SLS 16RS-3738 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 159
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences on the death of Carroll E. Guilbeau.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 death of Carroll E. Guilbeau.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
5 Louisiana Senate have learned of the passing of Carroll E. Guilbeau, age ninety-five, on May
6 21, 2016; and
7 WHEREAS, Carroll Emanuel Guilbeau was born on Christmas Day, December 25,
8 1920, delivered by his father, Dr. Eric E. Guilbeau Sr.; his mother being the former Marie
9 Azelia Guidry, whom everyone affectionately called Mumsy; and
10 WHEREAS, a native and lifelong resident of Carencro, Carroll Guilbeau is survived
11 by a brother, J. Albert Guilbeau and wife, Eva Dell and sister, Cecile Fayard and husband,
12 E.J.; four children, Carol Ann Guilbeau Gervais, John J. Guilbeau and wife, Vickie,
13 Nannette Guilbeau Brasseaux and husband, Mayor Glenn, and Ken C. Guilbeau and wife,
14 Brenda; thirteen grandchildren, Michael Gervais, Steven Gervais, David Gervais, Phillip
15 Gervais, Katie Gervais Glynn, Kevin Guilbeau, Brian Guilbeau, Kyle Guilbeau, Mark
16 Brasseaux, Wayne Brasseaux, Andre Brasseaux, Dr. Julie G. Broussard and Melissa
17 Guilbeau; seventeen great-grandchildren; and one godchild, Celia Ann Guilbeau Soper; and
18 WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elsie Chiasson Guilbeau;
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1 his father, Dr. Eric E. Guilbeau Sr. and mother, the former Marie Azelia Guidry; one sister,
2 Juanita Guilbeau; one brother, Dr. Eric Guilbeau Jr. and wife, Sarah Womack Guilbeau; one
3 son-in-law, Jude R. Gervais; and one great grandson, Wyatt Brasseaux; and
4 WHEREAS, Carroll Guilbeau was a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather and
5 great-grandfather and a lifelong parishioner of St. Peter Catholic Church; and
6 WHEREAS, he held memberships in St. John Knights of Columbus Council No.
7 1286 (Grand Knight) and Bishop DuBourg 4th degree Assembly No. 315, served as
8 Eucharistic minister and parish trustee for St. Peter Catholic Church and past treasurer of the
9 Carencro Cemetery Association; and
10 WHEREAS, at the time of his death, he was retired, having owned and operated
11 Carroll's Auto Supply in Carencro which he opened after returning from World War II in
12 1946 and which remained open for fifty-five years; and
13 WHEREAS, many often referred to his place of business as the daily news center
14 where, over a cup of coffee, the locals would gather and the conversations might last well
15 into the work morning; and
16 WHEREAS, he was a founding father of Acadian Hills Country Club, served as
17 treasurer for the Carencro Recreation Baseball League, and, for a period of time, served on
18 the advisory board for Iberia Bank; and
19 WHEREAS, Mr. Guilbeau's tenure in public service began early in his life serving
20 untiringly as Clerk for the Village and Town of Carencro (1948-1974); fireman and Fire
21 Chief for the Village, Town and City of Carencro (1949-1989); and alderman for the Village
22 and Town of Carencro (1966-1974); and
23 WHEREAS, a lifetime volunteer fireman, he was a pioneer in fire protection and
24 instrumental in the formation of the Lafayette Fire Protection Association (president), served
25 on the Parish Civil Defense Committee (secretary/treasurer), served on the Lafayette Parish
26 Communication District (secretary/treasurer), served on the parish's 911 Commission, and
27 served as advisor and member of the Lafayette Fire Protection Association; and
28 WHEREAS, Carroll Guilbeau influenced the purchase of the first fire truck for
29 Carencro, as well as the building of the community's first modern fire station and telephone
30 alert system; was instrumental in lowering of the fire rating for the community from unrated
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1 to a level 5 fire protection; was a strong advocate of bringing the latest fire training
2 technologies to the department, always with a passion to provide the best fire protection
3 possible so that when the bell sounded, the department responded to the best of its ability;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, he was very proud of the fact that his sons, grandchildren and
6 sons-in-law chose to become volunteer firefighters; and
7 WHEREAS, for his work, Mr. Guilbeau was recognized with the 1985 Bon Amis
8 Sertoma International Club's "Service to Mankind Award", the Everett Davis Volunteer
9 Service Award, the Woodman of the World Outstanding Citizen Award, and the Carencro
10 Jaycees Outstanding Citizen Award in 1979; and
11 WHEREAS, the Carencro Fire Station was recently dedicated and named in his
12 honor as his name still hangs on the Fire Chief's door and below it reads "Fire Chief
13 Emeritus"; and
14 WHEREAS, Mr. Guilbeau was a proud veteran of the United States Army, having
15 served during World War II as a volunteer in the Burma-China-India Theater as a staff
16 sergeant, Signal Corp shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and he was awarded the
17 American Campaign Medal, the Asian Pacific Campaign Medal, the European African
18 Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army Good Conduct
19 Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation; and
20 WHEREAS, he held membership in American Legion Post 69, Carencro War
21 Veterans, and Woodmen of the World; and
22 WHEREAS, Mr. Guilbeau was a 1938 graduate of Carencro High School and
23 attended Louisiana State University and Southwestern Louisiana Institute, as well as the
24 General Electric Electronic School; and
25 WHEREAS, he was a member of the board of directors for the Lafayette Electronic
26 Association in 1961; and
27 WHEREAS, with the death of Carroll E. Guilbeau, Louisiana has lost one of its finest
28 citizens who was admired by all whose lives he touched and is greatly missed; and
29 WHEREAS, his passing has left a tremendous void in the Carencro community, but
30 his love, smile, and personality shall remain eternal in the hearts and minds of his loved
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1 ones, friends, and all who had the opportunity to meet and know him.
2 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of Legislature of Louisiana does
3 hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Carroll E. Guilbeau; does
4 hereby recognize his brave and faithful military service; and does hereby record his singular
5 contributions and achievements, and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for the pride
6 and honor that this wonderful gentleman brought to his family, friends, community, and
7 state.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
9 family of Carroll E. Guilbeau.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 159 Original 2016 Regular Session Boudreaux
Expresses condolences upon the death of Carroll E. Guilbeau.
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