Denver Loupe
Biography
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.