By Tom Kelly
Editor and Publisher

After being delayed a year because of weather on its earlier announced date, the second induction for the Louisiana Loggers Hall of Fame was restarted at what is expected to become its permanent home at Dodson, Louisiana, with addition of five veteran Louisiana loggers on Thursday, September 17.

A display of photographs and memorabilia of the now total ten Hall of Fame members is being started in the original Dodson Town Hall on U.S. Highway 167, which also currently houses the offices of The Piney Woods Journal. A beginning collection of local and regional historical forestry artifacts and information will accompany the ongoing Hall of Fame displays, with public viewing expected to be available by the time the new highway construction is complete sometime in 2010.

During the Hall of Fame program, the community of Dodson also acknowledge the work of several local area loggers and public workers, in cleanup, search and rescue, during a tornado which caused severe damage to several homes and businesses on Sunday, May 3 of this year.

Newly inducted Hall of Fame members, and presenters who told their stories, are:
• Benjamin Franklin (Frank) Brown, presented by a great-great granddaughter, Gwen Kelly Dingler of Ruston.
• Owen L. Durand, Sr., presented by his daughter, Jo Ann Durand of Pollock.
• Russell (Peck) Leavines, presented by Mervyn Parker of Hunt Forest Products in Ruston.
• John Kermit (J.K.) Martin, Sr., presented by his daughter, Janet Martin Wyatt of Jonesboro
• James Nutt, presented by Paul Brockner, his son-in-law, of Cleveland, Texas.

Prior inductees, named in 2007, are J.L. Allen of Joyce, J.A. Auger of Farmerville, Glenn Futch of Winnfield, Eugene Hubbard of Joyce, and G.J. (Pie) Martinez of Zwolle.

Individual stories on each of the new inductees are published on following pages.

--Benjamin Franklin (Frank) Brown

--Owen L. Durand, Sr.

--Russell (Peck) Leavines

--John Kermit (J.K.) Martin, Sr

--James Nutt

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