The Russell B. Long Eminent Scholars Chair was established by the LSU Board of Supervisors in 2003 for the benefit of the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. This chair, the first established at the LSU Law Center, was made possible by the late United States Senator, Russell B. Long. In 1992, in recognition of the service of Senator Long as a member of its board of directors, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company established a life insurance policy through its MetLife Director Charitable Contribution Program. Upon Senator Long’s death, the life insurance policy paid $600,000 to the LSU Foundation for the benefit of the LSU Law Center to establish the Russell B. Long Eminent Scholars Academic Chair.
In 2004, a matching grant of $400,000 was received from the 8(g)Louisiana Education Quality Support Fund (LEQSF). The Senator wanted this chair to attract a scholar of such distinction that his or her joining the LSU law faculty would enhance the national reputation of the Law Center and the University. After a comprehensive international search, distinguished comparativist Olivier Moréteau was named the first holder of the Long Chair. Senator Russell B. Long served in the United States Senate from Louisiana for 38 years. A member of one of the nation’s most renowned political family dynasties, Long was an influential member of Congress for more than three decades. Long was the son of Louisiana governor and senator Huey P. Long and nephew of three-time Louisiana governor Earl Long. He was the Senate majority leader from 1965 to 1968, and chaired the Senate Finance Committee from 1966 to 1981. Elected to the U.S. Senate seven times, Long retired from public office in January 1987. He is a 1942 graduate of the LSU Law Center and was named the Law Center’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 1992. Senator Long died on May 9, 2003.
