John B. Lagarde, a true southern gentleman, entrepreneur and sportsman, achieved state, national and international acclaim for his outstanding accomplishments in hunting and conservation. He was presented the coveted Weatherby Big Game Trophy Award in 1963.
INTERNATIONAL:
1963 – Weatherby Award - was presented the coveted Weatherby award by actor Rod Taylor for his outstanding sportsmanship and achievements in hunting throughout the world. Special mention was made of his collecting all four species of oryx, all four species of North American sheep, the African bongo, the mountain ibex, and markor. Further, it was noted that he had collected practically all major game animals throughout the world.
1963 - "People to People" sports award - These awards were initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mr. Lagarde was the first to receive the sports award for his international work in conservation and his achievements in international big game hunting. His award was presented during the John F. Kennedy administration.
1963 – Charter member and past trustee of Game Conservation International better known as GAMECOIN. This organization is dedicated to developing a creative dialogue between sportsmen and scientists who share a deep and growing concern for vanishing wildlife species, rapidly increasing loss of natural habitat for game, slow but sure disappearance of sporting opportunities in a number of previously good hunting areas, and wanton waste of the world's wildlife resources.
1964-1965 – President of Shikar Safari Club International and charter trustee
Life member of the Kenya Wildlife Society" – East Africa.
NATIONAL:
1964 – Appeared as a guest on the national television program "I've Got a Secret" where he was recognized as a national figure in big game hunting.
1974 – The Hunting Hall of Fame Foundation – was inducted into the Hall of Fame
Life Member – "National Wildlife Federation".
Life Endowment member "National Rifle Association".
Member of the Boone and Crocket Club
Ducks Unlimited – Calhoun County Chapter named the Lagarde Chapter
STATE:
1980 - Wildlife Conservationist – State of Alabama Forestry Commission Award and W. Claude Kelley Environment Award Established a state chartered waterfowl wildlife refuge on his property.
1984 – Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
LOCAL:
1965 – 1983 – Founding member, chairman and chairman emeritus of the Anniston Museum of Natural History. He was the chief benefactor of the present Anniston Museum of Natural History including donating over 100 of the animals displayed in the John B. Lagarde Africa Hall and North American Hall. The museum is located in the 187 acre Lagarde Park.1974 – Honored as Anniston's "Man of the Year" presented by The Anniston Star.
John Baptiste Lagarde was born in Anniston, Alabama on February 8, 1903. He was a leading industrialist and farmer who lived his entire life in Alabama, dividing his time between his home in Anniston and his farm near Piedmont. He was the owner of a concrete-block business and a pioneer in the Ready Mix Concrete business. He held a patent on the first completely automatic hydraulic concrete-block machine. He began developing real estate and built several apartment buildings, and his hobby farm developed into a large farming and ranching operation.
In 1947 he began hunting North American game, and he made his first trip to Africa in 1954. Over the years, John Lagarde went on thirty-eight big-game hunts: fifteen to Africa, eight to Asia, and the rest to North America, Australia, and New Zealand. He collected ninety-eight different African game animals, eighteen Asian animals, and eighteen North American, including the Grand Slam of North American Sheep.
John Lagarde was a devoted member of St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church in Anniston where served as Sr. Warden, in other leadership roles and was a generous benefactor through the years
Lagarde was married to Virginia Duke, and they had two daughters, one grandson, three granddaughters, six great grandchildren, and two great-great grandsons. In 1943 he married Betty Berry Lagarde. John Baptiste Lagarde died January 6, 1999.
