Denver Loupe
Biography
Denver Loupe was born in 1927 in Gonzales, Louisiana, to Jack Loupe
and Linda Gaudin. He grew up on a farm in the Burnside community of
Gonzales, and was a member of 4-H and Future Farmers of America. He
served as the first president of the Ascension Parish 4-H Executive
Committee. He attended Northwestern State University for a year
before entering the U.S. Navy. After returning from the navy, Loupe
returned to Northwestern State University for two more years before
transferring to Louisiana State University. He graduated from LSU
with a degree in agriculture before earning a master's degree and
doctorate, also from LSU. After earning his doctorate, he taught
high school for three years in Ascension Parish. Later he became an
extension agent in St. James Parish. He also served as a sugarcane
specialist in St. James Parish from 1954-1978. During his time as a
sugarcane specialist, he served as superintendent of the 4-H Plant
Science Contest. Beginning in 1972, Loupe headed the Plant Science
Division of the Louisiana Extension Program. In 1978, he was
selected as director of Louisiana Cooperative Extension Services. In
the same year he established the Louisiana 4-H Foundation. He has
served on the National 4-H Council Board of Directors and as
secretary-treasurer of the American Society of Sugarcane
Technologies. He has authored numerous publications.
Loupe's interview is housed in the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral
History at LSU Libraries Special Collections.
Loupe, Denver, interview by Wyatt Winnie, audio recording, 2014,
4700.2384, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU
Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.