Clarence W. Hawkins was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate to serve as USDA Rural Development State Director for Louisiana. Hawkins served as Mayor of Bastrop from 1989 to 2009. Previously he spent 20 years in the Morehouse Public School System serving in a variety of roles, including Assistant Principal, Curriculum Supervisor, and Co-Director of Personnel
Hawkins has served on numerous boards including the National Conference of Black MayorsBoard of Directors; Louisiana Housing and Community Development Advisory Task Force; Louisiana Municipal Association Executive Board; Firefighter’s Retirement System Board of Directors; Louisiana Asset Management Pool Board of Directors; Louisiana Workforce Commission; University of Louisiana at Monroe University Foundation Board of Directors; Foundation for the Mid South Board of Directors; Democratic State Central Committee of Louisiana; Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Board of Directors; Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Bastrop Mental Health Clinic Board of Directors; Ouachita-Morehouse Workforce Alliance Implementation Board; Morehouse School Employees Federal Credit Union Board of Directors; Macon Ridge Economic Development Region, Inc. Board of Directors; "Club 21" Men’s Club of Bastrop; Morehouse Parish Library Board; Northeast Supervisors Association; and Bastrop High School Band Association.
Hawkins was the first African-American President of the Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) Executive Board, and he is the 2009 recipient of LMA’s President’s Award. He is a former Secretary of the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Black Mayors..
Mr. Hawkins attended public schools in Laurel and Jackson, Mississippi, and graduated high school in Greensburg, Louisiana. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Grambling State University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Northeast Louisiana University. He has also studied at Louisiana Tech University and the University of New Orleans.
Hawkins is a member of St. Mary Christian Methodist Episcopal Church where he serves as the Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School, Director of the Adult Choir, Member of the Finance Committee, and Past President of the Steward Board.
Hawkins is married to Barbara A. Wright. They have two children and four grandchildren; Stacey,Ian, Faith, and Angel.