Long-time local school board member dies

Colonels challenge, but fall in SLC’s
May 30, 2018
Anything is Possible
May 31, 2018
Colonels challenge, but fall in SLC’s
May 30, 2018
Anything is Possible
May 31, 2018

A long-serving member of the Lafourche Parish School Board was remembered Wednesday morning for his dedication and commitment, as educators, administrators and others in the school system gathered for a final farewell.


School District spokesman Floyd Benoit confirmed that Louis Thibodaux had died Sunday, with services scheduled for Wednesday morning.

“Mr. Thibodaux served on the school board for 19 years and truly served,” said district spokesman Floyd Benoit. “His time as president of the school board marked major changes in curriculum and construction projects for the school district.”

Thibodaux, who was 79-years-old, was elected to the District 1 seat in 1998 as an independent, but in subsequent terms ran as a Democrat, was a Democratic District 1 representative on the Lafourche Parish School Board in Louisiana. He was first elected to the office in 1998 as an independent, but has been re-elected each time since as a Democrat. He sought to keep the seat in 2010 and drew no opposition. He was last elected on Aug. 22, 2014, and at that time was also unopposed.


The board must elect an interim successor within 20 days and if they do not act Gov. John Bel Edwards will have to make an appointment. The interim will not serve long, however, as all of the board’s 15 seats will be on the ballot Nov. 6, with new terms starting Jan. 1, 2019.

Visitation was scheduled for Wednesday morning at St. John the Evangelist Church for the Thibodaux native, followed by a mass and burial in the church cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, to whom he was married for 58 years, and leaves a brother, Gary.


Shirley and Louis had three sons, Chris, Mark and Paul Thibodaux.

Louis Thibodaux