By T. Scott Boatright
Lincoln Parish golfer and LSU product Sam Burns has captured two straight Valspar golf championships.
On Tuesday, Burns parlayed those titles into new artwork helping beautify downtown Ruston as well as a $20,000 for the Dixie Center for the Arts.
Burns was on hand Tuesday afternoon for the unveiling of Valspar’s fourth mural in the Be Bright program put on by the paint corporation.
To uplift communities after the pandemic began in 2020, Valspar created its Be Bright initiative, which aims to inject hope and brightness into selected communities.
Valspar says the program was designed to uplift communities after the pandemic began in 2020, Valspar created its Be Bright initiative, which aims to inject hope and brightness into selected communities.
The mural was created by Louisiana Tech University graduate Ka’Davien Baylor, whose artwork has been presented at the Multicultural Center of Shreveport, the Louisiana Tech Visual Arts Gallery and the Bisong Art Gallery in Houston.
Former NFL great Ronde Barber, general chair of Copperhead Charities — the nonprofit that puts on the Valspar Championship every year, served as emcee for the unveiling event.
“As our 2022 Valspar Tournament champion, Valspar gifted Sam Burns the ability to have a mural painting in any U.S. city of his choosing as part of their Be Bright initiative,” said Barber.
“I think it took Sam all of two seconds to say Ruston, Louisiana. And that’s why we’re here. Obviously he has a deep connection to this community. He just told me he’s lived here (in Choudrant) for six years, and we’re very excited to be here. I’ve done three of these mural unveils now, and I have to tell you, this is by far the biggest.”
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker called the unveiling an incredible day for his city.
“I talk all the time about Ruston being such a special place,” Walker said. “And that shows by looking around tonight. Valspar, we thank you so very much. Amy Stegall, our Main Street Director who does such a great job, sent me your tagline — ‘Color evokes optimism and joy’ — and I love it. This mural is exactly that.
“What makes this mural special to me is that it’s on the Dixie Center for the Arts, a landmark in our city, an iconic building that’s even better and more beautiful than this.”
Walker also thanked Burns, who played golf for LSU before taking his golf game to the professional level, and Burns’ wife, Caroline.
“We appreciate so very much y’all choosing Ruston versus all of the other cities you could have chosen,” said Walker. “In fact, to think this is only the fourth one unveiled is huge for us, so we thank all those special folks and the artist, Mr. Baylor, who is a Tech graduate. To tie all this together — a great building, a great city, a great champion, a Tech graduate, this is just a very special day.”
After the unveiling, Burns briefly spoke.
“Thank you all for being here tonight, this is a really special occasion for us,” Burns said. “The people of Ruston have made us feel so welcome, and we wanted to give back to that sense of unity we’ve felt since moving here. We’re just proud to have been able to make something special like this happen for a place we love.”
