Barbara Bowman and his brother “Pete” Aymond, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 9, 2017 from 4-8PM at Johnson Funeral Home. A Rosary will be recited by Deacon Glenn Viau beginning at 6PM. Visitation will continue at the funeral home at 9AM on Thursday, May 10, with the funeral service beginning at 10AM officiated by Msgr, Jace Eskind. Cremation will be under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at a later date in Green Lawn Cemetery in Lafayette, LA under the direction of Walter’s Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the “Dr. Harold Aymond Endowment Scholarship” at McNeese State University, P.O. Box 92220, Lake Charles, LA 70609.