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The challenging story of Columbianism in Louisiana
was assured of its widest possible audience with the acceptance of the
State Council's bid in 1961 for holding the supreme convention Aug. 18 -
21, 1964, in New Orleans under the auspices of the Louisiana State
Council.
The 55th annual meeting of the State Council May 28 -
30, 1960, in New Orleans drew a registered attendance of 1,025, highest to
date. Chosen to serve with Mr. Puissegur, the 27th State Deputy, were
Cursey Vidrine of Iota, Secretary; Noah Chatelain, Bunkie, Treasurer; Alex
Allain, Jeanerette, Advocate; and Ed Maginnis, Baton Rouge, Warden.
The 13th annual seminar of the Louisiana State
Financial Secretaries' Association was held in conjunction with the state
convention. Officers chosen by the group were Edward F. Blanchard, Council
3407, Shreveport, President; Carl Coco, Council 3208, Lake Charles, Vice
President; Cletus Stack, Council 3330, New Orleans, Secretary; Clarence
Duhon, Council 4562, Lake Charles, Treasurer; and Sam Agosta, Council
4346, White Castle, Warden. Election of a separate Secretary and Treasurer
instead of having the two offices in one was voted by the association in
approving a motion offered by Mr. Duhon.
Bishop Greco of Alexandria agreed to continue service
as State Chaplain of the order. Assisting as Diocesan Chaplains were the
Very Rev. Msgr. John J. Adams, New Orleans; the Rt. Rev. Msgr. George
Bodin of Lake Charles for the Lafayette diocese; and the Rt. Rev. Leon R.
Aycock, Alexandria.
Leo A. Cavell of Lafayette continued as executive
secretary and General Program chairman. James C. Lafleur of Eunice and
Bernard J. Klotz of New Orleans continued as insurance representatives.
State Chairmen for the 1960‑61 term were: J. D.
DeBlieux, K.S.G., of Baton Rouge, Catholic Activity; Charles Dill,
Abbeville, Council Activity; Thomas Ragusa, K.S.G., Hammond, Membership;
Edgar E. Guillot, Jr., Lafayette, Insurance; Henry DeBlieux, Natchitoches,
Conservation; John Wiemann, Houma, Fraternal Activity; Houston Courville,
Opelousas, Youth Activity; Felix J. Dugas, Baton Rouge, Columbian Squires;
Raymond Laborde, Marksville, Speakers' Bureau;
Arthur P. Raymond, Jr., New Orleans, Youth Expansion
Program (state); Paul Martin of Lafayette, Louis A. Mathieu of Shreveport
(Alexandria diocese), and Charles deMahy of New Orleans, diocesan
chairmen; Dr. W. J. Brulet, K.S.G., of Lake Charles, Retreats (state);
George Artigues, Gretna (New Orleans archdiocese); Fred Barret, West
Monroe (Alexandria diocese); J. A. Puissegur, Crowley (Lafayette diocese);
William J. Guste, Jr., New Orleans, Ceremonials; Adrian Duplantier, New
Orleans, Legislative; and Richard J. Drown, Jr., New Orleans, Publicity.
It was necessary in this period to add two
districts in Louisiana, raising the number to 34. District Deputies were:
Walter C. Shuster, New Orleans, District No. 1; Robert Larche, New
Orleans, No. 2; James M. Seghers, New Orleans, No. 3; Ed J. Prendergast,
New Orleans, No. 4; Claude J. Champagne, New Orleans, No. 5; Elgey J.
Dupepe, Kenner, No. 6; Walter J. Austin, Harahan, No. 7; O. A. Pitre,
Golden Meadow, No. 8; Philip Bergeron, Thibodaux, No. 9; J. P. Veron,
Gramercy, No. 10; Dr. Louis J. Grush, Slidell, No. 11; C. Donald Becnel,
Baton Rouge, No. 12; Austin D. Barbay, St. Gabriel, No. 13; Rene J.
Orgeron, Port Allen, No. 14; Paul J. Guedry, Morganza, No. 15; Matthew L.
LaGrange, Centerville, No. 16; Ben L. Kiper, New Iberia, No. 17; Andrew
Bienvenu, St. Martinville, No. 18; Leroy J. Langlois, Lafayette, No. 19;
J. Rodney Richard, Kaplan, No. 20; James E. Durio, Opelousas, No. 21;
Henry L. Cary, Mermentau, No. 22; Dewey Ardoin, Jennings, No. 23; Morris
W. Trahan, Welsh, No. 24; Joseph E. Bourgeois, Lake Charles, No. 25; Louis
A. Falgoust, Sulphur, No. 26; Oscar E. Reed, Basile, No. 27; Clarence
Fontenot, Eunice, No. 28; Clement O. LeJeune, Oberlin, No. 29; Raymond J.
Pujol, Bunkie, No. 20; Merlin J. Coco, Mansura, No. 31; Albert L. DeWilde,
Pineville, No. 32; Jerome I. Braud, Monroe, No. 33; and J. Cal Welsh,
Shreveport, No. 34. |
