Remembering Avoyelles: 90 Years of History đź“ś
By Donna Culotta & Abi Guillot
subterra technologies
90 Years Ago
From our Feb. 8, 1936 editions Adolph Tassin of Mansura died. The famous carrier pigeon “John Silver” died. He was used in WWI and one of the most active pigeons. His 25 mile flight from the front at Grandpre to Meuse-Argonne was legendary in battle history. All Avoyelles schools were closed on Jan.30 in memory of Governor Oscar Allen. Mrs. Huey P. Long received an appointment from Governor Noe to fill the unexpired term of her late husband.
80 Years Ago
From our Feb. 9, 1946 editions Ben F. Laborde, an aggressive scouting leader, was presented the Silver Beaver award, the highest honor in scouting. Mrs. Georgianna Reiber received a letter from Governor Jimmie Davis extending congratulations on her 75th birthday. Her son, Lea Reiber, also had a birthday on the same day as his mother. It was his 50th birthday. Mr. Jules P. Bordelon of Bordelonville and Mr. Dayton McCann of the Fifth Ward requested Governor Jimmie Davis and Highway Chairman D. Y. Smith investigate the deplorable road conditions of Avoyelles Parish. E.L. Bordelon of Hessmer was promoted to Seaman 1st Class.
70 Years Ago
From our Feb. 11, 1956 editions Elie N. Roy qualified for a Ward Four run off position for police juror. Mr. John W. Gilfry, Director of Bands at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, judged at the Avoyelles Music Festival. Wiley D. Poole, an agricultural engineer at LSU, born and reared in Bunkie, developed a sweet potato harvester, and was the recipient of the Louisiana Engineering Society Award.
60 Years Ago
From our Feb. 11, 1966 editions State Crop Insurance Director J.S. Smith announced that the federal cotton crop insurance program had been improved. Avoyelles cotton farmers would benefit as a result. Cheryl Brouillette, Deborah A. O’Bryan and Delores Patterson were selected as winners of the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow. Frank Foreman, head football coach at Bunkie High since 1961, resigned and still unofficial, his successor no doubt will be Coach Gene Brittain. Carol Aymond was noted as an outstanding conservation farmer by the Avoyelles Soil and Conservation District. Marksville Mayor Raymond Laborde was unopposed for a third consecutive term.
50 Years Ago
From our Feb. 12, 1976 editions Eric V. Gormsen addressed the police jury and urged them to adopt an election code. Mayor Andre Coco and the Marksville town council requested a $1500 appropriation from the Avoyelles Nutrition Program. Senator-elect John Saunders addressed the Bunkie AARP Chapter. Burton and Lloyd Newton received the first annual “President's Award” presented by Orval Harris of the Bunkie Chamber of Commerce at the annual Farmers Appreciation Night banquet. The Newton brothers also shared the annual “Farmer of the Year" award.
40 Years Ago
From our Feb. 13, 1986 editions Don Pat Descant, executive vice president of M.D Descant Contractors, was elected vice president of the Associates General Contractors of Louisiana. Father John LaVauve was scheduled to conduct a mission at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Marksville. Mona Bordelon, Paula Gaspard, Lisa Piazza and Catherine Taylor were honored at the 16th annual Scholar’s banquet at LSUA. Paul Lemoine of Plaucheville was re-elected president of District III of the Louisiana Cattleman’s Association. A majority of Avoyelleans favored Governor Edwards proposal for a state-wide lottery.
30 Years Ago
From our Feb. 8, 1996 editions Avoyelles Parish endured one of the worst storms in 10 years. Freezing rain wreaked havoc to trees, power lines and the sugar cane crop. Schools were closed for a long weekend, bridges and overpasses were shut and driving was hazardous. Mail service was disrupted and electrical service was out all over the parish as limbs snapped and fell on power lines. Both radio stations were off the air and the worst hit areas in Avoyelles were Effie and the Moncla Bridge. The school board approved a new system for screening students going into the honors program. A four-seater Beechcraft Aerobatic Bonanza airplane came onto the Marksville runway on its belly when the landing gear malfunctioned. Pilot and passenger, both from Baton rouge, were unhurt.
20 Years Ago
From our Feb. 9, 2006 editions Wade Cory Griffin of Cottonport was sentenced to 35-years in the March 2005 stabbing death of Marcus Conway of Marksville. The month of January turned out to be a blessing for Avoyelles homeowners because of mild temperatures which eased the cost of natural gas and electricity bills. The cast of the Fox Theater production “Whose Wives Are They Anyway?” included Crystal Hardy, Eric Mayeux, William Crow, Jessica Double, Darren Foreman, Cassandra Mealer, Tammy Foreman, Gwen Hollinshead, Tammy Wilkes and Mark Trevillon. First-deer hunters were:
- Coy Deaville, 12 of Bodoc
- Brad Brouillette of Marksville
- Jude Lachney of Brouillette.
10 Years Ago
From our Feb. 11, 2016 editions Lundi Gras royalty for 2016 was a brother-sister. King Thomas Borrel II and Queen Emily Borrel, natives of Moncla. Calls to change the parish government from a police jury format to Home Rule Charter have been increasing. The change has been led by Glenn Goudeau of Marksville. The police jury has been listening to concerns over the newly proposed road district plan where certain areas in the parish will become “districts” for taxation to cover road and bridge work.
Correction
An item published in the Jan. 30, 2026 edition of our 60 Years Ago column incorrectly stated that Clerk of Court Gradney Couvillon underwent a heart stent procedure at Marksville Hospital. In fact, Mr. Couvillon was transferred by his physicians at Abrahams Hospital in Marksville to Houston, where the heart stent procedure was performed. Marksville has never had a cardiologist or performed heart stent procedures. We regret the error
Comments ()