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St. Mary Parish Foundation (SMPF) has announced the 2019 St. Mary Parish Role Model honorees.
They are Robert Allain, Javon Charles, Robert Dufrene, Dr. Monica Mancuso, Kellye Patterson and Travis Richard.
A St. Mary Parish Role Model is an outstanding business professional who has made significant contributions of their time and resources to help nonprofit organizations, churches, and schools in St. Mary Parish.
In addition to honoring these individuals, Joy and Frank Guarisco will be presented the 2019 Leaders In Philanthropy Award for St. Mary Parish.
Leaders in Philanthropy Awards are presented annually to outstanding individuals or couples who have made a philanthropic impact in their communities through substantial charitable contributions to or by attracting substantial contributions for nonprofits, churches or schools.
The 2019 honorees will be honored during an awards dinner on Saturday, April 6 at 7 p.m. at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City. Tickets to the event are $75 per person and can be purchased online at www.cfacadiana.org/rolemodels. A check can be mailed to St. Mary Parish Foundation, memo: Role Models, P.O. Box 2000, Morgan City, La. 70381. For more information call Community Foundation of Acadiana at 337-769-4843.
The St. Mary Parish Foundation is an affiliate of Community Foundation of Acadiana and has a separate board of directors, specifically for the benefit of St. Mary Parish. The purpose of the St. Mary Parish Foundation is to fund programs which broadly impact St. Mary Parish and to focus on enhancing the quality of life in St. Mary Parish. Please visit http://www.cfacadiana.org/smpf for a list of the local board of directors or for more information.
Community Foundation of Acadiana’s (CFA) core purpose is to building legacies and improving communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. CFA is south Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organization benefiting our region, with a particular focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin and Vermilion. CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $225 million and has made cumulative grants of more than $107 million. Learn more at http://www.cfacadiana.org

The term “gentle giant” could be deemed a cliché when describing someone’s physical build.
However, for the students and administrators at North Central High School in LeBeau, La., it is the perfect description when referring to their athletic trainer, Wydrick Harding.
Standing over six feet tall with the frame of a defensive tackle, and an easy, friendly smile, his presence in any room, basketball gym or football field is instantly recognized.
Now Louisiana Athletic Care has taken notice by recently highlighting him in a “What Does My Athlete Trainer Mean to Me” segment. This is in conjunction with March being National Athletic Training Month.
Harding, 26, is a Franklin native. He knew as a young boy that he wanted to combine his love for sports and his love for helping others into a meaningful career. While the former Franklin High School football standout could have continued his athletic career at Nicholls State University, he chose to stay close to the sports he loved in another way, as an athletic trainer.
Almetra J. Franklin, St. Mary/Vermilion Community Acton Agency CEO and Head Start Administrator, expressed her excitement over Harding’s success. “I’ve known Wydrick since before he was a Head Start student at Peter Pan, and he has always been warm and kind-hearted towards everyone he met,” Franklin said. “It has been wonderful to see the type of young man he has blossomed into.”
Upon graduating from Nicholls State in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training, Harding spent one year as a trainer for Franklin and Centerville High School athletics, and the last two years as the athletic trainer at North Central High School in LeBeau. He also teaches a first responder class to 10th - 12th graders, a sports medicine class to 9th – 12th graders and a Journey to Careers class to 7th graders.
From the day Harding stepped foot on the NCHS campus, students and administrators knew Harding was more than just an athletic trainer. St. Landry Parish School Board’s Athletic Director Jerome Robinson said Harding’s ability to listen is something that is missing in society today. “He doesn’t talk over people,” Robinson said. “That’s why his students love him. He will listen to them completely and then give his opinion.”
Robinson also praised Harding’s humility and gentle demeanor and how he gives respect to the students and administration, but also commands respect. He added that Harding has a knack for blending into the program. An example he gave was from the recent LSHAA 1A Boys State basketball finals, which NCHS won, where Harding spent the game administering first aid to the players. “He was always in the background, preparing everything the players needed in order to be successful,” Robinson said.
Franklin Junior High Principal J Ina, who was Harding’s high school football coach, said he knew then that he was a young man of high character. “He was mature and trustworthy,” Ina said. “He worked hard and was respected by his peers.”
Ina was pleased that Harding had been recognized for his work as an athletic trainer. “He is an example of positivity and we need to have energy to praise and support our young Black men for their accomplishments,” Ina said.
Harding credits growing up in a small town, surrounded by close knit family and friends, that remain a part of his very being, despite living a couple of hours away, as reasons he has remained humbled and hard working. He credits his parents, Dwayne and Monica Harding and his grandparents for providing him with a strong foundation.
“I don’t do what I do for recognition,” he said. “I just want to help these kids in whatever way possible. I was exposed to some great mentors as a student athlete at Franklin High School, so I feel it is my responsibility to do the same for some other kids.”
Harding said he was particularly grateful for the opportunity to work at NCHS. “It is a great honor to be able to work with great people,” he said. “Coach (Apphia) Jordan is an amazing coach doing a great job with these young men. She not only helps them get better in basketball, but in life as well. She let them know what she expected of them to be champions, and they delivered. She is grooming a great group of young men.
Life is good for the young man, as he and his fiancé, Taliyah, also from Franklin, who works as nurse in Opelousas, are getting married in June.

Renaming of Cypremort Road in honor of late police juror and parish councilman Joseph Davis has gone through various manifestations over the last few months.
In November, an ordinance was adopted rename Cypremort Road in the Four Corners area to Joseph “Tooney” Davis Drive and Sorrell Road to Bosco Road. The late Davis was a long-serving member of the St. Mary Parish Police Jury and Parish Council; Bosco was a long-time businessman in the area.
That evening, some residents said the move took them by surprise as they were not notified of the change until they saw it on new street signs. Proponents pointed to the many accomplishments Davis brought to the area during his long career in public service; opponents said not only would changes to documents, bills, etc. would be a hardship, but they were not notified of the change and were not aware of it until new signage was installed.
There was also a discussion about requesting the recreation district board that oversees the West St. Mary Civic Center to consider naming the facility in honor of Davis.
An ordinance was adopted by the St. Mary Parish Council Wednesday removing the Davis designation and returning the Cypremort Road name, from Big Four Corners Road to La. 318.
Resident Rev. Robert Purvey, one of those who first objected to the change, told the council that he supported the move.
John Lockett, also an area resident, continued an effort to name the West St. Mary Civic Center in honor of Davis, but he said at a recent meeting of the recreation district in that area, only three members were present, out of five, and the suggestion by the parish council failed, and Lockett said members didn’t fully understand what was being asked of them.
He asked for another go at it with all members present.
Councilman Craig Mathews admonished fellow council members, saying that it has been atypical among those seated to go against a district councilman’s wishes, and the issue of the road name change suffered that problem.
“This community is still torn,” Mathews said.
The ordinance was passed with three members absent.
Also Wednesday, Parish President David Hanagriff reported that there was no plan to close Bayou Chene against rising waters. An emergency declaration was made by Hanagriff on March 7, but he said the Atchafalaya crested at 7l9 feet and will likely remain there for a week.
Later, Councilman Paul Naquin asked that a representative from Cox Communications appear before the council regarding the removal of a station in St. Mary Parish.
Naquin said KLFY-TV Channel 10, cable channel 18, was removed. He complained to company officials but there was no resolution. He said Iberia Parish still has the channel.
In other business:
—The council allocated $2,000 for the Community “A-Fair” carnival set for June 13-16 at Franklin Senior High School, a church-sponsored event.
—David A. Naquin and Travis M. Mayon were reappointed to the 911 board; Dickey Arnold was reappointed to the Fire Protection Dist. 1, Cypremort Point, board; and an appointment to the Recreation District 3 board, Bayou Vista, was postponed.

The Krewe of Dionysus Irish/Italian Walking Parade makes its way Saturday down Morgan City's Second Street. The annual event pays homage to the Irish and Italian roots of many Tri-City area residents and happens around St. Patrick's Day, March 17, and the St. Joseph feast day, March 19.

The Daily Review/Bill Decker