Foulcard dedicated himself to civic, public service life

Albert Joseph Foulcard will be laid to rest Saturday after a long life of community and public service.
Foulcard passed away Oct. 15.
At a groundbreaking ceremony early this month, construction of a fishing pier at Burns Point Recreation Center was dedicated to Foulcard. It was one of his long-running desires that the pier be constructed.
That day, St. Mary Parish Councilman Paul P. Naquin Jr. “Albert and I did a lot of traveling together, all over this United States,” said Naquin, “Albert was always by my side and I was by his side, and everywhere we went, everywhere, I tell you, whether in DC or in Baton Rouge or on the council, at almost every meeting, Albert had to say something about the fishing pier, ‘Where is it? Where’s it at?’”
Naquin reflected on his long-standing public relationship with Foulcard, and their long friendship.
“I want to dedicate this pier to the Foulcard family and to Albert. Albert, if you can hear me, brother… I love you,” said Naquin, “I always will love you and you will always have a part of my heart. I’m telling you Albert, I enjoyed every minute that we spent together.”
Parish President David Hanagriff spoke fondly of his years working in conjunction with Foulcard. Hanagriff said that despite not always voting in agreement, he always counted on Foulcard to explain and discuss why he was voting the way he had, and that those explanations always held words of wisdom for Hanagriff. “This is just the beginning of this fishing pier,” said Hanagriff to Foulcard, “and I know that you’ve been working on this for many years.”
He graduated from Willow Street High School in 1958 during the segregation era and continued his education at South University and A&M College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He continued his education in Texas and obtained a master of science degree in administration supervision.
He enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany, departing the military with an honorable discharge.
In his hometown and parish, Foulcard became an active member of St. Jules Catholic Church in Franklin, as well as the Knights of St. Peter Claver, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
As an educator with the St. Mary Parish School System, Foulcard later became a school principal and retired after 35 years.
He served on the former St. Mary Parish Police Jury and the subsequent St. Mary Parish council, and he was the first African-American to serve as interim parish president.
President Jimmy Carter invited Foulcard to the White House in 1979 to discuss St. Mary Community Action Agency and other federally-funded agencies and their impacts in their communities. Foulcard also dedicated his time and efforts to Teche Action Clinic, hospitals, schools, churches, mental health issues and St. Mary Council on Aging.
His dedication to the people of St. Mary Parish was reflected in his motto, “Everybody is Somebody.”
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette-Houma in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday from 8 a.m. until a rosary at 9:45 a.m. at the St Jules Catholic Church in Franklin.. Tributes and expressions will begin at 10 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. with Father Peter Emusa serving as the celebrant. Burial will follow mass services with full military honors in the St Jules Catholic Church Cemetery.