Dr. Thomas Ray Landry, a native of Plaquemine, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, was born August 13, 1909, the son of Thomas Belizaire Landry and Eleonora Marionneaux. He is a 1926 graduate of Plaquamine High School as well as receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1931. He furthered his education by receiving a Master of Arts degree in History from Louisiana State University in 1939 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education in 1956.Dr. Landry married Bernadine Cora Haydell of Plaquamine, Louisiana, on August 7, 1934 in Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plaquamine. They are the parents of two daughters, Beverly Landry Crochet of Kennesaw, Georgia and Diane Landry Zimmer of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Dr. Landry had humble beginnings working as a grocery store clerk and a sawmill and logging operations laborer. However, he excelled in his professional work as an educator which began in 1927 as a part-time elementary teacher at Southwestern Training School in Lafayette, Louisiana . He went on to various teacher and principal positions to Supervisor of Elementary Schools, State Department of Education, Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 1949 to 1956. From 1956 to 1959, he served as Director of Elementary Schools, State Department of Education, Baton Rouge. In 1959, he was Associate Professor, College of Education, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge becoming Professor, College of Education, in 1964. In 1970, he was appointed Head of the Department of Education and Director of Teacher Education, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, Mississippi. From 1974 to 1977 he was Consultant in Elementary Accreditation, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Atlanta, Georgia (serving selected public, private, and parochial schools in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi).
Dr. Landry was affiliated with many professional educational organizations from national to state level. To mention a few would include:
- The National Council of State Consultants in Elementary Education, serving as Vice-President in 1954-1956 and President in 1957-1958 at the meeting in Seattle, Washington.
- First Chairman of the Commission on Elementary Schools in Atlanta, Georgia in 1966-1967.
- President of the Louisiana School Supervisors Association during 1946-1947.
- Membership and limited participation in the Louisiana Principals Association, the Louisiana branch of the National Council for the Social Studies, the Louisiana and Mississippi branch of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Mississippi Education Association and the Mississippi Association of Teacher Educators.
Dr. Landry received many honors and special recognition's during his career. To mention a few would include:
- Fellowship in Mathematics Education at Louisiana State University, 1942
- Member of the Advisory Council for the publication of Webster's New World Dictionary, Elementary Edition, 1961
- Representative for elementary schools of the South at the presentation of an education report to President Lyndon Johnson in 1966
- Honorary membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1974
- Elected to membership in Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Phi, and Kappa Phi Kappa.
Awards received include the following:
- Educator of the Year Award, Louisiana School Librarians Association, 1966
- Mr. Elementary Education in Louisiana Award, Louisiana Committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1970
- Leaders in Education Award, Louisiana Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1971
- Alumnus of the Year Award, College of Education, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976
- Distinguished Educational Leadership Award, Commission on Elementary Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1988
He also had several biographical recognition's in the following publications:
- Who's Who in American Education, 1951-1952
- Who's Who in the South and Southwest, 1971-1972
- Dictionary of International Biography, 1972
- Outstanding Educators of America, 1973
- Leaders in Education, 1973
- Men of Achievement, 1973, 1974
- Contemporary Notables, 1974
Civic Activities include many, the following are just a few:
- Boy Scout Leader, Troop #53, Plaquamine, La.
- Plaquamine Lions Club, Secretary, 1940's.
- Kiwanis Club, Columbus, Mississippi, 1970's.
- Baton Rouge Federation of Civic Clubs, Member of Board of Directors, 1974-1976.
Dr. Landry was also member of several other organizations. To list a few would include:
- Knights of Columbus, Baton Rouge Council #2030 and Plaquemine Council #970 (Grand Knight, 1946-1947, District Deputy, 1948)
- Years and Wisdom Society, Presbyterian Church of the Way, sponsor, President 1982-1983
- American Association of Retired Persons, national and local chapter #1681 (served as treasurer, secretary, and vice-president)