Pothier Jean (P.J.) Voorhies received his diploma from Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute in 1903, along with 17 other members of the institution's inaugural graduating class. His imprints can still be found across Lafayette – from a Legacy Park apartment building on campus to a tiny plaque on a side door at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist to vintage photographs at multiple Raising Cane's restaurants.
Voorhies served as a founding member of the basketball and baseball teams and the first president of the now-University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association in 1903. A few years ago, Voorhies' descendants donated his original diploma to the Alumni Center. Dan Hare, the association's director of community engagement, said the artifact is especially meaningful because it represents the rich traditions and growth initiated by that first graduating class.
"Now the Alumni Association is housed in a historic landmark and has its own staff and board," said Hare. "It has grown tremendously, but he got it all started."
After graduation, Voorhies launched a handful of successful businesses, primarily the Lafayette Lumber Co., where he served as general manager and president until his death in 1968. His civic leadership included the Knights of Columbus, Woodmen of the World, Kiwanis, Rotary Club and Boy Scouts of America, to name a few. During World War II, he commanded the South Louisiana District of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary between Southwest Pass and Morgan City.
But to his family, he was simply "Grandpa" – the guy who, in his golden years, performed backflips into the water off his shiny Chris-Craft boat and took long strolls down Myrtle Place Boulevard suited up in white linen with a cup of coffee in hand. He was an avid outdoorsman and early adapter to color television, where he eagerly watched the space race unfold. And he was always singing.
"He had a music room in his house. He played any instrument you could think of – piano, organ, flute, harmonica. He had a parakeet. It sang, too," said Voorhies' granddaughter, Susan Henke Romero, who fondly remembers her grandfather teaching her the melodies to old songs like "Till We Meet Again" to sing to her grandmother.
Kenneth Henke, Voorhies' grandson, who graduated from USL in 1966, said his grandfather took every opportunity to remind his family of the value of higher education. After Voorhies' father died, he paid for most of his own siblings to attend SLI. He made the same commitment to his children.
"I'm sure he'd be impressed with how many generations came to be here," said Dr. Lucy Henke, a professor of marketing in the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
She said five generations of Voorhies family members have graduated from the University. Voorhies' great-great-grandson, Sam Dunand, is currently enrolled in the Graduate School pursuing a degree in computer science, and his brother, Tucker Dunand graduated with a degree in biology in 2019.
P.J. Voorhies III, who graduated from USL in 1977, said his grandfather used the business skills he learned in school to help contribute to the development of Lafayette. He remembers his grandfather explaining how he built a subdivision near the current Heritage Apartments to house faculty at SLI. "He built just about all the houses in the Saint Streets," he added.
His son, P.J. "Sport" Voorhies IV, played on the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team one century after his great-grandfather. Voorhies said he wasn't aware of the connection until he received a call for an interview after his team played in the NCAA College World Series in 2000. "I don't know who figured it out and realized it, but I brag about it now," he laughed.
Richard Henke, Voorhies' grandson who graduated from USL in 1978, recalls how proud his grandfather was of being one of the first fullbacks on the football team. He said he loved to tell the story of the team's first game, where they had only seven players and had to borrow four from the opposing team – Lake Charles High School. "I think they won," Henke said.
Hare said the Alumni Association plans to hang Voorhies' diploma in a prominent location for visitors to view.
Photo caption: (from top) The original 1903 diploma from Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute given to P.J. Voorhies. / Voorhies served as the first Alumni Association president. (submitted photo) / Voorhies’s descendants gathered recently on campus. From left are Sharon McCarthy, '67, Richard Henke, '78, Mike Voorhies, '75, Mary Henke Prudhomme, Kenneth Henke, '66, P.J. "Sport" Voorhies IV, '05, P.J. Voorhies III, '77, Susan Henke Romero and Dr. Lucy Henke. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette
