City of Lake Charles, Louisiana

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Rodney Geyen is the third son of the late Adam and Mildred Geyen. He attended Second Ward Colored Elementary School, W. O. Boston High School, and Grambling State University, earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Elementary Education. He also attended McNeese State University earning a Masters plus 30 in Administration and Supervision.

Geyen served in the field of education for 41 years. He taught Civics and Science at W.O. Boston for two years, taught Physical Education and coached for three years at Reynaud Middle School, coached and taught Physical Education at Pearl Watson Junior High School for13 years and at Lake Charles Boston for three years. He served as Assistant Principal at Reynaud Middle School for three years, served as Principal at T.H. Watson for 15 years. He also served as Assistant Principal for four years and Principal for one year at Lake Charles Boston High School.

He was elected to the Lake Charles City Council in 1997 and was elected to serve as Vice President of the Council in 1998 and President in 1999. Geyen served as Mayor for 4 ½ months becoming the first African American to serve as Mayor and the 27^th Mayor of the City of Lake Charles. He was again elected in 2004 to serve as City Council Vice President and President in 2005.

He is a member of Reeves Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church serving as Minister and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is a member of the male chorus, a member of the Lay Board, a Sunday school teacher, the District Director of Social Concerns and Director of Christian Education on the Annual Conference level.

Geyen is a member of the National Education Association, Louisiana Association of Educators, Calcasieu Education Association, Louisiana Municipal Association, NAACP, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, ACT Men's Group and the 100 Black Men's Association.

Geyen is a committed servant to the people of District C and the City of Lake Charles. He was responsible for securing over 22 million dollars for the reconstruction of approximately 33 streets, sidewalks and drainages. He was responsible for the construction of the new Columbus Circle Community Recreation Center and the new General Moore playground. He was instrumental in renovating the Purple Heart Recreation Center which is now equipped with new exercise equipment. He was also responsible for the new playground equipment at Greinwich Terrace and Hillcrest Recreation Centers. He is involved with plans for an aquatic facility to be located at the newly built multi sports complex in the future. He installed lighting throughout the district to help deter crime and participated in various Safe Community programs.

He was responsible for initiating the new bus stop shelters throughout the city; repairing the sewer and drainage systems in the Oak Park, Greinwich Terrace and Greinwich Village areas. He also initiated the newly constructed connector road connecting Highway 14 to 5^th Avenue to eliminate traffic congestion. He supported and recommended the construction of the new Epps Library that will benefit many school children in the north section of Lake Charles. He was also instrumental in the removal of the median to make Highway 14 five lanes from I-210 to Highway 90 in order to improve traffic congestion.

Geyen was the recipient of the NAACP Trailblazer Award, listed as Who's Who in the Grambling State University Alumni News Magazine and selected Principal of the Year in 1999, and was the winner of the district and regional levels and a state finalist.

He recommended and promoted a one million dollar commitment towards Vocational Education assistance that was passed in the 90 million dollar bond issue to help provide additional facilities that will expand the Vocational Education curriculum. It will also provide additional job training that will have a positive impact upon the Workforce Development Program which will help the city and parish economically.

He is married to the former Margaret Marie Guillory and they are the proud parents of four children, Dana, Gerard, Teri and Kelly and have six grandchildren.