Lake Charles Junior College [see also Name changes].  The first name of McNeese State University. The school was created as a result of cooperation between the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, the Southwest Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, and the federal government through the Public Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration. Louisiana House Bill No. 313 established "a Junior College division of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College to be located in the Parish of Calcasieu near Lake Charles, Louisiana." Governor Richard Leche signed Act No. 267 creating Lake Charles Junior College on July 6, 1938. To satisfy each of the entities involved in founding the school, LSU built three buildings to start the campus. Kaufman Hall housed classrooms and administration offices, the Arena (now called Ward Memorial Arena) hosted rodeo events, and the Auditorium (now called Bulber Auditorium) provided performance space. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury donated 86 acres of land for the campus, an area located on an extension of Ryan Street that was previously the parish's Poor Farm - home to local indigents and the mentally ill. The opening session of the college began on September 11, 1939 with 140 students and 13 faculty members. Student fees were $12.50 per semester. Newspaper clippings regarding building dedications:

American Press A [January 18, 1940]
American Press B [January 18, 1940]
Contraband A  [February 23, 1940]
Contraband B  [March 15, 1940]
American Press C [March 29, 1940]
Contraband C [April 19, 1940]

Lang, Lieutenant Colonel Larry H. A native of El Paso, Texas, Lang began his career in music as a trombonist, attending New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Performance degrees in 1980. He went on to complete a Master of Science degree in Music Education at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, where he was the student Director of the Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble II. In 1982, he accepted a faculty appointment at UNH.

In 1983, Lang accepted the position of Assistant Director of Bands at McNeese where he directed the Symphonic Band, the 200-member "Cowboy" Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble II, and the McNeese Summer Music and Fine Arts Program.

In 1990, Lang entered the United States Air Force and is now the Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force Band of Liberty.  Lang is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and is active as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States. Colonel Lang's military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He was named the Air Force's Outstanding Band Officer in 1998 and 2003. For more information, see http://usafbandofliberty.com/commander.html .

Leary, Thomas Samuel.  Leary was the third president of McNeese.  Leary was born May 8, 1915 in Rochester, New York.  Leary received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and a master's degree in organic chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  Leary received a doctorate in chemical engineering from Iowa State University.  Leary started his career at McNeese in 1961 as a professor of engineering.  Leary became the Head of Department of Engineering in the 1965-66 academic year.  Leary was also responsible for the design and layout of the laboratories at Chennault. 

Leche, Richard. (1898-1965). Leche was the Governor of Louisiana who signed the bill to establish Lake Charles Junior College. The bill was signed on July 6, 1938.

Lee, Wallace. Lee was a long-time supervisor of buildings and grounds at McNeese. He started out as an assistant to Robert Alexander.  He was appointed campus custodian by Dean Joseph Farrar in September 1939.  One of his first duties included “cattle-chasing,” where he, mounted on a tractor, would dissuade the cattle who freely roamed the campus from “going to college.”

Library.  [see Frazar, Lether E.]

Lester, Darrell. Lester was born in Lake Charles in 1941 and died in Lafayette in 2006. Lester is a member of the McNeese Hall of Fame and was named McNeese's Most Valuable Player in 1962 and in 1963. He played both fullback and linebacker. After graduating from McNeese, Lester played professionally with the Minnesota Vikings.

Library Directors

Log. The Log is the McNeese student yearbook first published in the Spring of 1940.  The students briefly discontinued the publication from 1941 to 1945 due to World War II. Log Editors:

Logo.  In 1997, the University of Wyoming disputed McNeese's use of the "Bucking Horse and Rider" logo.  McNeese had used some form of the logo since the early 1940s.  In 2001, McNeese debuted a new logo featuring a bucking horse and rider with its front legs up with a large yellow "M" superimposed.

Louisiana Maneuvers. John McNeese Junior College was engaged in military activity during the Louisiana Maneuvers of 1941 when Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, who led the Sixth Army from New Guinea to Luzon, made the Auditorium his headquarters in preparation for war until it was discovered by the enemy. A temporary airstrip was marked off near the auditorium where intense activity took place and McNeese students witnessed army life for two weeks. A well-known participant of these maneuvers was Dwight D. Eisenhower who visited the campus and the Majestic Hotel in downtown Lake Charles.