Tributes

Roland Joseph Guidry

On 26 June 2023 Roland Joseph Guidry, a 2015 inductee to the Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur Circle of Distinction, passed away. Roland led a full life from being born on a houseboat in the swamps of Louisiana, to living off the natural resources as a shrimper and oysterman during young adulthood to captaining his own tugboat and finally serving as the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator under four Louisiana governors. Always proud of his Acadian heritage, Roland lived on the shore of the Cut Off Canal in Cut Off, Louisiana and could prepare a mouth-watering jambalaya as many of our 2011 Reunion attendees can attest. An Army Reservist from 1952-1960, Roland not only served his country, but also his fellow Lafourche citizens as an elected member of the Great Lafourche Port Commission from 1976-1992. Appointed by Governor Edwin Edwards in 1992 to fill the newly-created Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator position, Roland developed an innovative plan for the State response actions and distinguished himself across the United States as an outstanding Spill Coordinator. His out- standing leadership abilities, administration skills and endearing people skills led to the next three governors reappointing Roland to this position. Roland directed the Louisiana cleanup efforts for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill , the largest marine oil spill in history, in 2010. At his retirement folks from all walks of life that had worked with Roland lauded not only his outstanding work ethic, strong leadership and ability, but also his warm smile and kind words to everyone he met. Roland's wife of 65 years LouAnna Crosby Guidry, his four children Cindy Guidry Breaux, Kirk Guidry, Suzanne Guidry Morain and Leigh Anne Guidry, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren mourn their loss as do we. His 2015 induction into the Circle of Distinction is at Circle of Distinction - Roland J. Guidry and his obituary is at https://www.houmatoday.com/obituaries/plou0516947.

Jules "Nonc Jules" Guidry

In June 1983, 40 years ago, Jules Guidry, better known in South Louisiana as “Nonc Jules”, first lifted those headphones to his ears, talked into the microphone and began broadcasting at KRVS Radio on the campus of the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Today folks from through- out the world tune into his weekly show “Bal de Dimanche Après- Midi” (“Sunday Afternoon Dance”) on Sundays from noon - 3:00 pm Central time on KRVS 88.7 and streaming on the internet. It is always a toe-tapping time with great Cajun music, interviews with musicians and wonderful stories told by Nonc-Jules in both Cajun French and English. But this is not the only volunteer work done by Nonc-Jules to ensure the survival of his Cajun language and culture. He also volunteered many years as an artisan at Vermilionville, an historic, recreated Acadian village on the banks of Bayou Vermilion. Nonc-Jules entertained visitors with his accordion and tee fer (triangle), singing Cajun songs and slipping Jules “Nonc Jules” Guidry in snippets on the history of his Acadian people. For many years Nonc-Jules entertained local folks at various venues with his band “Nonc Jules et Lachez-Les”. Attendees at our 2011 Reunion in Cut Off certainly remember Nonc-Jules, his wife Mary Lou and fiddler Roland Cheramie entertaining us. As an occupation, Nonc-Jules worked for many years at CODOFIL - the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana. Jules Guidry was a 2016 inductee into the Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur Circle of Distinction We congratulate Nonc-Jules on a long and distinguished career not only at KRVS, but in working tirelessly throughout his life to ensure that our Cajun language and culture thrive into the future.

Lloyd J. Guidry Jr.

We congratulate Lloyd J. Guidry, Jr., Pharm. D, on being appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lady of the Sea General Hospital in Cut Off, Louisiana. Lady of the Seas is an acute-care, inpatient hospital founded in 1956 and serves the people of lower Lafourche Parish. His appointment was effective on 1 June 2023. A Lafourche Parish native, Lloyd has a long history at Lady of the Sea General Hospital having worked there over 28 years including the last seventeen as Chief Operations Officer. Congratulations, Lloyd, and many years of success at Lady of the Sea.