Well-known Louisiana Businessman Honored with Duck Unlimited Emerald Teal Award
Ducks Unlimited 03.14.14
Richard Lipsey of Baton Rouge recognized
The Baton Rouge chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) honored local philanthropist, volunteer and businessman Richard Lipsey with the Emerald Teal Award at their sponsor dinner Thursday night for his outstanding commitment to DU’s conservation
“Louisiana is a top-ranking state within Ducks Unlimited, and the Baton Rouge Chapter is a DU President’s Elite Chapter, ranking in the top 10 nationally,” said Michael Patterson, Louisiana DU state chairman. “This success is only achieved due to the continued support and commitment of natural leaders and dedicated volunteers like Richard Lipsey who has demonstrated his love and commitment to waterfowl and DU for more than 40 years.”
A long-time member of DU, Lipsey and his wife, Susan, are recognized as Diamond Sponsors in Perpetuity. He has served as Louisiana DU State Chairman and currently serves on the Baton Rouge Sponsor Event committee. For many years, Lipsey has donated hunts on the famous Win Hawkin’s Oak Grove Hunting Club to help DU raise money during live auction events.
In addition to his generous personal philanthropy, Richard also supports DU’s grassroots fundraising program with donations of merchandise from his sporting goods company, Lipsey’s. The company has donated more than $250,000 worth of guns to DU events over a 40-year period.
“The bottom line is I love DU,” Lipsey said. “I love duck hunting, and I love donating every nickel that I have given to DU. It is an incredible organization, and without DU I’m not sure we would still be hunting ducks.”
Well known in Baton Rouge and across the state, Lipsey has generously given of his time and money to many area causes, including the Boy Scouts, Capital Area United Way, Temple B’nai Israel, the Louisiana Research Association, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Tiger Athletic Foundation, of which he was a founder.
For his dedicated community involvement, Lipsey has received several awards including: the 2012 Hall of Fame Laureate, Anti-Defamation League’s Humanitarian Award and the 2011 Golden Deeds Award.
Lipsey credits his civic-minded life to the lessons his parents taught him. “I learned from them that you’ve got to give back,” he said. “You’ve got to participate. And you’ve got to do it with love in your heart.”
Lipsey has been married to Susan for 48 years and has two daughters and three grandchildren.
“Susan has been a great partner, and she’s also very involved. We’ve always helped each other with our obligations for the civic organizations we support,” he said.
