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Archiver > ACADIAN-CAJUN > 2002-02 > 1012953600


From: "LucieMC" <>
Subject: Living Legends
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 19:00:58 -0500


Hi Everybody - I just want to share how some of our "cousins" are being
recognized for their contributions that promote our heritage:

<<On Saturday, Feb 9th at 2:00 p.m. the Acadian Museum of Erath will honor
Scott native, Eddie Richard, as a Living Legend. Program Director Kermit
Bouillion said, "Eddie Richard was instrumental in organizing the event
that
anchored Louisiana's greatest year in attracting tourists to this state, the
Congres Mondial Acadien 1999." According to Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, "that
was the year of Franco Fete and our best year yet." Warren Perrin,
President of CODOFIL said, "Mr. Richard did an outstanding job organizing
the
Acadian family reunions."
When Louisiana was selected to host the 2nd World Acadian Reunion,
Richard served as Co-chair for the committee to organize the 90 family
reunions for the 1999 Congres Mondial Acadien in Louisiana. The two-week
event was a monumental touristic and cultural success.
Eddie Richard was born in Scott on Sept. 14, 1922, the son of a farmer.
He graduated from Scott High School in 1941. While in high school he was a
state champion miler, and was awarded a track scholarship to attend UL, then
SLI. He graduated from SLI in 1951 with a BS degree in Education.
He served for 4 years in the U.S. Air Force and was a flight engineer in
a B-17 "Flying Fortress." From 1942 - 1946 he was stationed at the Panama
Canal Zone.
Richard worked with the Boy Scouts of America for over ten years as a
field executive and served as a volunteer cub master, scout master, and an
explorer advisor.
Richard worked as a director of the Law Enforcement Assistance Program
for the state of Louisiana. He was the Civil Defense Director of Lafayette
Parish in 1965 and served as CEO for the Lafayette Parish Consolidated
Government.
He was elected as Mayor of Scott in 1978. He has been a trustee for the
St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church in Scott for 15 years.
He was the recipient of the Diocese of Lafayette Service Award. A
member
of the Rotary Club of Lafayette for many years, he served as its president
and received the Outstanding Rotarian Award. He served as District Governor
of Rotary International from 1978 -79.
In 1972, he led a team of young Louisiana business and professionals to
Belgium (1972), France (1989), and India (1993).
He serves on the organizing committee for the 2004 Congres Mondial
Acadien to be held in Nova Scotia, Canada in August, 2004. He was
instrumental in organizing the Confederation of Association of Acadian
Families (CAFA). He was selected as chair of the CAFA's education committee
which assists financially the 27 schools with the French Immersion program
in
South Louisiana. He is a board Member of the Acadian Memorial Foundation
based in St. Martinville.
Currently, he is the president of Zach-rich Corporation, a Louisiana
company doing business in the US, Canada, and Europe in the entertainment
field. He is the father of internationally known musician and Scott native,
Zachary Richard. The Louisiana Dept. of Tourism is using a French song, "My
Louisianne," written by Zachary Richard, in a new marketing campaign to
promote tourism in the state.
He has been married to Pauline Boudreaux for 54 years.
The "Living Legends" series, free and open to the public, is now in its
fifth year of recognizing and honoring those individuals who have helped
shape and define our Cajun culture. The program is sponsored by the Acadian
Museum of Erath (http://www.acadianmuseum.com), a nonprofit organization and
is held at the Museum Café in Erath. Immediately following the "Living
Legends" program, there will be a music jam session from 3 PM till 6 PM
featuring Cajun music. For more information, you may call 937-0012.>>

Lucie LeBlanc Consentino
Acadian & French Canadian Ancestral Home
http://www.geocities.com/lucieleblanc.geo
http://www.acadian-home.org

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