BATON ROUGE, La. –  Retired Louisiana National Guard Major General Stephen Dabadie and Retired Colonel Herbert Fritts, Deputy Director of the Louisiana Military Department, awarded Elayn Hunt Correctional Center Warden Tim Hooper Wednesday with the Louisiana National Guard Distinguished Civilian Service Medal during a surprise ceremony at the prison.

“We wanted to recognize all that Warden Hooper has done for the Louisiana National Guard and the Gills W. Long Center in Carville,” said Col. (R) Herbert Fritts, deputy director, Louisiana Military Department. 

From left to right: Maj. Gen.(R) Stephen Dabadie, Louisiana National Guard, Sec. Jimmy Le Blanc Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Warden Tim Hooper, Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, Col.(R) Herbert Fritts, Deputy Director, Louisiana Military Department

The Louisiana National Guard Distinguished Civilian Service Medal is awarded by the Adjutant General upon recommendation of the awards board to a civilian who has rendered exceptionally meritorious service in furthering the security and welfare of the State. The performance must be such as to merit recognition for service which is clearly exceptional.

“Over the last ten years, no matter the situation, Warden Hooper has never declined to provide us assistance," said Maj. Gen.(R) Stephen Dabadie. "His support of essential personnel and equipment resources during numerous state emergencies enabled the Louisiana Military Department to maintain a high state of facility readiness. During the flood of 2016, when Warden Hooper was fighting floodwaters at his own facility and home, somehow he found a way to also provide support to the Louisiana National Guard, helping us prevent the flooding of Women's Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.”

“I’m surprised and humbled by this award, but I would mostly like to thank the employees of Elayn Hunt Correctional Center for their support," said Warden Tim Hooper, Elayn Hunt Correctional Center. "I’ve done nothing apart from their outstanding service and hard work.”

“Warden Hooper is very deserving of this honor," said Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Jimmy Le Blanc. "Always being willing to help others is just one of Warden Hooper's many great characteristics. His contributions to the Department and the Louisiana National Guard are surely too numerous to count.”

Warden Hooper began his career at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in 1985 as a Corrections Cadet. Through hard work and determination, he rose through the ranks to become Warden in 2016.

Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (EHCC) opened in January 1979 in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, a town approximately 12 miles south of Baton Rouge. It is a multi-security level adult male prison with a capacity to house 1,975 inmates, making it the second largest prison in the State. EHCC is a reception center and the acute medical and mental health facility for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The reception center is referred to as the Hunt Reception and Diagnostic Center (HRDC). EHCC opened as part of a federal consent decree agreement with the Department of Justice and was named after the first female Director of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

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