2025 LOUISIANA RURAL TOURISM LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENT ANNOUNCED

BATON ROUGE, La. - Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism today recognized a leader in rural tourism development. Former director of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission and former director of the Sabine River Authority, Linda Curtis Sparks was honored with the second annual Lt. Governor's Rural Tourism Legacy Award.

"Linda has been a tremendous force within the tourism industry. She began her tourism career in the late 1980s when she oversaw the development of the Toledo Bend Reservoir. She worked tirelessly to develop Toledo Bend as a Sportsman's Paradise top bass fishing destination in the United States," said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. "While we have so many deserving individuals of this award, Linda was selected as the 2025 recipient because of her dedication and commitment to attracting visitors off the beaten path."

Sparks held the position of director of the Louisiana Sabine River Authority from 1989-2003. Most recently, she served as director of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission from 2006-2022. Linda is currently developing the Zwolle Museum on the Bend.

Sparks has received many awards and recognition such as the Will Mangham Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award, Economic Development Person of the Year, Rural Tourism Award of the Year, and she is an inductee into the Sabine Hall of Fame.

"Tourism is one of the most powerful economic tools we use to uplift rural communities. It tells our story, brings people together, and creates opportunity where it is needed most. My advice to anyone working to improve their community is simple - be resilient, have patience, persevere, and above all have faith. Great things take time," said Linda Sparks.

The Louisiana Rural Tourism Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have retired from the Louisiana travel and tourism industry but continue to work to enhance their community for visitors.

Nomination criteria include:
- Individual has retired from the Louisiana travel and tourism industry
- Individual made significant contributions to the rural travel and tourism industry
- Individual served in a rural business, convention & visitors center, tourist commission or other tourism-related entity

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