Each year the Board of Directors at Brother Martin High School selects an alumnus who will receive the prestigious Alumnus of the year award. The recipient must be an individual who supports the mission of Brother Martin High School, who is dedicated to his family and to his career, who is a faith-filled Christian Disciple, and who is an excellent role model to our students. This year, the 2019 award recipient is Mr. Milton M. Dureau, Jr. ’69 CJ. The Alumnus of the Year ceremony was held on Sunday, March 24, at the J.W. Marriott hotel. In this 50th year of Brother Martin and 150 years of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans, Brother Martin President Greg Rando ‘77 and 2010 Alumnus of the year and Chairman of the Board of Directors David Gallo '77 presented Mr. Dureau his award.
While introducing the recipient, Mr. Rando reflected that “we are especially proud to name Milton Dureau as our alumnus of the year in this, his 50th reunion year of graduating from Cor Jesu High School in 1969.“ He goes on to say that “Milton reminds us of all the characteristics of those men and women, Brothers and lay partners, who were there as founders when Cor Jesu and St. Aloysius consolidated.” Mr. Rando describes Mr. Dureau as “faith-filled, patient, enduring, adaptable, dependable, forward-thinking, and loving. . . one of those very special graduates that we can so confidently present to our students and tell them 'to be like this man'.”
With his wife, Christine, family, alumni, colleagues, friends, along with previous recipients, Mr. Dureau received this distinguished honor and celebrated with a gentlemen’s breakfast, a Mass in the James B. Branton Chapel by Fr. Paul Hart ’70 and Fr. David Ducote ‘04, and at a cocktail reception at the home of Karen and 2011 Alumnus of Year Chuck Stall ’76.
Described as being humble and having a “calm and level-headed” personality, Dureau “gave thanks” to all who have contributed and assisted with his journey at Brother Martin. He adds that “during my years of service, I have developed many lifelong friendships. I am grateful for all of the opportunities that Brother Martin has provided to me and I am honored and humbled by this award and I look forward to many more years of serving the Brother Martin community.”
Thank you to the Dureau’s, family, friends, Cor Jesu Class of 1969, and school administration who were all in attendance at the 2019 Alumnus of the Year weekend.
About Milton M. Dureau, Jr. ’69 CJ:
Milton has been married to Christine Grilletta Dureau for 44 years. Together, Milton and Christine have four children: Stephanie, Matthew ’99, Zachary ’04 and Emily and three grandchildren: Camille, Chloe and Luke.
At Brother Martin High School, Milton has served on the Cor Jesu Class of 1969 Reunion Committee, the Celebration of the Crest – Auction Committee, as chair couple in 1997 with Christine; the Parents Club Board of Directors, the Trey Culotta Wrestling Tournament Committee, the Alumni Board of Directors, the President’s Dinner Committee, and the Phase III Campaign Committee. He and Christine are also members of the Society of 1869.
After Cor Jesu, Milton graduated from Tulane University with a B. S. in Chemistry in 1973 where he served as Film Program Committee Chair for the University Programming Board. He began his employment with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office as a Forensic Drug Chemist in August of 1973. He was promoted to Crime Laboratory Director in 1988 and assisted in the establishment of a DNA Laboratory in 2000. He was then promoted to Commander of Scientific Services in 2009 where he assisted in the design and construction of a new 42,000 sq. ft. forensic laboratory. In 2011, he retired after more than 38 years of service.
Milton is a member of the American Chemical Society, the Louisiana Association of Forensic Scientists, for which he served as Vice-President and President; the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists, the Louisiana Board of Crime Laboratory Directors and Administrators, and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors.
Milton serves as a basketball referee for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. He was the recipient of the Archdiocese of New Orleans St. Louis Medallion from St. Rita Parish in 2003 and serves on the Congregation of St. Joseph - People Program Board of Directors. Milton was recognized by the Jefferson Parish Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding Service in 1994. He and Christine served as chair couple for the 2003 Sisters of St. Joseph of Medialle (now Congregation of St. Joseph) Spring Gala.
