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In Memorium | |
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Personality Mr. Day died on Friday, May 16, in Alexandria of natural causes. He was 71 years old. Bill Day's broadcast career spanned over 30 years. He began his career at WAFB radio in Baton Rouge, then moved to NBC's KALB and ABC's KLAX in Alexandria. He was News Director for KALB radio, and his distinctive voice was well known to listeners in and around the area for his "Great Day in the Morning" show. His newspaper column, "Both Barrels" appeared in several publications over the years. After a career in radio and television, Mr. Day became associated with American Indian rights and the reclamation of their lands and heritage. He was the first Tribal Historic Preservation Officer in the country. His passionate advocacy concerning the preservation of historic artifacts and culture pioneered a new age in the recovery and protection of tribal heritage. Mr. Day was the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama and the Jena Band of Choctaws of Louisiana, the Founder and Director of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Chairman of the Culture and Heritage Committee of the 24 Tribes of the United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. He designed and constructed the only full scale Artifact Conservation laboratory on an American Indian Reservation staffed by Tribal members. Bill oversaw the design of the Tunica Treasure Museum and served as its Director for 10 years, participating in the successful legal battle to recover the Tunica Treasure, one of the largest collections of Colonial periods Indian Trade goods, from Harvard University. This led to a foundation principle of NAGPRA; that grave goods belong to descendants. He was instrumental in passage of the 1992 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act. He recently coordinated negotiations with the FCC regarding land usage for communications towers, successfully testifying before Congress on behalf of the tribal nations. He was the president and owner of Chief Consultants, Inc., a consulting firm that specializing in American Indian government to government relations. He was the Native American Affairs Coordinator for the Louisiana Army National Guard and Director of the Louisiana Guard's Native American Historical Initiative which established MOU's, policy and site preservation and protection on Guard lands for eight federal Tribes and which created the first Keepsafe Heritage Cemetery in the nation on military lands. He was the recipient of Louisiana National Guard Legion of Merit, the Louisiana National Guard Cross of Merit, and the coveted Minute Man Award. Mr. Day was the consultant to Fort Benning in the development of their ICRMP. He was also a consultant to the Mississippi Army National Guard, the Florida Army National Guard, the U.S. Army Environmental Center, the Oklahoma National Guard, the Tennessee National Guard, and the Oklahoma National Guard in developing Native American Programs and consultation agreements for the protection of cultural resources. He was also actively involved in supporting the Native Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Mr. Day was an avid sportsman, Catahoula Lake duck hunter, expert fly fisherman and lifelong conservation activist. As a past president of the Rapides Wildlife Association and Ducks Unlimited, he successfully campaigned against the indiscriminant pollution of Little River, large scale clearing of Central Louisiana's bottomland hardwoods and illegal netting of the Saline-Larto complex. He was the owner and publisher of "Southern Outdoors," one of the largest outdoor magazines. In 1971 Mr. Day led a delegation to the Paris Peace Talks to secure the release of Vietnam POWs. He had a great love of flying, being a licensed pilot. He taught astronomy classes at LSUA and closely followed the manned space program. Music was an integral part of his life, and he performed opera from an early age. He won the 4-H talent contest when he was 18, representing the state of Louisiana in Chicago. Mr. Day received countless awards, citations and proclamations for his work in broadcasting and with both local communities and national organizations. He graduated from Northwest University with a BS Degree in Anthropology. Mr. Day held the commission of Chief Warrant Officer in the Louisiana State Guard. Preceded in death by his wife, Linda Kelly Day, his parents, William Hamilton Day and Myrtis Cutrer Day, and his sister, Joy Day Turner. He is survived by a brother, Richard I. Day and his Richard's wife, Ellen Day, two daughters, Leslie Hilaire Day and Suzette Warrine Day, their respective husbands, Clay Fourrier and Michael Mathes, and one grandson, Forge Mathes. |
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