The United Way of Northwest Louisiana hosted its 2017 Campaign Kickoff Luncheon on Sept. 21 at Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino. Rod Demery, retired Shreveport homicide detective and host of the Investigation Discovery series “Murder Chose Me,” was the featured speaker. He shared his inspirational story of overcoming his mother’s murder when he was just three years old and his later fascination with fi nding out what really happened on the day she died.

UNITED WAY

1) Rod Demery, Jennifer Martin

2) Dr. Bruce Wilson, Dr. Jerome Cox

3) Claire Nelson, Martha Marark

4) Jane Malloy, Meg Goorley

5) Virginia St. John, Jane Smith

6) Brenda Autrey, Lynn Stevens, Joe Kane, Serena Gray