During the 158thMcNeese State University commencement ceremony May 13 at Burton Coliseum, the university conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on McNeese alumnus Dennis N. Stine, CEO of Stine Lumber Co. – a 76-year-old family owned business with 12 stores employing over 800 associates throughout Louisiana and Mississippi.
“This is the highest honor that the university can bestow upon an individual,” said Dr. Daryl V. Burckel, McNeese president. “Mr. Stine’s substantial achievements and passion for service, along with his ardent support for his alma mater, his community and the state of Louisiana, clearly warrant the granting of the honorary doctorate.”
A native of Sulphur, Stine received both his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1974 and his Master of Business Administration degree in 1992 from McNeese. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Program.
Stine is a recipient of the McNeese Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Award and has been generous in his financial support of the university, which includes the establishment of the Marla and Dennis Stine Endowed Scholarship for business and education students and contributions to the McNeese First Choice Campaign through the McNeese Foundation.
He is a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and served as commissioner of administration under the late Gov. Buddy Roemer. Stine is also a former director for the Port of Lake Charles and was a board member for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, Texas, and the Louisiana Recovery Authority. He currently serves on the board of directors for Allied Building Stores and Star Lumber Company in Wichita, Kansas.
Stine has been involved in a variety of civic and community activities and is currently chairman of the board for Christus Ochsner Hospital System and is on the McNeese College of Business Advisory Council. He is past chairman of the Council for a Better Louisiana and board of directors for the Southwest Louisiana Red Cross, past president of the Louisiana Building Materials Association and a past board of directors member of the West Calcasieu Association of Commerce, Southwest Louisiana United Way, Southwest Louisiana Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana.
He has been recognized for his leadership and achievements with numerous awards, including the Jaycees Outstanding Young Man of Louisiana Award, West Calcasieu Association of Commerce Citizen of the Year, the Clara Barton American Red Cross Award and Calcasieu Area Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award.
