Joan Lansing, Parade Marshal

    Mrs. Joan Lansing was named this year’s Grand Marshal for the annual Central Christmas Parade.  Mrs. Joan is receiving this honor because of her many years of service to the Central community, including her years as a Central City Council member, her contributions to the Central business community, and her countless hours of work for local charitable organizations.  Congratulations to Mrs. Joan Lansing.
    Joan is Central through and through. A graduate of Central High School and Southeastern Louisiana University with a BS in pre-med, she interned and worked as a Registered Medical Technologist at Baton Rouge General Hospital. Then Joan married Robert F. Lansing (Fred) and came home to Central. They raised three sons, Bob, Steve, and Scott, who graduated from Central schools. 
    Joan taught high school science courses at Live Oak High School, after which she started the first licensed childcare center in Central at Zoar Baptist Church. As a member of Zoar Baptist Church, she has worked many years with the Senior Adult Program. As a member of the Central Chapeau Chicks, she helps with many worthy projects in Central.
    With her husband, she opened Central Academy and Child Care Center, Inc. A private school and licensed child care center for our Central families. For many years Central Academy and Child Care provided the most jobs for the community. Joan served on the State Licensing Board for Child Care Centers for eight years. With another Director of a child care center, they started Louisiana Professional Association of Child Care. La PAC was an association of private child care Directors. At this time, Joan serves as a Board Member of the Board of Commissioners of Lane Regional Medical Center.
    She worked with a group of Central business owners to establish CABA (Central Area Business Association) where she served as President for two terms. 
    With Joan at the lead and with the help of other Republican ladies in Central, the Republican Women of Central club was started. The club supports Republicans, Veterans, and Central schoolchildren, among other activities.
    Joan also worked with a group of Central Citizens to gain our City of Central status. She was appointed by Governor Blanco to serve as the first Councilwoman of Central, and then was elected by citizens of Central to serve the first full term as Councilwoman.