Governor Jeff Landry announces attorney Tony Clayton as chair of Southern University System Board of Supervisors
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced Tony Clayton will be the new chair of the Southern University System Board of Supervisors effective January 1, 2025.
“I have known Tony for a long time and there is no one better suited for this position," Landry said. "As a graduate of Southern University, he knows exactly what it takes to bring the University’s education to a higher standard and properly train students for the workforce. I look forward to his great work."
Clayton is currently the district attorney for the 18th Judicial District, which includes Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee parishes. A current member of the Southern University System Board, he has served as both chairman and vice chairman.
“Governor Landry is serious about education, and bringing education to a higher standard in Louisiana," said Clayton, who is a 1988 graduate of Southern University A&M College and a 1991 cum laude graduate of the Southern University Law Center. "I stand ready to implement this agenda and grow Southern University’s education and workforce standards."
Clayton is a managing partner in the Port Allen, Louisiana, law firm of Clayton, Fruge’, Ward and Hendry. He has worked in criminal prosecution all of his career. Before being elected district attorney in 2020, he served as first assistant district attorney and was the chief of felony trials for the 18th Judicial DDA’s office. In 1997, he served as a district court judge at the 19th Judicial District Court by appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Previous to that, he served eight years in criminal prosecution and justice management, and five years as special prosecutor for the East Baton Rouge District Attorney.
Clayton is the proud father of Brilliant, Austin, Jené, Brandon and TJ.