On January 6, 2009, at age 69, Wayne Ory unveiled his plan to significantly expand the transportation services available to senior residents of Jefferson Parish. His proposal to the Jefferson Parish Council included five new buses and support services for seniors in need of assistance. Wayne’s effective presentation secured the necessary funding for the vehicles, ensuring that homebound seniors would have reliable access to health, social and community services.

Hired by the parish in 2006 to coordinate the Senior Citizens Services (SCS) program, Wayne Ory brought a lifetime of experience to the position. Years of military service with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve provided him with the discipline and tactical planning skills that would shape and direct his life. Wayne’s transportation strategy would ultimately transform the lives of his community’s seniors, many confined to their homes by disability or poverty. For those seniors, Wayne’s transportation proposal opened the door to doctors’ offices, computer classes, botanical gardens, world-class museums and even dance floors.

During Wayne’s tenure at SCS, Jefferson Parish became a model of senior outreach for local governments across the country. The five buses purchased under his watch gave senior centers the ability to go on field trips and assist the Jefferson Council on Aging with delivering desperately needed meals and personal care, as well as the essential ingredients for independent life – such as the opportunity to shop for groceries. The buses became a lifeline for staying healthy, building friendships, regaining independence and exploring the beauty of Louisiana. Wayne credits the Marines with giving him the vision to see what a difference a few buses would make, as well as the discipline and planning skills to follow through. He continues to tap into the skills gained in basic training all those years ago.

Wayne Ory… Peoples Health Champion.