people / neighborsProfile 2011

CelebratingOur Community

a special section of The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 3, 2011

inside

ComfortableMurphy ‘Mike’ FosterJr. says he ismore at easenow in thecomforts of hisOaklawn Manorhome than he wasin the Governor’sMansion.

page 7

a look at some of those who make the teche area unique

EnchantmentWidely knownphotographer andauthor Greg Guirardgets his inspirationfrom the boggy,wooded area inwhich he lives —far from Costa Rica,where he once lived.

page 6

Gardening timeAfter moving to St. Martinville fromMinnesota, Dwight andJeanne Purdy found adrastic difference inmaking their gardengrow as they adjustedto Louisiana’s sub-tropical climate.

page 4

Citizenof theYear

PPeople skillseople skillsdrivdrive Mitchelle Mitchell

Injuries have played an important role in the life of theRev. Zach Mitchell, right, who nowheals local people in a spiritualway and through his tireless devo-tion to charities and children in this community. The New Iberia pastor had a knee injury endhis NFL career and anAchilles tendon tear curtail his oilfield career.He couldn’t be happier.

BY JUSTIN HALL

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Astint in the National Football League, a decade in the oilfield business and the successful leadership of multiplecharities throughout New Iberia would be enough formany people to be satisfied with their lives.

Yet Zachary Mitchell said that if he were to start over from the begin-ning, he would definitely change one thing.

“If I could do it all over again, I would have gotten into the socialstuff earlier,” Mitchell said.

It is for this selflessness and humility that Mitchellhas been named The Daily Iberian’s Citizen of the

Year for 2010.His impressive list of titles from various social

organizations throughout the city would makeany resident jealous, including president andCEO of YABTBAB Outreach Ministries; presi-dent of the board of Solomon House; chairmanof the board for Iberia Crisis Committee andfounder and consulting pastor of Shepherd’sFood Pantry.

“As a member of the board of SolomonHouse, he is very important. He oversees thedecisions and enables the Solomon House toprovide services to the community,” SolomonHouse executive director Ellen Nora said. “Weat Solomon House, the board, the clients, thestaff, are very excited to have Zach Mitchell aspresident chosen as Citizen of the Year.”

Of course, for day jobs, Mitchell is also theSenior Pastor at Word of Hope World OutreachChurch and the FINS Diversion ProgramDirector and Juvenile Assessment/Alternative

Placement Program Coordinator for the 16thJudicial District.

“His people skills have resulted in him makinga difference,” 16th Judicial District Attorney PhilHaney added. “He is not only involved with diver-sion, he also tries to get (youths) out of detentioncenters to save taxpayer dollars.”

One of the highlight’s from Mitchell’s work thispast year was the successful move of the foodpantry from its former location at the parish-ownedJacquemond Funeral Home on Washington Street toa group of portable buildings on Jane Street.

Mitchell said that being forced out of their oldlocation was a difficult situation, but it is better nowknowing they have a new place to call home.

“Everything fell into place and the stress has beenkind of released,” Mitchell said. “It was stressful for

all of the constituents as well.”Though good at what he does now, Mitchell said he

was not always prepared for social service work.When he graduated from Tulane University

in 1974, little did he know that becominginvolved in social services and the ministrywould be his life’s calling. Instead, he believedhe was destined to play professional footballfor the New York Giants.

After suffering a serious knee injury hisrookie season, however, he decided to hang upthe cleats and return home to start a new pro-fession back in South Louisiana.

“There’s an edge when you participate in pro-fessional sports and I lost that edge,” Mitchell

said. “It was amazing, I have no regretswhatsoever.”

Returning home to New Iberiawith his new wife, Josie, Mitchell

tried to impart his footballknowledge as the head coachat Jeanerette Junior HighSchool.

SEE MMIITTCCHHEELLLL,, PAGE 6

LEE BALL / THE DAILY IBERIAN

people / neighborsProfile 2011 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 2 / Thursday, February 3, 2011 / The Daily Iberian

609 Ember DriveNew Iberia, LA 70560

Phone: 337.373.0011Fax: 337.373.0039

Manufacturing ProgramsWelding • Drafting • Machine Tool Technology

Industrial ElectronicsIndustrial/Agriculture Mechanics Technology

Information Communications Technology• Computer Networking/Support

Business Office Technology

Construction ProgramsHeavy Equipment Operator

Electrician • CarpentryAir Conditioning & Refrigeration

Summer Enrollment BeginsMay 25, 2011

How about trainingfor a new career!

Call373-0011

Today!

AcadianaTechnical Collegewww.techeareacampus.net

“World Class Technology In Your Own Backyard”

Jimmy Champagne1550 E Admiral DoyleNew Iberiajchampagne@allstate.com

Serving the community for over 20 years

IT’S TIME SAFE DRIVING WAS

MORE REWARDING.Deductible Rewards. Earn $100 off your deductiblefor every year of safe driving - up to $500. Call meabout Allstate® Your Choice Auto Insurance today.

(337) 365 0914

Feature is optional and subject to terms and conditions. Available in select states now and in most states by 1/31/06 (subject to regulatoryapproval where required).Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL. ©2006 Allstate Insurance Company

Citizen of the YearZach Mitchell was destinedto be a minister and commu-nity leader ... He just took aroundabout way. . . . . .page 1

Sports and moreWorking long hours in theDA’s office, Vincent Bornestill spends plenty of timewith family. . . . . . . . . . .page 2

Soccer in his bloodAfter being one of the firstprep soccer players here,Ryan Fontenot went on toreferee and coach. . . . .page 2

Longtime educatorLaura Turpeaux stayed inthe St. Martin Parish school sy-stem after graduating from Mc-Neese 41 years ago. . . .page 3

Growing in the SouthGardening changed drasticallyfor Dwight and JeannePurdy after they moved herefrom Minnesota. . . . . .page 4

Defender of nonprofitsTrevis Badeaux says beforepassing judgment, see howhard volunteers work to helpneedy people. . . . . . . .page 4

Rural health careNew York native Dr. DonnaTesi has traded in her days inthe Sahara Desert to be aFranklin surgeon. . . . . .page 5

Swamp sceneA widely known photogra-pher and author, GregGuirard gets inspiration froma novel’s quote. . . . . . .page 6

Home sweet homeThe Oaklawn Manor is far re-moved from the Governor’sMansion, and loved dearly byMike Foster. . . . . . . .page 7

I ND EX■

Publisher . . . . . . . . . .Will Chapman

Managing Editor . . . . . .Jeff Zeringue

Advertising Manager . . . . .Alan Rini

Production Manager . . .Jerry Sexton

Business Manager . . .Amanda Seneca

Circulation Manager . . .“J.P.” Poirier

Profile 2011: Celebrating Our Community is

a supplemental publication of

, P.O. Box 9290,

New Iberia, LA 70562.

‘Super dad’ Borne has prioritiesBY HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON

THE DAILY IBERIAN

FRANKLIN — Whenhe is away from theDistrict Attorney’s

Office in Franklin wherehe works long hours aslead prosecutor to putaway violent offenders,Assistant DistrictAttorney Vincent Borneis “super dad.”

His dedication to hisfamily is apparent afteronly one visit to his court-house office. A large bul-letin board is covered inphotographs of Borne andhis three young boys. It’salso littered with picturesof the victims of somecriminals he’s prosecuted.

“There just remindersof what I’ve seen,” hesaid. “It’s important tounderstand it all starts athome. We’re all in thistogether.”

A native of Franklinand graduate of HansonMemorial High School,Louisiana StateUniversity and LoyolaLaw School, Borne mar-ried his high schoolsweetheart during hislast year of law school.Now 38, he finds the timeto juggle a lot, he said.

Borne’s committed tomaking sure his sons geta good foundation athome. His wife, Robin,owns a dance studio inFranklin keeping heraway from the family inthe early evening hoursmost nights a week, shesaid. It’s up to Borne tocorral the children forsupper and shuffle themto and from the manyactivities in which theyparticipate. The boys,like their dad, lovesports.

“He’s pretty muchsuper dad,” she said.“Even with his busyschedule, he manages.He’s always two feet in.”

Vincent Borne saidthere is a rarely a dullmoment in his house in

the evenings.The couple have three

children 11-year-old Noah,Nicholas, 9, and 2-year-oldNathan. Noah andNathan love baseball. Forthe past six years, Bornehas coached the team.

“In Franklin, we have awell-run baseball organi-zation,” he said. “I’m thetype of person that wouldbe at all the games any-way watching, so I figuredI might as well help out.

The line between hiswork experience andexperience coaching chil-dren sometimes blurs ashe realizes the impor-tance of getting childreninvolved in such activi-ties.

“You have children thatmay not have a stablehome life every day,”Borne said. “Gettingthose kids involved is avery positive thing.Youth sports, among

other things, establisheslasting relationships.Seeing the things I seesome days, it makes mehold my children a littlecloser.”

Despite the long hourshe commits to his work,Borne’s family is the cen-ter of his universe, hesaid.

“Faith, family, commu-nity,” are his priorities,he said.

Borne’s also introduced

his young boys to a loveof the outdoors. Theyhunt often, an activitythat Borne grew up doingwith his dad. He said hethinks introducing chil-dren to the outdoors,especially consideringwhere he lives, is one ofthe most importantthings.

Robin Borne said herhusband often remindstheir children how luckythey are, no doubt draw-ing from his daily experi-ences.

“He talks to themabout things a lot and isso involved with them,”she said.

Assistant DA devotes his leisure time to his children, sports

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANVincent Borne enjoys a quality moment with his son Nathan, 2, in Franklin.

‘He’s pretty muchsuper dad. Evenwith his busyschedule, he

manages. He’salways two

feet in.’

Robin Borne

Wife of Vincent Borne,

16th Judicial District

lead prosecutor

■

‘Seeing the thingsI see some days, it

makes me holdmy children a little closer.’

Vincent Borne

16th Judicial District

lead prosecutor

■

Fontenot trades cleats for whistle as ref, coachBY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Soccer is a growingsport in New Iberia,one that NISH girls’

soccer coach RyanFontenot has helped cul-tivate since 1996 whenthe city berthed its firsthigh school soccer team.

Although Fontenot, 29,started playing soccer atage 6, he said he didn’tbecome dedicated to thesport until the formationof the first-ever team atNew Iberia Senior Highby Coach Kevin Hardy,who continues to coachthe team after 15 years.

“I always felt we werethe bad news bears,”Fontenot said of theschool’s inaugural team.“One or two people weredecent while the restwere outcasts from other

sports. Soccer used to bea sport for kids whocouldn’t play othersports. Now it’s kids whoare athletes who choose itover other sports.”

Looking back toFontenot’s career withthe NISH soccer team,

which spanned from 1996to 1999, Coach Hardy saidwhat separated Fontenotfrom the other player’swas his selection for 1stTeam All-District.

“The one thing Iremember about Ryanwas he was our first play-

er to get that recognition,”Hardy said. “That’s prettyamazing considering wewere pretty challengedback then, as far as ourplayers were concerned.”

After graduating fromNISH in 1999, Fontenotaccepted an opportunity toplay at the next level forthe Louisiana CollegeWildcats in Pineville.

Fontenot said after play-ing one season, he decidedto return home and attendthe University ofLouisiana at Lafayette,where he eventually grad-uated with a degree insocial studies education.

“I got decent playingtime, but didn’t like livingin Pineville,” he said.

Despite hanging up hiscleats, Fontenot’s soccercareer was far from over.He continued to referee forarea high school matches

as a USSF- and LHSAA-certified referee.

Then, in 2005, Fontenotsaid he accepted a job asthe head coach of theWestgate boys’ soccerteam, where he stayeduntil 2008. After taking ateaching job in 2009 atNISH, where he coachedfreshman baseball for oneseason, Fontenot said hewas offered the chance toserve as co-head coach ofthe school’s girls’ soccerteam alongside RachaelPhillips.

While raising his 8-month-old son Jacksonwith his wife, Tobie,Fontenot said he is readyto meet the challenges ofrebuilding the girls’ teamafter losing a number ofstarters to graduationlast year.

“I always knew I’dcome back as a coach.”

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANRyan Fontenot watches NISH girls warm up before match.

BY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

ST. MARTINVILLE —As the discussionson the state of the

public school system con-tinue in Baton Rouge andWashington, veteran edu-cators like Laura Turpeauare doing their best toensure students receive abetter education andlearn life lessons alongthe way.

After graduating forMcNeese State University,Turpeau and four otherwomen moved to St.Martin Parish and board-ed together while begin-ning their careers asschool teachers.

Forty-one years laterTurpeau, who is original-ly from Lake Charles, isthe last of the four toremain in the St. MartinParish school system.

“I’m the only one thatstayed and people teaseme that I drank too muchof the Bayou Techewater,” Turpeau, 64, saidwith a laugh.

After teaching for 12years in Breaux Bridgeshe transferred to St.Martinville Junior High,where she taught readingfor five years.

After the school’s prin-cipal retired she wasencouraged by her col-leagues to apply for thepost, which she achievedand served as principalfor 12 years.

Through the decades ofher career Turpeaubecame supervisor ofvocational education, andsecondary education andcurriculum. She was alsoappointed over opera-tions, which included

maintenance, transporta-tion and child welfare andattendance.

She retired four yearsago after working 36 yearsfor public schools in St.Martin Parish.

But she finds her wayinside classrooms everyweek assisting teachersand students as a perform-ance assistant monitor atSt. Martinville JuniorHigh.

She said returning tothe school “is like cominghome,” because many ofthe students are the chil-dren and grandchildren tostudents she taught orsupervised in the past.

In 1987 she was awardedSt. Martin Parish’steacher of the year and in1998 she was one of thefinalists in the state forPrincipal of the Year.

Turpeau said touchinglives like the teacher whoinspired her as a childhas been the most reward-ing part of being an edu-cator.

“I wanted to be ateacher when I was ingrade school,” she said.

“It was justsomethingthat I wantedto do becauseI admiredmy teachersand I felt Icould helpchildrendevelop totheir fullestpotential.”

For most ofher careershe was areadingteacher formiddleschool stu-dents, manywho weredeemed bythe system asat-risk, shesaid.

Turpeausaid shefound the age group to bethe most challenging andengaging, adding thatpotential in many stu-dents is often overlooked.

“They are very cre-ative,” she said. “I justlove working with youngminds because I feel thatif we don’t do it, whowill? There are so manystudents who are labeledat-risk and when youreally work with themyou’ll see that they havequalities that other stu-dents don’t have.

“And I have gotten feed-back from students I’vetaught or students thatwere in my school when Iwas principal. Theycome up to me. Theyhaven’t forgotten what Idid for them or theyremember that I had tosuspend them. But theyknow I did it for theirown good. And whenthey were re-entered toschool I sat with themand talked to them andencouraged them not tomake the same mistakes.It is those things thatreally kept me in the sys-tem.”

people / neighbors Profile 2011 / Celebrating Our Community The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 3, 2011 / page 3

����������� ��������������������������������������

��������������������������������������

����������� ��������� ���������������������������� ��� ����� �� �������� ������������������������������������� ���������� ������������������������������ �����!��� �����"�������##������#����������������������������� ������������������������������$�����!���#����#����%��#!�������$�������#�&��#����%��#�

����������� �'��������� ��������������������� �� ����������������� ��� ������##��������(��������������������!����������)��� ������������ ����*��������������� ���������#�� ������ ��������������������� ���+��������������� ���������� ���������� ���#������������������������!��������������,������������,���������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������

� ����������� ����������������-&.�/� �������$�������������0��������!�1��� �������������--2�-23�2.%�4��������"�!��5�����������#� �6����!��5���������7�����$����!��5���������$���������#� ��!��5���������1������� !��5

�������������� �'����������������-8%�/� �������$����!�$�����9���������0��������!�1��� �������������--2�.:8�.88.4��������"�!��5����������#� �6����!��5��������7�����$����!��5��������$���������#� ��!��5��������1������� !��5

������������������� ������ ��������� ������

1302 E.1302 E. Admiral DoAdmiral Doyle Dryle Dr..(Acr(Across fross from NISH),om NISH), NeNew Iberiaw Iberia

369-7082369-7082Mon.-FMon.-Fri.ri. 9-5,9-5, SaSat.t. 9-39-3

12 Months Interest Free

Financing WAC

Special Picturesstarting at

$3995

CounterHeightTable & 4-Chairs

$699

$1699

King Size Bed Set

Formal Gown &Cocktail Wear

★ Tops★ Skirts

★ Palazzo Pants★ Jewelry

★ Handbags★ Shoes

★ Spanx Hosiery

House of Caché115 French St., New Iberia

367-5004Tues - Fri 10 - 5 • Sat 10 - 4 • Closed Monday

Retired educator returns to SMJHMcNeese St. graduatehas stayed in the schoolsystem in St. Martin Parish

‘I’m the only onethat stayed andpeople tease methat I drank too

much of the BayouTeche water.’

Laura Turpeau

Veteran educator

■

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANEducator Laura Turpeau pauses for a moment at her desk at St. Martinville Junior High School.

people / neighborsProfile 2011 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 4 / Thursday, February 3, 2011 / The Daily Iberian

• NO PAYMENT FOR 90 DAYS+• NO INTEREST FOR 90 DAYS+• NO ANNUAL FEE

406 E. Admiral Doyle Dr. (Across from Catholic High) (337) 364-1746TIRE & SERVICE

M-F 7:30 am - 5:00 pmSat 7:30 am - 12:00 Noon

Tune Ups • Shocks • Brake Jobs • Oil Changes• Batteries • Alignments • AC Work

OIL CHANGE & FILTERFrequent, vital engine maintenance includes

refill of up to 5 qts. of quality 5W 30 oil.$3299

Most VehiclesPrice includes oil disposal fee and chassis lubrication (if applicable).

4-TIRE ROTATION &WHEEL BALANCE

For smoother ride & longer tire wear. Plus weinspect tire tread, air pressure, valve stems.

$2499Most Vehicles

ALL WHEEL ALIGNMENTHelps prevent early tire wear with computerized accuracy, plus we

inspect steering/suspension.$5499

Most VehiclesParts and rear shims extra, if needed.

SPECIALPRICE

Bugs Invading Your Property?“Our Mission Is To Help People Live, Work and Enjoy A Pest Free Environment”

Protect YourInvestment...

With A Pest ControlManagement Program★★ Free Estimates ★★

New Iberia (337) 367-1414Abbeville (337) 893-3345 • Lafayette (337) 233-3800

Franklin (337) 828-4774 • Morgan City (985) 384-7042www.sugarlandexterminating.com

SugarlandExterminating Co.Call

Purdys learnhow to makethings grow in Louisiana

BY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

ST. MARTINVILLE — Fromthe lens of a gardener, mov-ing from Minnesota to

Louisiana is tantamount to liv-ing in another universe, one thatrequires a whole new frame ofreference when it comes to mak-ing things grow.

Yet, for Dwight and JeannePurdy, the dichotomy betweengardening in Minnesota andLouisiana has been a welcomechange for the two certified mas-ter gardeners.

Jeanne Purdy is a native of St.Martinville, but her northern-born husband, Dwight, said hisarrival in the coastal state fiveyears ago took some adjusting interms of learning the ropes ofLouisiana’s sub-tropical climate.

“When I came here five yearsago from Minnesota, I found itwas quite a different world forgardening,” Dwight Purdy said.“I knew I’d have to learn a lot ofnew tricks trying to gardendown here.”

Purdy said although the differ-ences are numerous, the pri-mary distinction between thetwo states is temperature, where-as Minnesota was considered atemperature zone 3, Louisianahas a zone 9 temperature rating.

Other differences, he said,include bug life, soil and whattypes of plants can be grown.

“We went from a place wherecitrus trees couldn’t possiblygrow to where they’re one of theeasiest things to grow,” he said.“Soil is substantially differenttoo. Here, mulching is absolutelyessential. Nothing will surviveunless you mulch.”

With their home resting alonga bank of the Bayou Teche,Jeanne Purdy said that 10 yearsago, the land that now housestheir expansive garden was asugar cane field.

As she looked out over therows of broccoli, garlic andspinach, among their other vari-ous plants and citrus trees,Jeanne Purdy said their produceeither finds its way into theirhome’s kitchen or is given awayto friends.

“We just grow and give away,”she said, adding that she andher husband aren’t looking tomake money from their endeav-ors.

Along with their personal gar-den, Dwight Purdy said he andhis wife also provide their serv-ices to the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site,where once a week, they weed,plant, hoe and dig to keep thepark’s garden’s in shape.

‘We went from a placewhere citrus trees

couldn’t possibly grow to where

they’re one of the easiest things

to grow.’

Dwight Purdy

St. Martinville resident and avid gardener

■

HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON / THE DAILY IBERIANJeanne Purdy, left, and Dwight Purdy sample some of the fruit from their garden.

Hospital official a champion for nonprofits

BY HEATHER MILLER

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Trevis Badeaux poses a challenge toanyone in the community whodoubts the work of local nonprof-

its: Spend a day with them and see whatthey provide before passing judgment onthose who work tirelessly to serve theless fortunate.

Badeaux, marketing coordinator forDauterive Hospital and Women’s andChildren’s Hospital in Lafayette, has adeep passion for nonprofits, evident bythe long list of boards on which heserves.

“It’s easy to be involved in those kindsof groups because you can see the dif-ference they’re making every day,” hesaid. “There’s a perception issue aboutwhat they do. If you don’t know, you’requick to judge. The reason I stayinvolved is because I see what they do. Isee where the money is going. I see thepeople from this community who taketime off their jobs and time away fromtheir families to help other people intheir community. It blows my mind to

hear that people won’t give becausethey have something against nonprof-its. If you haven’t spent time withthem, how do you know what they’redoing? How many times in your daydo you openly see the fruits of yourlabor instantly? You’re providing food

to people, fans for the elderly, coatsfor children who would have gonewithout.”

The New Iberia native and former jour-nalist is on the board of directors for theUnited Way of Iberia, serves as head ofprogramming for the New Iberia

Kiwanis Club and is a member of thecivic club’s board of directors and alsoserves on the founding board of directorsfor the Public Relations Association ofLouisiana-Acadiana chapter.

While working as a reporter for TheDaily Iberian years ago, Badeaux alsobecame involved with Safety Net forAbused Persons and Arc of Iberia.

“My wife has openly told me if I get onone more board, she’ll divorce me,”Badeaux said with a smile.

In addition to the countless activitiesassociated with the United Way of Iberiaand the pancake-flipping and so muchmore for Kiwanis, Badeaux also isinvolved with an organization that holdsa very special place in his heart — theMarch of Dimes.

Badeaux’s twin sons, Zachary andIsaac, were the 2009 March of DimesAmbassador children for Iberia Parish.Zachary and Issac were born threemonths premature and spent the firstthree months of their lives in the neo-natal intensive care unit at Women’s andChildren’s Hospital. Despite the numer-ous complications they suffered duringtheir first three months, Badeaux saidboth are now healthy and strong 3-year-olds who represent the March of Dimes’

HEATHER MILLER / THE DAILY IBERIANTrevis Badeaux, marketing coordinator for Dauterive Hospital, promotes volunteering.

SEE CCHHAAMMPPIIOONN,, PAGE 5

Badeaux seriousabout volunteering

people / neighbors Profile 2011 / Celebrating Our Community The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 3, 2011 / page 5

Tune In Speech,Tune Out Noise.Stop in today and see

what we can do for you!

All Starkey products featuring BleWave™ SPautomatically tune out annoying and unwantedbackground noise to let you hear more of whatyou want to hear. Whether you want sleek, smalland invisible, high power for maximum hearingpotential or simply the latest and greatest hear-ing aid technology – Starkey has a product thatcan be tailor-made for you.

Hearing Is Our Concern

S-Series Helps You Hear, But Can’t Be Seen.

ACADIANA HEARING CENTER425 E. ST. PETER, NEW IBERIA • 364-9156

Call today for your 45-day trial demonstration!

Dave CavalierM.S., CCC-AAudiologist

Our promise to you. We promise to pro-vide you with outstanding customer careand state-of-the-art hearing instrumentsto help you hear better. Satisfaction withyour new hearing aid is our top priority.

200 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Rev. Zack Mitchell

Franklin surgeon loves the artsBY HEATHER MILLER

THE DAILY IBERIAN

FRANKLIN — Dr. DonnaTesi has traded in herglory days of living on

the edge of the Sahara Desertwith no running water or elec-tricity to become deep-rooted inthe Franklin community as “agood old-fashioned country sur-geon.”

A general surgeon atFranklin Foundation Hospital,Tesi was first acquainted withthe small town of Franklinwhile studying medicine atCharity Hospital and TulaneUniversity in New Orleans.

The New York native started“moonlighting” in the emer-gency room in Franklin, whichled to her decision a few yearslater to settle in the heart of“sugar cane country” in 2000.

For Tesi, practicing ruralhealth care in a Cajun town— the smallest she has everlived in — has given hercountless opportunities to bedirectly involved with thepositive things going on inthe area.

She has served as presidentof the Louisiana LandmarksSociety/St. Mary Chapter fortwo years, and also is a sup-porter of the Techeland ArtsCouncil and its upcoming “NoHitchin’ ” production of localstories and talent.

“When I operate, I’m takingcare of people I know,” Tesisaid. “A lot of them are myfriends. There’s additionalresponsibility in doing that,but I’ve become a part of thecommunity. It’s home.”

Before entering medicalschool at State University ofNew York-Brooklyn, Tesi ven-tured to central and west Africafor something she said shealways wanted to do. She was aPeace Corps volunteer for threeyears, then spent another threeyears as a Peace Corps teacherand staff member.

Her time there was reward-ing, she said, and also gave hera chance to learn an Africanlanguage in addition to becom-

ing fluent in French. While inthe Peace Corps, she lived onthe edge of the Sahara Desertwith no running water or elec-tricity. Her only connection tothe outside world, she said,was a short-wave radio thataired the BBC news.

“I really learned a lot aboutthe people and the culture andmade at least a little bit of adifference,” Tesi said whenthinking back to her time inAfrica.

“It was a lot of hard work,but it gave me a lot of intes-tinal fortitude to pursue thethings I’ve done. That sort offollows why I work in a smallcommunity like this. I canmake more of a differencehere, and make more contactwith everybody.”

Tesi, 56, has no children, but

a step inside her home willreveal a small army of dogs ofall shapes and sizes. As ananimal-lover, Tesi has fivedogs and also was a part ofthe rescue of a specialLabrador that belonged to oneof Tesi’s professors at Tulane.

Moose was stranded in NewOrleans in the days followingHurricane Katrina. When helpcame to evacuate the hospitalsand medical community, it was“women and children first.”

Tesi and some of her col-leagues found someone with aboat and joined the slew ofothers who were sneaking intothe city to gather their treas-ured belongings and pets.

“We didn’t really know whatwe were looking for, then wefind this huge lab, over 100pounds,” Tesi said. “He had a

collar on tagged with hisphone number and the nameMoose. That’s how we knew itwas him. (Animals) are thethings that make you smile;they bring happiness.”

Five years after moving toFranklin, Tesi took on anoth-er project, one that let her tapinto a more creative side.

After watching a historichome sit for years with tenantswho did not care for the place,she purchased the PrevostHouse built in 1897 and trans-formed it into a cozy bed andbreakfast filled with the paint-ings and designs of localartists.

She then moved the historicSt. Joseph Cottage from itsoriginal home in Centervilleand restored it to provideanother three bedrooms for

travelers who spend a fewnights or even a few monthsat the bed and breakfast.

“Where I come from, if ahouse is in the wrong place, it’sgoing to stay there,” Tesi said.“Here, you just put it on atruck and drive it somewhere.”

If her taste and affection forfine art aren’t apparentenough in the cottage andhistoric home she decorated,one could walk over to herresidence a block away andsee countless other eccentricand unique paintings, manyof them painted by world-renowned artist Hunt Slonem.Slonem is the New York-basedpainter who owns the AlbaniaPlantation in Jeanerette.

“Some people have theirboats; I have my artwork,” shesaid.

HEATHER MILLER / THE DAILY IBERIANHer days in the Saraha Desert behind her, Dr. Donna Tesi, holding one of her pets, loves the arts and works as a surgeon in Franklin.

CHAMPION: Supports March of Dimes

efforts to prevent prema-ture births and the devas-tating effects that often fol-low.

“They’ve come througha lot. They’re healthy anddoing well,” Badeaux said.“I’m truly blessed to havea wife, Jenny, who is thebest mother to our chil-dren that I could have everasked for. I can’t believeshe comes home and callsme her husband.”

Badeaux’s family alsowas chosen as the Marchof Dimes AmbassadorFamily for a PhantomGala fundraiser held lastyear in Lafayette.

His job in marketing attwo Acadiana hospitalsallows him to to supportthe March of Dimesthrough the hospitals’ con-tributions, and also giveshim the chance to spreadthe word about anotherpassion of his — themedia.

Badeaux, a journalism

and English graduate fromthe University ofLouisiana at Lafayette,spent three years as areporter for The DailyIberian and seven yearsreporting on city-parishgovernment, religion andmusic reviews for TheDaily Advertiser. Beforegraduating from college,he also worked as astringer for The (BatonRouge) Advocate’sAcadiana bureau, cover-ing St. Mary Parish.

For Badeaux, the mediaare another group whooften are targeted and mis-understood for the workthey do. Part of his job in

marketing allows him toeducate people in the busi-ness community on how tobetter relationships withmedia outlets.

“People in the businesscommunity don’t under-stand that a reporter maybe leaving a traffic acci-dent where a child wasjust killed,” he said.

“Then they’re coming toyour business to do a storyabout your events. Theycan’t let what they justwitnessed affect whatthey’re now doing. It’sabout raising sensitiviesto the media, and the over-all perception of whatthey do.”

FROM PAGE 4

Trevis Badeaux says the media areanother group who often

are targeted and misunderstood for the work they do.

■

Again, his ambitionswere cut short after onlyone year, this time notbecause of injury butbecause of finances.

“It was something thatI really wanted to do,wanted tostay in,”Mitchellsaid. “It’sunfortu-nate thatit’s a tem-poraryjob.”

Mitchellmovedaway fromfootball for the first timeand went into the oil fieldbusiness as an engineer,spending the bulk of hisprofessional career work-ing in that capacity withBaker Atlas Well ServiceCo.

Though it was betterpaying, Mitchell said heat first was not interestedin the industry afterhearing it described byfriends.

“I said, ‘Oh no, I don’twant to get dirty. I don’twant that atmosphere,’ ”Mitchell said.

He eventually got usedto the work, he said, andspent the next 20 years atthe company, rising fromhelper when he started inMarch 1979 to the casedhole operations managerwhen he retired inSeptember 1999.

It was during this timein the oil business thatMitchell said he realizedhis true calling, to workin the ministry to helpothers. Then he took atrip to Costa Rica in 1998.

Similar to how aninjury cut short his foot-ball career, it was a tornAchilles tendon sufferedwhile in South Americathat made Mitchell missalmost four months ofwork at Baker Atlas.

During this time, herealized that his true call-ing was becoming a pas-

tor at Inter-FaithFellowship, where he hadworked as a youth pastorand assistant pastor since1988.

“For the last 10 years ofmy oilfield career, I wasmixing both oilfield andministry,” Mitchell said.“As time went on, it start-ed to develop into adesire that this was mycalling. Once that hap-pens, finances doesn’tmatter, the calling does.”

Mitchell remained atthe church until May2007, when he foundedhis own church, theWord of Hope WorldOutreach Church. Thiswas also the same timethat he joined the districtattorney’s office.

He realized when hetook the two jobs it wasno longer just anotherstepping stone on thepath of life but some-thing that he was trulymeant to do.

“What we do here, it isall sort of attached,”Mitchell said.

“I might begin with akid on the legal end, butoften there’s other needsfor that family on a min-istry end. This is notreally a transition any-more, it is really what Ido now.”

people / neighborsProfile 2011 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 6 / Thursday, February 3, 2011 / The Daily Iberian

1331 East Saint Peter St.New Iberia

337-364-0495

A&A APPLIANCE CENTER

Now

$429Reg. Price $499

f

Frigidaire® 18 cu. ft. Top Freezer RefrigeratorStore-More™ OrganizationalSystem #NFTR18X4LW

NowStore Exclusive

Model!

Glass Shelves

SAVE$70!

SAVE $70!WITH INSTANT SAVINGS

PRICEDROP

$59920.5 CU FT FROST-FREEUPRIGHT FREEZER•2 Fixed Shelves •2 Adjustable Shelves•WhiteFFU21F5HW

WAS $669

5.3 CU FT SELF-CLEANELECTRIC RANGE•4 Radiant Elements•EvenBake™ TechnologyStainless SteelFFEF3050LS

PRICEDROP

$599WAS $649

NO INTEREST FOR 12 MONTHS

SUPER BOWL SPECIALS

$799Each Piece

Whirlpool® 27”Top Load Washer5.0 cu. ft. Capacity, 13 Wash Cycles, AutomaticTemperature, Soak SettingWTW7300XW

Whirlpool® 29” Electric Dryer7.6 cu. ft. Capacity, 10 Drying Cycles, 5 TemperatureSettings, Wrinkle Shield OptionWED7300XW

MITCHELL: Mixed oilfield, ministryC I T I Z EN S O FTHE Y E AR■

19921992■ MAN: Henry Bacque.■ WOMAN: Peggy Gerac.

19931993■ Mary Tutwiler.

19941994■ MAN: Jim Foret.■ WOMAN: Judy Herring.

19951995■ MAN: Bob Wattigny.■ WOMAN:Velma Perrodin.

19961996■ MAN: Steve Donahue.■ WOMAN: Gloria

Girouard.

19971997■ MAN: The Rev. Francis

Davis.■ WOMAN: Juanita

Knutson.

19981998■ MAN: Paul DeClouet.■ WOMAN: Gail Davis.

19991999■ MAN: Paul Schwing.■ WOMAN: Mary Brown.

20002000■ MAN: William Kyle.■ WOMAN: Simone

Champagne.

20012001■ IPAL.

20022002■ Paul Allain.

20032003■ Sgt.Taft Williams (posthu-

mously).

20042004■ Francine Garzotto.

20052005■ Becky Collins.

20062006■ Jeff Simon.

20072007■ Brudley Kibodeaux

(posthumously).

20082008■ Jeff Jolet.

20092009■ Bernice “Chic” Borel.

FROM PAGE 1

‘I might begin witha kid on the legal

end but oftenthere’s other needfor that family ona ministry end. ...It is really what I

do now.’

Zachary Mitchell

2010 Citizen of the Year

■

Mitchell

Guirard’s eyes, handstell tales of the swampBY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

CATAHOULA — A sim-ple quote drawn fromMarjorie KeenanRawlings’ novel “CrossCreek” sums up GregGuirard’s inspiration. Sohe has surrounded himselfwith and is devoted to savehis boggy wooded muse.

“I do not know how any-one can live without somesmall place of enchant-ment to turn to,” Rawlingswrote.

The former teacherturned fisherman, authorand photographer usedthe line to explain why hechose to come back to theAtchafalaya Basin, thoughnow much different thanthe place knew as a child,he said.

Guirard, 73, a Catahoulanative, began his career asan English teacher in 1963and taught students inschools and colleges notonly across the countrybut in Costa Rica for atime before returning tothe U.S. with his wife andtheir four children.

An educator’s salarywas not a way to make adecent income at thattime, he said. So, he lookedto sustaining his familythrough another craft, oneabout which he remainspassionate.

Inside his home tuckedin the woods off of BayouMercier Road, along thebasin levees just outside ofCatahoula, is a backdropof his work. They areremin-ders of whatinspires him.

Panels of cypress woodsanded by hand and care-fully smoothed to show theage of each piece line theinterior of his home thatis next to the house he andgenerations of his kingrew up.

Hand-painted landscapesof the land, as he remem-bers, have been given tohim by local artists he hasbefriended. They leanagainst the wall, on thethe back of the couch andwherever else he can fitthem.

Guirard has publishedseven books. The mostrecent is AtchafalayaAutumn II, published lastyear. His books are compi-lations of memoirs, facts,fiction and photography.

He also has recorded thestories of other Cajunnatives living on the basinthrough his writing andphotos.

Photography became aself-taught endeavor, hesaid, after a former stu-dent gave him an old cam-era.

He then began capturingimages of his venturesinto the swamp on filmand later, of course, digi-tally, he said.

“I didn’t know how touse it. I just kind oflearned through trial anderror,” Guirard said.

“While I was out in theswamp five to six days aweek collecting driftwoodand tying up logs, I wastaking pictures. By 1983 Ihad enough photos to puttogether in a book and Ihad things to say about theAtchafalaya. So my firstbook came out that year.”

“I would write a bookwhen I felt there was aneed to write a book,” hesaid.

Carpentry is somethingmost people learned whengrowing up in rural andsparsely populated partsof the area, he said.

He has used his knowl-edge to build furniture outof the remains of theonce-living cypress giantsor “the big trees” as hecalls them, that he har-vests like giant fossilsfrom the swamp.

Many of the trees havebeen cut down by loggersin the early 20th century,he said.

His fictional book “Landof Dead Giants” is an odethe land and culture he

remembers as a child andto an older era he wisheshe knows.

Behind Guirard’s mod-est and soft-spoken per-sona are volumes of sto-ries, from his friendshipwith the last livingnatives of Bayou Chene tohis quirky roles in featurefilms like “SouthernComfort” and “In theElectric Mist.”

Janet Faulk, CEO of theGreater Iberia Chamber ofCommerce, began herfriendship with Guirardeight years ago, she said.She noted his keen senseof humor and hospitality.

She called beingGuirard’s friend “anhonor.”

“I met Greg during theChristmas holidays of2003, before the levee roadwas paved, when I went outto his home in Catahoulato buy a photograph,” shesaid. “We have been goodfriends ever since.

“Greg loves theAtchafalaya Basin and isexpert at sharing it withfriends and friends offriends. I love it when hecalls and says, ‘Bet youcan’t guess what I sawtoday.’ I appreciate the‘gift of the Basin’ that hehas given me.

“I’ve actually learned topull crawfish traps. It’s agood work out. You’d thinkit would be very quiet outat his place, but some-times it’s “swingingdoors” with people literal-ly visiting from all aroundthe world.”

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANGreg Guirard’s work with cypress wood is one of the pho-tographer-author’s specialties.

‘I would write abook when I feltthere was a needto write a book.’

Greg Guirard

Photographer

■

people / neighbors Profile 2011 / Celebrating Our Community The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 3, 2011 / page 7

▲

JEANERETTE2801 West Main St., Jeanerette, La. • (337) 276-4567 • 828-1692 • Visit our website – www.robinmotorco.com

83rd Year Anniversary

Still your neighbor...and proud to carry on the tradition of excellencein value and serviceestablished 82 years ago.

Small town service at its best.

We’re one of the oldestFord Dealerships around.We must be doing something right!

I Choose Opportunity.

Whatever job you're looking for, you can probably find it at Cargill. Our diverse partnerships across

a variety of industries meancountless career opportunities

for you. It's your choice. It's your future.

And you can make ithappen at Cargill.

So the only question is, what will you choose?

www.ichoosecargill.com

Equal Opportunity Employer

Oaklawn Manor a good fit for FosterBY JUSTIN HALL

THE DAILY IBERIAN

FRANKLIN — Ameteoric rise thoughstate politics landed

Murphy “Mike” Foster Jr.in the Governor’s Mansionin Baton Rouge exactly 15years ago this month.

However, the former gov-ernor says he is more com-fortable at his second pala-tial home: The OaklawnManor in Franklin.

Foster returned to hishometown of Franklinafter a 16-year run sawhim go from a state sena-tor from District 21 to thestate’s chief executive offi-cer in only eight years,something he said added alot of stress to his lifestyle.

“There is definitely a lotless pressure now,” Foster,80, said. “After two terms,it was at a point in yourlife where you want torelax.”

Governor for two termsbetween 1996 and 2004,Foster purchased the prop-erty more than threedecades ago, prior to histime in office, when hewas the owner of BayouSale Contractors, a localhome construction firm.

He said that he boughtthe house with his wife,Alice, to turn it into theirprivate home and a publicattraction for residents tocheck out the elaboratedecorations that are set upduring the holidays suchas Mardi Gras andChristmas.

The former governorsaid that even before hepurchased the property, hewas already familiar withthe land from hunting inthe area when he wasyounger.

“Years ago, I was hunt-ing quail,” Foster said. “Iwandered onto the

Oaklawn properties chas-ing my dog and the own-ers at the time ran me off.”

Foster added that little

did he know he would oneday live on the same tractof land, a place that hesays feels less like a home

and more like an amuse-ment park.

“You never feel like youown a place like Oaklawn,you feel like a caretaker,”Foster said.

Despite having a hometo live in at the state capi-tol, Foster said that healways came back toOaklawn on the weekendsto escape from the hustleand bustle of Baton Rouge.

“You get into a bubble inthese types of jobs whereyou see the same people,”Foster said. “Being backhere helps you be moreattached to the communi-ty.”

With more time at home,Foster said that he hasbeen able to further enjoysome of his passions,which include huntingwaterfowl, saltwater fish-ing and flying helicopters.

He has also been able tospend more time with hisfamily, which includesfour grown children andnine grandchildren, some-thing that he was not ableto do as much when hewas in politics.

“Remember, I didn’t getinto politics until I was57,” Foster said. “I advise alot of young people, ifthey get into politics too

early, they will be gone alot, they don’t make a lotof money and its disrup-tive to the family.”

As he gets older, Fostersays he hopes to see moreof his fellow communitymembers come out to themanor to visit him and thearea that he calls home.

“I just wish more peoplewere here to enjoy all ofthis,” Foster said.

Former Louisiana governor has a special place in his heart for his Franklin home

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANEx-Louisiana Gov.Mike Foster relaxes on the patio of The Oaklawn Manor,where he moved from the Governor’s Mansion.

‘You get into a bubble in these types ofjobs where you see the same

people. Being back here helps you bemore attached to the community.’

Mike Foster

Former Louisiana governor

■

■ BORN: July 11, 1930, inShreveport. Moved toCenterville with his par-ents in the early 1930s.

■ POLITICALAFFILIATION:Republican.

■ RELIGION: Episcopalian.

■ EDUCATION: LSU(major in chemical engi-neering). Graduated with adegree in chemistry in1952.

■ BACKGROUND: EagleScout; U.S.Air Force,Korean War veteran; sugarcane farmer; founder ofBayou Sale constructionfirm; president of SterlingSugars Inc.; president of St.Mary Parish Farm Bureau;state senator.

■ ROAD TO THEMANSION: Politics neverappealed to Foster.However, in 1986 after“becoming frustrated” withan unresponsive govern-ment, he ran for the Senateand was elected.Then heserved two terms. Hemounted a campaign forgovernor and was electedin 1996 and again in 2000.

M IKE FO S T ERAT A G L ANCE■

Profile 2011 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 8 / Thursday, February 3, 2011 / The Daily Iberian

Holy Family Cemetery is open topeople of all religious faiths andoffers perpetual care for its variousburial options.

HOLY FAMILY CEMETERY& MAUSOLEUM

For More Information With No Obligation Contact Deacon Wade Broussard, Steve VancleveDeacon Ken Waguespack, or John Manes

2807 Curtis Lane, New Iberia, LACall for appointment 364-1663

Bank Financing Available

Custom designed private estate mausoleums.Complete mausoleum, ground and tomb burials available,and space for cremated remains, with an air conditioned

chapel available for all interment services.

CommitmentTo Caring

Serving TheCommunity ForOver 40 Years

A Peaceful Resting Place Among The Christian Community.

1. Informed decisions are easier tomake under less stressfulconditions.

2. It assures that your wishes will becarried out.

3. Difficult financial burdens are easedthrough thoughtful pre-needplanning.

4. There are countless other difficultduties that demand immediateattention on the day of thebereavement.

5. It eliminates desperate haste &unchangeable decisions.

6. It eliminates wrong decisions bywell-meaning “friends &relatives.”

Six Reasons Why Pre Planning Is Important

WHY NOW? PROTECTION, CHOICE,

TERMS, and PRICE.

HOLHOLY FY FAMILAMILY CEMETERY CEMETERYYAND MAUSOLEUMAND MAUSOLEUM

NOW OFFERINGPRIVATE ESTATE MAUSOLEUMS

Private Estate Personalized Family Mausoleums