Local artist, P.A. “Pap” Dean, Jr. was commissioned to create the official 2006 Louisiana Pecan Festival poster. 

This year’s poster features the Red River and Mr. Dean adds his touch of whimsy to the artwork.  “I felt like it was important to show the Red River,” said Dean.
The poster’s are on sale now and will continue to be throughout the festival. Anyone wishing to purchase one can contact the Pecan Festival Office.
Dean is a well-known artist in Central Louisiana and across the state. He also created one other poster for the festival, which was one of the best sellers.
Mr. Dean was selected for the commission because he is very well-known, but also because he is a local artist and has worked with the festival for many years.

“Mr. Dean has been a great asset to the community through his artistic ability and volunteer work with the festival through the country store,” said Dawna  Walker, Louisiana Pecan Festival Board President. “It was an honor to have him design and create the artwork for this year’s poster and to accept our invitation to be this year’s Grand Marshall for the 2006 Grand Parade.”

Dean grew up in the Colfax area and then attended Louisiana State University and also the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. His career took him to Shreveport where he worked as an artist, art director and editorial cartoonist for the Shreveport Times.

Mr. Dean is also a veteran, having served in Europe during World War II with the Thirtieth Infantry Division.

He is a member of River Oaks Square Arts and Crafts Center and the Contemporary Artists Guild. In 1993 he became one of the first twelve to be inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
Mr. Dean is the author of five books, “A Hundred Year History of Colfax Methodism,” “Central Louisiana Historical Homesteads and the Families Who’ve Touched Them,” “Louisiana – A Political History in Cartoon and Narrative,” “Historic Natchitoches, Beauty of the Cane,” and most recently, “Colfax – Its Place in Louisiana.”