Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: November 26, 2021
Gene Hebert earned his bachelor’s degree in 1964 and a Master of Education in music from USL in 1966. A two-year letterman in gymnastics and weightlifting (following the sanctioning of the sport by AD Whitey Urban), Gene was the bantamweight national champion in 1963 and 1964, undefeated through his collegiate career, and claimed more than 15 titles.
Upon completion of his masters degree, Gene moved to Nederland, Texas, to become band director at C.O. Wilson Jr. High School. He later switched to Nederland High School to serve as band director, and in 1974, was named the Phi Beta Mu recipient of the Texas Outstanding Young Bandmaster Award.
In 1975, Gene joined a fundraising corporation, Henco, Inc., and served as the company’s highest-ranking salesperson in 1975 and 1976. As a result, in 1977, he was asked to relocate to Selmer, Tennessee, where corporate headquarters was housed, to serve as the first regional manager of the company. Achieving a longstanding career in fundraising and sales, Gene joined fundraising business EduCorp in 1995 as VP of sales and in 1998 began work as vice president of a large home furnishing company. (continued below photos)
Gene in competition (left) Gene and Nancy Hebert are shown here today (right).
(continued from above) Gene has been married for over 40 years to his wife Nancy and they have four children, all graduates of USL/UL, and they enjoy their five grandchildren. His service to his local community has been recognized with the honor of Outstanding Citizen of McNairy County, and he continues to give back as founder and president of the McNairy County Foundation of Academic Excellence, a local non-profit that has been funding grants for local teachers in the community for more than 25 years. An inductee into the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, Gene often shares fond memories of his weightlifting days and the many wonderful friendships forged through his collegiate career. In 2022, the Heberts returned from Tennessee to Lafayette, where they now reside.