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LAPLACE — Danny Becnel Jr., a well-known trial lawyer and integral member of the St. John the Baptist Parish community, passed away Tuesday at age 75 after a long battle with illness.

His obituary described him as a “generous man with a bigger than life personality” who touched many lives and loved his St. John Parish community.

Becnel was a patriarch to four sons and seven grandchildren. He is also survived by his wife of 42 years, Mary Hotard Becnel, who served 23 years as a judge in St. John Parish before retiring in 2016.

Becnel spent his early years at St. Peter Catholic School in Reserve and Holy Cross High School. He went on to graduate from Louisiana State University and Loyola Law School.

His prolific law career spanned more than 40 years and included numerous multi-million-dollar lawsuits. He was the first to win a million-dollar personal injury trial in Louisiana, and his career highlights included representing those impacted by the 1976 Luling Ferry disaster, the 1988 Shell Norco explosion, the 1999 Mother’s Day Bus crash and the 2010 BP oil spill.

Becnel also represented Drew Brees and Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints before retiring from his law offices in LaPlace and Reserve.

Since his retirement, Becnel Law Firm has remained a staple of the community with familiar blue signs greeting residents. A staff of committed attorneys keep his legacy alive by assisting the public with personal injury, mass tort, auto accidents, family law and other legal matters.

Becnel lost a bid for St. John the Baptist Parish President to incumbent Natalie Robottom in November 2015. He was active in St. John Parish politics, also running for district attorney, school board and other favored positions.

St. John Parish resident Harold Keller managed two of Becnel’s campaigns. Keller described Becnel as one of the most unforgettable people he had ever met. They had the type of relationship where they could go months without talking and pick up right where they left off.

“I don’t know that many people who met him ever forgot about him,” Keller said. “He was a very good attorney. He was focused. He was very intelligent, and he wasn’t afraid of a good fight. He thought he could win almost anything. He worked hard and outworked any other attorney that I knew of.”

In comments on social media, friends recounted that when Becnel said he would do something, it was sure to happen, no matter how far-fetched the idea sounded. One such example was getting Bill Clinton to stop at a LaPlace restaurant on his way from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

However, Becnel’s health seemed to work against him. He battled leukemia for several years and also faced lingering health complications from a kidney donation to a family member.

The ongoing COVID-19 situation mandated a private ceremony at Millet-Guidry Funeral Home in Reserve. A memorial service will be held at a later date, according to Becnel’s family.