The 2025 selections list for the Hall of Fame includes two local individuals, Carolyn Reber Phillips and James Maxwell “Max” Kelley.” With the Hall’s induction banquet here approaching April 5, the Journal today spotlights Mrs. Phillips who was the museum’s first executive director, credited with preserving Louisiana’s rich political heritage and growing the museum into a state treasure.
Carolyn Phillips of Pawhuska, OK, arrived at the Cooperative Extension Service in Winnfield in springtime 1962, armed with her BS degree in Home Economics from Oklahoma State University, two years’ experience in the field (Kansas) and a driving desire for community involvement to help Winn grow.
Her dedicated work at the Extension Service office for 31 years with residents young and old changed lives. Her responsibilities grew until she became the Parish Administrator Home Economist. Her community involvement wasn’t confined to her courthouse office. In 1980, she collaborated with a small group of volunteers determined to rekindle the Louisiana Forest Festival which had died in 1956. Her tireless efforts of recruiting more volunteers and making network contacts (“I twisted many arms”) built the festival to an exciting three-day happening with events representing all aspects of the timber industry. Her pride was Timber Sports that grew to attract national competitors.
When she retired in 1993, Carolyn was just getting started. Under the mayorship of Hall Inductee Deano Thornton, she wore four hats as director of the fledgling museum as well as the director of the Main Street program, coordinator of economic development and tourism. “Everywhere I went, I promoted the museum. It’s one of a kind. If you don’t talk about the museum, how are people going to know? Me, Mike Tinnerello, Max Kelley and Deano, we worked together.”
The old L&A Depot had been painstakingly hauled across town, set up in its present Main Street location and rebuilt to serve as the Political Museum, opening just in time to commemorate Huey P. Long’s 100th anniversary in August 1993. Initially it was small, just one room to showcase memorabilia of the 11 inductees honored at that first Hall of Fame Banquet in the Forestry Building. Carolyn has worked with the committee through the years since to assist the inductees with their memorabilia organization and display. This meant professional construction of dozens of display cabinets to showcase the exhibits. The 2025 induction brings the Hall’s total to 237 honorees.
She recalls the inaugural year when Hall Inductee Gov. Jimmie Davis declared that he “thought he was in heaven” due to Carolyn’s menu selection at that banquet: pork loin, greens, black eyed peas, cornbread and banana pudding. “Best banquet meal I ever tasted.”
Carolyn brought that same passion to her role as Main Street director, even serving as president of the Main Street Managers Association for six years. At the urging of Hall Inductee Gov. Kathleen Babineau Blanco, she coordinated six statewide bike rides. “Tourism? That’s tourism. The museum is tourism, bringing in people from across the country and even international visitors.”