Obits: NELSON, C. ED, JR. Caddo Parish, LA Submitted by: Peggy Hale Date Submitted: September 19, 2007 Contact: Peggyhale@aol.com Source: The Shreveport Times ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** C. Ed Nelson, Jr. Shreveport, LA- Mr. C. Ed Nelson, Jr. passed away on Thursday, September 6, 2007. A Vigil service will begin at 4:00 p.m. followed by visitation until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 9th at Osborn Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 10, 2007 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Officiating will be Father Phil Michiels and Father Richard J. Lombard. Interment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery. A native of Shreveport, C. Ed Nelson, recieved his education in the local public schools and graduated in 1942 from Fair Park High School. He continued his education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He is a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict where he served in the U.S. Navy assigned to the U. S. Marine Corps with service in the European, Pacific, and Chinese theater's of operations. Following his military career he completed his education at Centenary College in Shreveport. He joined the United Gas Companies in Shreveport in 1946 where he became the public relations representative responsible for its farm- youth program for 4-H Club and FFA members in the states served by the companies. After United Gas was acquired by the Pennzoil Company, he was transferred to the Houston, Texas headquarters where he became assistant director of public relations. Nelson joined the Louisiana State Fair in 1970 as director of livestock and agriculture. One of his first duties was the organization of the Ark-La-Tex Agriculture Council as a liaison and support group for the fair's varied agricultural projects and sponsor of the annual Junior Livestock Sale. He was named secretary of the fair in 1972 and elevated to the position of general manager later that same year. He was named executive vice- president and general manager in 1975. He was elected to the board of directors of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions in 1978 and served as the president of over 3,500 member fairs in 1985. He was designated a Cerfified Fair Manager by the I.A.F.E. in 1979. In 1991 he was singled out by the I.A.F.E. to receive its prestigious Hall of Fame award which is bestowed only to one fair manager each year. He is only one of two fair managers to receive a life-time Gold Card mem- bership in the Showmen's League of America which was founded by William C. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. In 1986 he was named Fair Manager of the Year by PERFORMANCE magazine at its annual summit conference. In addition to the honors and accomplishments achieved in the fair industry, Nelson distinguished himself in other areas. He was the first member of the Public Relations Society of America to be designated Accredited in Public Relations by the PRSA in Louisiana. He is also a past president of the PRSA's North Louisiana Chapter. Because of his work in the organization of the Shreveport Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the national organization made him a life- time Gold Card member which is recognized as a rare honor for someone who is not an Ex-POW. Nelson was a member of the American Legion and the 40 & 8. He served as Chef de Gare and Grande Chef de Train of the 40 & 8. Listed in WHO'S WHO in the south and southwest and a member of the Shreveport Rotary Club. He has served on the board of directors and president of the St. Joseph's Broadmoor Federal Credit Union. He was currently on the board of directors and vice president of the Shreveport Crime Stoppers. Mr. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel Lestage Nelson and C. Ed Nelson, Sr.; son, Paul Edward Nelson; and brother, Roy L. Nelson. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Catherine Passantino Nelson; sons, George Andrew Nelson, Michael Howard Nelson, and wife, Cindy, and her her son, Nathan; sister-in-law, Vita Nelson; two nieces and two nephews. The family requests that memorials be made to the National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130, Crime Stoppers in care of the Shreveport Police Department, or St. Joseph Catholic Church. OSBORNFUNERALHOME.NET (318)865-8426