Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler and LMDL President Mike Shepherd with presentation pieces. 

On Thursday, March 24, 2011, Louisiana Secretary Of State Tom Schedler, in a press event at the Louisiana State Archives, presented LMHOF Executive Director and LLMDL Inc. President Mike Shepherd with the Official registration of "The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame" Trade Name.

Although the original effort to establish a Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame was initiated in late 1979 and later incorporated and registered as a trade name, LMDL has been working under a consent agreement with Schedler's predecessor for the last few years. Secretary of State Schedler, after examination of the situation, a review of documents submitted in support of the LMDL claim and a check the SOS records, released the name, again, to Mike and LMDL Inc., 501c3 parent organization of the LMHOF.

The confusing situation was due to a registration of the trade name, by a  previous SOS in 2004, stating a first usage of the trade name in 2002, some 2 decades after the fact.

Our great thanks go out to Louisiana Secretary Of State Tom Schedler and his staff for the consideration and time in reviewing the situation, and for his Secretary Schedler's action in allowing the return of the trade name.

Below is the presentation version of the recorded trade name and the special recognition document presented to Secretary Schedler.