B.I. Moody III to receive honorary doctorate during Commencement

A longtime business and community leader will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during its Fall 2017 Commencement ceremonies Friday.

Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, will present an honorary degree to B.I. Moody III during the General Assembly. It will begin at 11 a.m. at the Cajundome.

Moody is chairman of The Moody Company and of Louisiana State Newspapers Inc.

He is also a longtime supporter of his alma mater. Moody earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University in 1949. In February, he was honored by the academic college that bears his name: the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.

Plaques installed inside the building recognize the impact of Moody’s contributions to the University. Those contributions total over $8.2 million.

His college career was interrupted by service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After earning his degree, Moody became a founding partner in the CPA firm of Moody, Broussard, Poché and Guidry. He later became president and chief executive officer of Chart House Inc. in Lafayette and chairman of the board for First National Bank of Lafayette.

Moody has served on the boards of directors of many other companies, including First Commerce of New Orleans, Riviana Foods Inc., Celeron Oil Company Inc. and Quantum Restaurants.

He was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

Learn more about Fall 2017 Commencement at commencement.louisiana.edu.