DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / December 20, 2000

HESTER – Those who know Larry Roussel know a kind, good hearted soul that shines through his love of helping others, cooking gumbo and fishing for Bull Redfish out of Grand Isle.

Born and raised in St. James Parish, Roussel works at Motiva Enterprises inConvent as an employee counselor. Twenty years ago he met his wife Gail andhad three boys, Rudy, Logan and Jaxon, who have are turning into accomplished redfish fisherman in their own right.

In public, Roussel’s the man shaking your hand with a smile on his face. Atlocal cook-offs he’ll be wearing an apron and most often serving up an award winning gumbo.

There are about seven different charity events where you’ll see Roussel. TheSpecial Olympics Fishing Rodeo in St. James Parish, of which he sits on theplanning committee, and the Louisiana Sportsmen’s Invitational Fishing Rodeo in Grand Isle are two of his favorites.

“I’m fortunate to be working for a company that supports this kind of activity,” said Roussel.

He attributes much support to his wife and boys and also to his boss, Gary Miller, manager of external relations, who “believes in a lot of the same things as I do.””Being involved in the Special Olympics is really something,” said Roussel. Thefishing rodeos bring individuals of all ages out to the piers at the St. JamesBoat Club. The look on the kids faces while their out there fishing is great,said Roussel.

Fishing has always been a part of his life. It wasn’t until right after he gotmarried that he caught his first big fish and the sport truly got into his blood. Off Grand Isle he caught a 17-pound trump fish. From there he movedup to Bull Redfish. Now he fishes every year in the LSI out of his boat, theBull Fighter, and rests at his camp named the Bullpen. He’s also the 1993state of Louisiana Master Redfish Fisherman of the Year.

The LSI is a charity event every Memorial Day. They donate $10,000 everyyear to Camp Challenge, where disabled children of Louisiana go camping for a week. The rodeos donation pays for about 25 percent of their budget.Other rodeos donate to more charities, and one Roussel organized with the help of Don Dubuc of WWL radio offers a college scholarship to one Grand Isle high school students. His first applicant has recently been accepted to lawschool after attending Louisiana State University with a 4.0 grade pointaverage. In the applicant’s resumes the academic achievements are good,but more importantly the scholarship is for those without much money, said Roussel.

If you ask around about Roussel, if your not hearing overwhelming praise, then they’re confused and talking about the wrong person.

“He’s a good family man, provider, and involved in his children’s education.

He’s a good employee and always cheerful. I’ve never seen him frazzled orlose his patience with anyone,” said Miller.

In one example, the school system wanted help with a dinner for its teacher of the year ceremony. Instead of helping book a restaurant, Rousselsuggested and organized a sit-down steak dinner, with all the trimmings, and rounded up 10 or 12 Motiva employees to help cook. When the employeeswere asked if they were getting overtime, they responded. “I like to cook andI like to do things in the community,” said Miller. These are the people thatcome to help a man with the character of Roussel.

“I can’t say enough good about that man,” said Timmy Roussel, St. JamesParish councilman. He has so much outpouring love and energy for hiscommunity friends and family. He’s untiring and it’s always non-profitorganization that really are needing help that he’s involved in, he added.

To get a glimpse of the kind of effort Roussel gives, one would have to watch a marathon runner, or perhaps the Energizer bunny. Miller estimates thatRoussel is involved in around 200 different organizations a year, seven or eight being major events. Last week’s calendar had Roussel booked cooking,organizing and helping in some event every day from Friday to Thursday.

“Thursday night he fell asleep on the couch, bless his soul,” said Miller.

Few words can adequately describe this man of tremendous character.

Roussel is someone held in the highest respect by everyone who knows him.

If you don’t know Larry Roussel, make an effort to meet him. To see thisman in action, helping the community both in it’s entirety and one person at a time, is to see the world becoming a better place.

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