R. King Milling Recognized for Impact on Louisiana Coast and Communities

Statement of Restore the Mississippi River Delta on CRCL Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

(New Orleans, LA — May 10, 2022) Restore the Mississippi River Delta commends R. King Milling on his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. This honor is one of the most prestigious in coastal restoration. Milling, the retired president of Whitney National Bank in New Orleans, will be recognized May 12 at the Coastal Stewardship Awards reception in Baton Rouge. 

“Louisiana is remarkably well positioned to confront coastal land loss, but that has not come easily. King Milling deserves a great deal of credit for getting us to this point,” said Simone Maloz, campaign director of Restore the Mississippi River Delta. “He came to coastal restoration not as a scientist, but as a concerned citizen and influential businessman. From propelling the first Louisiana governor to take action to his leadership on the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, his decades of leadership helped make Louisiana a global leader in coastal restoration and protection. We congratulate him on this well-deserved honor and thank him for the transformative impact he has had on Louisiana’s coast and communities.”

“King Milling’s contributions have been tremendous. His leadership has helped position Louisiana as a leader in ecological restoration and in addressing climate change,” said Kim Reyher, the executive director of CRCL. “All those who wish to safely live, work and play in south Louisiana into the future are indebted to him. This award is richly deserved.”

Background:

Milling’s roles in coastal restoration have been numerous. Among the most notable: He was the founding and longest-serving board member of the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority; the founding chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Commission for Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation; and the longtime chairman of the board of directors of America’s Wetland Foundation. He is also a former member of the CRCL Board of Directors. It was largely through his influence that the state of Louisiana developed a restoration program.  

Milling and winners of other awards from CRCL will be honored May 12 at an event at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. A full list of winners and information about the event are available on the CRCL website. 

Media Contact: James Karst, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, 504.220.7899, james.karst@crcl.org