Landman, civic leader

LAFAYETTE – Services for geologist, landman and ULL benefactor Waldemar “Wally” Toce, Sr. will be Saturday. He died July 25 at age 87.

He was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of World War II and was instrumental in establishing the first certification process for petroleum landmen. He owned two oil and gas companies. He and his wife Jeris established two endowed funds at ULL and was instrumental in establishment of the Professional Land and Resource Management program at the university.

He was a three times appointed chairman of the Lafayette Airport Commission and on the boards of the Petroleum Club and Oakbourne Countryt Club.

Survivors include four children.

Arrangements are by Delhomme.

Newspaper columnist, book publisher

BATON ROUGE – Services will be Aug. 11 for writer and publisher Clare Leeper. She died July 21 at age 80.

She was author of Louisiana Places a column in The Advocate from 1960 to 1979 and from 2004 to 2006. She was founder and president of Legacy Publishing, which handled local authors, greeting cards and regional cookbooks.

Survivors include a son.

Long-time journalist

ALEXANDRIA – Long-time radio and newspaper journalist Gerald Hambleton died July 16 at age 76.

He won a number of journalist awards as news director of KSYL Radio and as a city and parish government reporter for The Town Talk.

Survivors include his wife Anna, a son and two daughters.