ANNA MONICA / L’Observateur / September 15, 1999

There were having a blast! It was the Leon Godchaux High School Class of 1959 holding its class reunion commemorating a graduation 40 years ago. I had to be thereto take pictures for the paper and so many of my own classmates were there, it made for an enjoyable assignment.

The reunion was held at BB’s in LaPlace. Owner Judy Belle Vicknair Millet and I areclassmates and friends of long-standing. The group had finished the buffet and Judyalways found time to say a few words as she flitted around tending to details.

Another of our own classmates, Armand Brady, was there with his ’59 graduate wife, Rosalind “Totsy”, and I got to spend time with them. It was wonderful to see anotherlong-time friend and classmate, Ronald Ory, with graduate wife, Linda Verret, who had come in from Florida as had Clifford Triche and wife, the former Meryl Martin.

Emile Hotard, a favorite former teacher who often gets invited to these gatherings, attended with his wife, Gerry, and Civil Defense director Bertram Madere and wife Ann were also part of the graduation class. Phil Breaux of Reserve was enjoying thescene but still looking forward to the next day when he would take his usual motorbike ride with friend Allen Madere.

Music was provided by a disc jockey and the dancing and enthusiasm were shared equally. Mary Alice Becnel Landeche and Nolan were ecstatic with the turnout and theScharwath twins, formerly of Garyville, had come in for the event; Frank from Magee, Miss., and George from Matthews. In fact, it was Frank who volunteered George to goto my car to fix the dome light that wouldn’t go off and was causing me concern.

Naturally, George had it done in an instant, which said something about me I would rather not admit.

Malcolm and Agnes Jacob and Linda and Jimmy Terrio were also part of the crowd as were Pernell and Judy Brewer, Jimmy and Loretta Stein and Sidney and Faye Audiffred, the latter having come in from Illinois. Graduate Dolly Millet Pike traveledfarthest, coming from Seattle. Gerda and James Carrol Vicknair were there and Ireally appreciated Phyllis Granier Bourgeois taking so much time to fill me in with needed information. Her son, Lou, was playing music next door with Perry Levet and Idon’t remember the other details, but she was pleased with his music.

1959 classmate Larry Champagne now lives in Jefferson and told me he has been married for over 30 years. Frances “Bird” LeBlanc was a member of this class andwas having a good time there as was Pauline Triche, Tutie and Gary Weber and Olga and Johnny Proteous. I never got to talk to some of the group, many who I knew andthat’s why I wanted to write about them, but I did see Kenny and Sybil Simon from a distance as well as Jo Ann and Dale Madere, Clarence and Kathy Perilloux and Mary Ann and Al Brady.Totsy Brady, Jimmy Terrio, Olga Proteous, Gerda Vicknair, Tutie Weber, Bertram andAnn Madere and Mary Ann Brady were among the class officers and assistants responsible for organizing the reunion for its 40th anniversary and for constructing the commemorative book each classmate received. This very nice book was filledwith memories for the class and is a genuine keepsake.

After the group had cut up for me while taking pictures, they had to get serious when the professional photographer came in. Besides group pictures, everyone had theopportunity to take individual pictures.

Overall, it surely seemed to an alleged outsider that the class of 1959 could still have a good time 40 years later.

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