On October 23, 1996, the Biomedical Research Institute was renamed in honor of the Foundation's visionary leader and Chair Emeritus, Virginia K. Shehee. The honor was made in recognition of her tireless guidance and years of service as the Foundation's top volunteer. The Virginia K. Shehee Biomedical Research Institute will stand as a lasting tribute to this outstanding community leader.

Mrs. Virginia K. Shehee ranks high among Louisiana's most revered business leaders and community benefactors. The growth and accomplishments of the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana during the 1986 – 1996 decade were due in large part to her leadership and tenacity. She has been a guiding force in the development of the Foundation from a community vision to a budding science/technology center with $64 million in assets.

Mrs. Shehee is President/CEO of Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company and Rose-Neath Funeral Homes and Cemeteries, Inc., and her civic contributions are legend. She is Chair Emeritus of the Board for the Biomedical Research Foundation. She is presently or has served on such boards as the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Strand Theatre of Shreveport Corporation, American Council of Life Insurance, Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Governor Foster’s Transition Team on Higher Education, State of Louisiana Board of Regents Foundation, Centenary Board of Trustees, Committee of One Hundred, and Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal.

She is the first woman to be elected to the Louisiana State Senate and the first woman to become a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society. She is the first woman to receive the Community Council Special Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Service, the Clyde E. Fant Memorial Award for Community Service, the Optimist Club "Mr. Shreveport" Award and the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year Award. Mrs. Shehee is a member of the Women and Government Hall of Fame – Nichols State University, Junior Achievement's North Louisiana Business Hall of Fame, Centenary College of Louisiana Alumni Hall of Fame and the Byrd High School Hall of Fame. In 1989, she received the Benemerenti Medal conferred by Pope John Paul II for outstanding community service. Other honors include the Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian Award, the Shreveport Bar Association Liberty Bell Award, the National Conference of Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award, the Women's Business Council Lifetime Achievement Award and the Volunteers of America Lighthouse Honors Award. In 1994, the Shreveport Medical Society honored her for Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Medicine in Shreveport.