Terrebonne council clerk heads list of recognition

Last Wednesday’s meeting of the Terrebonne Parish Council was more a session of tributes and memorials than hardcore legislation as three retirements and one memorial were spotlighted for a group of 34 attendees.

The most recognized career change came for parish clerk Paul Labat as he attended his final council meeting and anticipated Friday afternoon to officially complete a 38-year career in parish government.

“It turned out pretty good for what started as a temporary job,” Labat said with a laugh prior to completing a career he began three years out of high school.

Labat’s public service credentials saw him start working on a police jury before moving into administration. During his time he has served with a series of council members, gone through an entire restructuring of local government, survived hurricanes and floods and made a noticeable mark on the community as a whole.

“Paul Labat is a unique individual who represents the council well and works unbelievably well with all the people he interacts with on a daily basis,” said Parish President Michel Claudet.

“He is a wealth of knowledge and he is always happy to share that knowledge with anyone. There may be a person that will fill his position, but there will never be anyone that will actually replace Paul Labat,” Claudet said.

Labat said the most significant event during his time on the job was the consolidation of the Houma city and Terrebonne Parish governments in 1984.

“That and dealing with new personalities every four years. It’s always challenging getting to know newly elected officials,” he said.

In addition to his government work Labat has been active during the past four decades in organizations promoting the arts and humanities. He has also been a participant in business development.

A native of Terrebonne Parish, Labat said he intends to remain active in the community, and even get a job. “I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I will probably be working starting January or February. It will be something I enjoy doing. I don’t want to get out of the swing of going to work. Fortunately, I don’t have to rush it,” he said.

Labat first plans to take an extended vacation. “Travel is one of the things I enjoy. I’m going to be 60 next year, so I want to go to Paris for my 60th birthday,” he said.

“Everybody’s been asking if I’m going to be sad when I leave,” Labat told the council. “I’m not going to miss any of y’all [because] I’ve got your cell phone numbers.”

Other parish retirees recognized during the council meeting included police Capt. Greg Hood, who has invested more than 30 years in local law enforcement. “It was a good run. I enjoyed it. I’m gonna’ be around,” he told the council.

Joe Harris Jr. worked for the parish 17 years, and was recognized as he leaves the warehouse division for retirement. “I did what I could. I’ve been surrounded by good people,” he said.

Council members also offered a memorial to environmentalist and former Ward 3 Councilman Donald P. Landry as members of his family were in attendance.

Family and friends of those honored freely expressed caring words and offered support for future endeavors.

“One of the things that’s going to affect government [in the coming years] are all the baby boomers, all of us who took jobs in government and decided to make it a career for 20, 30, 40 years or whatever. We’re all getting to retirement age. There are several employees [in parish government] who in the next three or four years are going to be gone too,” Labat said. “Departments are going to have to decide how to replace that knowledge.”

Paul Labat prepares for his final public appearance as Terrebonne Parish council clerk moments prior to last Wednesday’s council meeting and only hours away from his retirement. MIKE NIXON