Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Roarin' On The River VI is an evening of fabulous food and fun with world-renowned, award-winning, Culinary Hall of Fame member Chef John Folse at his beautiful and scenic White Oak Estate & Gardens. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Baton Rouge, White Oak offers 22 acres of lush foliage, gardens, and lakes. The house is modeled after traditional homes of Louisiana’s River Road. Outdoors there is a New Orleans-style courtyard featuring a fireplace, decorative fountain, and Louisiana foliage. The large, outdoor pavilion is complete with a Spanish-style fountain and three magnificent open-hearth fireplaces for roasting fish or traditional cochon de laits. Completing the patio area is White Oak’s kitchen, a design patterned after Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter. Wonderful aromas tantalize guests as they stroll through the vegetable and herb gardens, pepper patch, quaint orchard and along the stone path leading to the lake.
USS KIDD (DD-661) is the only surviving destroyer in the world that remains in her World War II configuration and is a National Historic Landmark. The vessel is recognized as one of the most authentic ship restorations in existence by the Historic Naval Ships Association, a worldwide organization whose fleet consists of 188 unique and timeless vessels belonging to thirteen member nations spanning five continents. She held the lead role in the 2020 Apple-TV+ feature film Greyhound, starring Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Tom Brittany. KIDD has been educating the public and serving as a resource for Louisiana teachers and students since opening in 1983 on the Baton Rouge riverfront. Youth groups from across the southeastern United States routinely travel to Baton Rouge to spend the night in her bunks and explore her historic decks. Like most museums, she is an economic generator for the city and state, drawing in visitors from around the world.
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the 2025 Patriot Award to Mr. Roland Toups.
Mr. Toups is Executive Chairman Emeritus of Turner Industries, succeeded by his son, which employees over 20,000 people. An active community leader, he serves as chairman for several local organizations including the Louisiana Board of Regents, Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, the Baton Rouge Rotary Club, the Louisiana Chemical Association, and United Way. Mr. Toups served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960-64, working as an engineer in the U.S. Space Program & Defense System’s Atlas missile project and was stationed for a time at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Originally developed for purposes of national defense during the Cold War, the missile system was also used as the primary launch vehicle for NASA’s Project Mercury space program. In addition to receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal for his military service, Mr. Toups has received a number of recognitions for his community involvement including Volunteer Activist by The Emerge Center (1986), the Catholic High School Hall of Fame (1987), the Golden Deeds award of the Inter-Civic Council of Greater Baton Rouge (1989), the LSU College of Engineering Hall of Distinction (2004-05), the Business Hall of Fame of the Baton Rouge Business Report (2007), and the Engineering Hall of Fame at his alma mater Georgia Tech (2022).
The Patriot Award is the highest honor that the Foundation can bestow upon an individual. It honors individuals who exemplify outstanding leadership, service, and dedication to veterans and their community, reflecting the values of patriotism, courage, and commitment. Previous recipients include Richard F. Manship (2019), Richard A. Lipsey (2020), Hans J. Sternberg (2022), Harry J. “Skip” Philips (2023), and Louisiana State Senator Franklin J. Foil (2024).
THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR FUNDING to finish restoration of equipment not being restored by the shipyard, and to keep the lights on back home at the museum. Let's make KIDD better than the bare minimum! Click here to donate to the USS KIDD: https://www.usskidd.com/product/donat...
The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is a non-funded state agency that receives no regular state or federal funding. We appreciate your support!
Support us on Patreon: / usskidd661
For USS KIDD merch: usskidd.com/museum-store
Check out our other social media: https://linktr.ee/usskidd661
Roarin' On The River VI is an evening of fabulous food and fun with world-renowned, award-winning, Culinary Hall of Fame member Chef John Folse at his beautiful and scenic White Oak Estate & Gardens. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Baton Rouge, White Oak offers 22 acres of lush foliage, gardens, and lakes. The house is modeled after traditional homes of Louisiana’s River Road. Outdoors there is a New Orleans-style courtyard featuring a fireplace, decorative fountain, and Louisiana foliage. The large, outdoor pavilion is complete with a Spanish-style fountain and three magnificent open-hearth fireplaces for roasting fish or traditional cochon de laits. Completing the patio area is White Oak’s kitchen, a design patterned after Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter. Wonderful aromas tantalize guests as they stroll through the vegetable and herb gardens, pepper patch, quaint orchard and along the stone path leading to the lake.
USS KIDD (DD-661) is the only surviving destroyer in the world that remains in her World War II configuration and is a National Historic Landmark. The vessel is recognized as one of the most authentic ship restorations in existence by the Historic Naval Ships Association, a worldwide organization whose fleet consists of 188 unique and timeless vessels belonging to thirteen member nations spanning five continents. She held the lead role in the 2020 Apple-TV+ feature film Greyhound, starring Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Tom Brittany. KIDD has been educating the public and serving as a resource for Louisiana teachers and students since opening in 1983 on the Baton Rouge riverfront. Youth groups from across the southeastern United States routinely travel to Baton Rouge to spend the night in her bunks and explore her historic decks. Like most museums, she is an economic generator for the city and state, drawing in visitors from around the world.
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the 2025 Patriot Award to Mr. Roland Toups.
Mr. Toups is Executive Chairman Emeritus of Turner Industries, succeeded by his son, which employees over 20,000 people. An active community leader, he serves as chairman for several local organizations including the Louisiana Board of Regents, Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, the Baton Rouge Rotary Club, the Louisiana Chemical Association, and United Way. Mr. Toups served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960-64, working as an engineer in the U.S. Space Program & Defense System’s Atlas missile project and was stationed for a time at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Originally developed for purposes of national defense during the Cold War, the missile system was also used as the primary launch vehicle for NASA’s Project Mercury space program. In addition to receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal for his military service, Mr. Toups has received a number of recognitions for his community involvement including Volunteer Activist by The Emerge Center (1986), the Catholic High School Hall of Fame (1987), the Golden Deeds award of the Inter-Civic Council of Greater Baton Rouge (1989), the LSU College of Engineering Hall of Distinction (2004-05), the Business Hall of Fame of the Baton Rouge Business Report (2007), and the Engineering Hall of Fame at his alma mater Georgia Tech (2022).
The Patriot Award is the highest honor that the Foundation can bestow upon an individual. It honors individuals who exemplify outstanding leadership, service, and dedication to veterans and their community, reflecting the values of patriotism, courage, and commitment. Previous recipients include Richard F. Manship (2019), Richard A. Lipsey (2020), Hans J. Sternberg (2022), Harry J. “Skip” Philips (2023), and Louisiana State Senator Franklin J. Foil (2024).
THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR FUNDING to finish restoration of equipment not being restored by the shipyard, and to keep the lights on back home at the museum. Let's make KIDD better than the bare minimum! Click here to donate to the USS KIDD: https://www.usskidd.com/product/donat...
The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is a non-funded state agency that receives no regular state or federal funding. We appreciate your support!
Support us on Patreon: / usskidd661
For USS KIDD merch: usskidd.com/museum-store
Check out our other social media: https://linktr.ee/usskidd661
