Kenneth Sells Sweeney

Kenneth Sells Sweeney, 84, of Lake Charles, LA died at 3:58 PM on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 in a Beaumont, TX hospital. Mr. Sweeney was born February 3, 1930 in Lake Arthur, LA and lived in Lake Charles, LA for the past eighty-one years. He was a graduate of LaGrange High School, McNeese Junior College and the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He earned his Master's degree from the University of Houston and did his post-graduate studies at LSU, Texas A&M, Texas University, and Wisconsin State University. Mr. Sweeney was a member of St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War as a 1st Lieutenant, where he taught Management and Leadership in the 3740th Officer Pre-Flight Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. From 1952 to 1988, Mr. Sweeney held several positions at McNeese State University. He taught Agriculture Economics, Management, and was Director of Farms and Grounds. He authored several publications while Associate Professor and Director of Farms. He also served as Vice-President of Administrative and Student Affairs for the last eighteen years he was with McNeese State University. Mr. Sweeney was a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, State Chairman of the Southern College Personnel Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators, Certified Professional Managers, Coastal Zone Management Advisory Council for Cameron Parish, National Organization of Legal Problems of Education, Institutional representative of Southwest Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Communication Committee, Mayor's Armed Forces Committee, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, Board Member of Calcasieu Area Community Planning Counsel, member of the first Burton Coliseum Authority, as well as several agriculture organizations. He also served as Vice President of the Louisiana Angus Association and as a Board of Director of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Association. While at McNeese Junior College, Mr. Sweeney was captain of the 1949 football team. He was inducted into the McNeese Football Hall of Fame. He also lettered in football at USL. He was coach of the McNeese State Rodeo team from 1954 to 1959 and was a member of the first McNeese Rodeo Hall of Fame. In 1988 he received the Outstanding McNeese Alumni Award, and was Vice President of Emeritus at McNeese State University. Those left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of sixty-three years, Dorothy Horn Sweeney; son, Wayne Sweeney and wife Carol of Lake Charles; daughters, Cherilyn Sweeney of Lake Charles and Gail Avanzato and husband David of Beaumont, TX; grandchildren, Ross Mouhot and wife Lindsay, Carrie LaFargue and husband Chase, Laura, Scott, and Blair Sweeney, Jake and Matt Avanzato; and great-granddaughter, Blaire Mouhot; brother-in-law, Walter Horn and wife Doris of Coeur d'Alene, ID; sister-in-law, Thelma Sweeney Thibodeaux; as well as many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Lydia Sweeney; three brothers, Woodrow, Ed, and Val Sweeney; and four sisters, Althea Feldes, Joyce Ross, Catherine Watson, and Shirley Patterson. His funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, July 11, 2014 at St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Reverend Henry Bowdon will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 12:00 PM until the start of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the McNeese Alumni Association, Box 90775, Lake Charles, LA 70609 or the charity of their choice.