In Memoriam: Melba Law Steeg, 1923-2013

Melba Steeg, a philanthropist who served as president of the Northwestern State University Foundation, died in late December at her home in New Orleans. She was 90 years old.

Steeg led a fundraising campaign that established the first endowed chair at her alma mater, Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Later, the university created the Melba L. Steeg Endowed Professorship in Primary Education in her honor. And in 2004, she was awarded an honorary degree from the university.

Trained as a pilot, Steeg was the first woman to chair the Louisiana Airport Authority and the first woman to chair the aviation committee of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce. She was also the first woman to chair the Greater New Orleans Tourism and Convention Commission and was the co-founder of the Ellender Foundation for Medical Research.