Michael Kurth

Michael Kurth, beloved husband, father, grandfather, professor, writer, economist, community organizer, and raconteur, passed away on April 30, 2024. He was born in Oak Park, IL on April 2nd, 1946 and spent his formative years in Michigan.

Mike, as most people knew him, studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute in 1965, and the School for International Service at American University in 1968, using his skills as a Russian linguist to monitor Soviet radio transmissions for the US Army. He received his BA in 1977 from Monterey Institute for International Studies, majoring in International Economics, with minors in Russian and German, and graduating as salutatorian. He went on to receive his M.S. and Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech, where he studied public finance and public choice under Nobel Laureate James Buchanan.

Mike taught approximately 12,000 students in his 35 years as a professor—he adored teaching and stayed in touch with many students for years after graduation, offering deeply appreciated guidance and support. He served for eight years as Economics Department Head at McNeese State University, and Directed the H.C. Drew Center for Business and Economic Analysis, and The Pavers Guild, a project for student entrepreneurs.

With his own entrepreneurial spirit, Mike owned and operated Magnolia Plaza as President of CKDA Properties, and served as Principal of Kurth & Associates, offering economic consulting and analysis. As a consultant, Mike facilitated over 50 economic impact and benefit/cost studies, was an expert witness in approximately 200 legal cases, and authored “The Rita Report” for the Louisiana Recovery Authority, and indigent defense study for the American Bar Association, and a healthcare reform plan for Louisiana.

Mike was a prolific writer—he published 14 peer reviewed journal publications, receiving the Duncan Black Award for the best paper published in Public Choice in 1986. He penned upwards of 400 editorials, op-ed pieces and columns, including his beloved and often hilarious column at Lagniappe (a final one will appear posthumously.)

Mike was a deeply engaged and generous community member. He served on the Board of Trustees of Lake Charles Charter Academy, and was elected to the Calcasieu Parish Executive Committee of the Republican Party and the Republican State Central Committee, where he received 72% of the vote. He gave his expertise to the United Way Finance Committee from 2012-2016. and was on the Phillips 66 (formerly Conoco) Citizen Advisory Panel for 30 years. He also acted as President of the Board of Directors for Rebuilding Together – Calcasieu,

served on two of Governor Jindal’s transition teams (Hurricane Recovery and Fiscal Reform) in 2008 and was on the Board of Directors at ACTS Community Theater from 1990-1998 and 2007-2009. He helped plan events for Republican Rally-by-the-Lake with Mark Geist. Constitution Day with Judge Jenine Pirro, Presidents’ Day with Allen West, Presidents’ Day with Gov. Mike Huckabee, the Homes for the Holidays Christmas fundraiser for Rebuilding Togther-Calcalsieu, 2011, 2012 & 2013, Krewe du Grande Bois Mardi Gras Ball, 2012 & 2014, and Republican Roundtable monthly forums from 2012-2016. He offered around 150 presentations to civic clubs and organizations, and gave approximately 500 interviews in newspapers, and on television and radio. He and Cathy served as King and Queen of their Mardi Gras Krewe, Krewe du Grande Bois in 2020.

Anyone who knew Mike knew if you sat down for a conversation with him, you might not get up for hours—he loved to wax rhapsodic about everything from economics to how airplanes fly. He loved to cook for his family, and opened his doors to anyone who needed help, inviting kids in rough situations to stay with the family as long as they needed.

He is survived by his wife Cathy Kurth, his children Mette (Jeff) Kurth Frotton, Michael (Gayle) Kurth Brandeis, Lexi (Justin) Kurth Fontenot, Ryan Kurth, Traci (Jude) Kurth Frederick, and Billy Kurth, and his grandchildren Justin and Spencer Underwood, Ava, Aubrey, Parker, and Kobe Frederick, Asher Brandeis, and Caden, Collin, Rhett, Jolie, JJ, and Rhys Fontenot. He will be missed forever.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests contributions be made to the McNeese Foundation to the Dr. Michael M. Kurth Scholarship or Dr. Michael Kurth Scholarship in Finance. Donations may be made online at https://mcneesefoundation.org or checks may be made payable to “McNeese Foundation” and mailed to Box 91989, Lake Charles, LA 70609

Dr. Michael M. Kurth Scholarship – designated for sophomores, juniors, seniors or graduate students in the College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics.

Dr. Michael Kurth Scholarship in Finance – designated for juniors or seniors majoring in Finance.