DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / February 11, 2000

VACHERIE – Joseph Albert Granier Sr. was a man who wore many hats duringhis time on earth. Most will remember him as the principal of VacherieElementary and a St. James Parish School Board member. Sunday, three days after his 88th birthday, Granier passed away. He left alegacy as a kind and generous educator, husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, chauffeur, nurse, disciplinarian, gardener and friend.

Granier started teaching at St. James High School sometime before 1937. Hewas a graduate of Northwest University and received a master’s degree from LSU. In 1937 he became the principal of Vacherie Elementary, where heserved until 1968 when the position was taken over by his son David. Granierwas also supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance for the school board during his tenure.

He was, by nature, a kind man, picking up about four or five of his teachers for work as he drove from St. James to Vacherie every morning, said his sonDavid.

Lori Becnel, current principal at Vacherie Elementary, remembered how, in his last year as principal and her first year at school, he would pick her up with the teachers. She got to know the teachers pretty well and became theprincipal’s pet, she said.

Granier was attentive to every student, and in the case of sickness or injury he would repair the cuts and bruises or take the child home himself, said Katherine Hymel, assistant principal.

He also took on extra duties, including delivering payroll checks from the school board office to all the schools, a good 100-mile trip.

Always kind to the children, he was also respected by the parents. A strictdisciplinarian, parents knew Granier was correct in his judgment.

“When he said something, it was the absolute truth. The kid may saysomething else, but (the parents) would know who was right,” said retired Vacherie teacher Ronald Labat.

If there are any who “kneeled under the clock,” you understand. “If you said’under the clock’ they thought you were a criminal,” Labat said, adding everyone would come out and see you kneeling under the old clock as they changed classes.

A progressive educator, Granier required English to be spoken in class, as French was still predominantly spoken in many of the homes. By the timeDavid had become principal the state began the CODOFIL program, requiring French teachers in the schools to continue the language.

Punctual might be a good way of describing him, said David.

“Everything was on time,” he said. “He made sure everything started and ranon schedule.”After 40 years as an educator and supervisor, dedication seems to illustrate Granier distinctly.

Once retired, Granier devoted himself to his hobby of gardening. Heeventually moved with his wife, Lelia, to Donaldsonville and regularly attended church activities there.

A dedicated man, Granier seems to have gotten all he wanted out of life. Hislast few goals were to see the year 2000 and to be 88, explained David.

He certainly did so, and he left with his family and friends a long legacy of devotion, dedication and happiness.

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