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Paul LeBlanc always told his children, “Work hard in life everyday and you will move up.” These were not empty words to him. They weren’t spoken merely out of fatherly duty. These words he spoke from his soul. He lived his life by these words and he proved the wisdom in them.
Paul was born on May 12,1928 in a small, unincorporated community near Donaldsonville called Smokebend. He was named after his grandfather M.P. LeBlanc and, as the saying goes “the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree”. M.P. started in the grocery business in the late 1800’s opening M.P. LeBlanc’s Groceries, Notions, Feed & Shoes in Smokebend. Paul’s fateful road in the grocery business would not be clear for many years though. He and his family moved fairly often when he was young. He attended elementary school in Thibodaux, moved, and attended junior high school in Lake Charles. Following those years the family moved to Baton Rouge where Paul attended, and graduated from, Baton Rouge High School. While he wasn’t a great athlete, Paul really loved sports. He was a cheerleader in high school because he loved being in the middle of the action. He was, from the beginning of his recollection, a true purple and gold Tiger fan and with great pride and sense of accomplishment he entered his beloved LSU as a student in 1945.
The people around Paul spoke of his drive and determination. Many have stated that this drive and a high degree of intellect are the reasons for his impressive list of accomplishments. He challenged himself and those around him. This drive and determination took form early.
During his freshmen year in college Paul opened a restaurant outside the gates of LSU with his brother. “Bubber and Paul’s” was a rousing success and featured a Thursday evening special of all-u-can-eat spaghetti and meatballs. Even with a full time schedule at college and a thriving business to operate, Paul managed to do well in school. He finished school and soon after married Janice Persac of Baton Rouge. The couple would begin a family soon after and two years later, in 1951 Paul took a job with Capital Food Stores as an assistant manager, returning to the business that seemed really to flow through his veins.
His superiors quickly realized Paul’s commitment to the business and one short year later he made the jump to store manager. Supported by the love of his life and inspired by the arrival of the first two of his children, Paul would soon become a driving force in the grocery industry and a leader in the world of business in our area. In 1953 Capital Food Stores was bought out by National Food Stores and Paul was promoted to head grocery buyer. In 1954 he was once again rewarded for his expertise and energy by being promoted to district sales manager. As was his nature, he continued to prove the wisdom of his bosses by simply outperforming his co-workers. By now he had become known as a “can-do” guy. His ability to run a business, manage a staff, and relate to his superiors made Paul a valuable commodity to his company.
By 1957 four of his five children had been born. Jan, Mike, Judy, and Randy brought Janice and Paul an indescribable joy. Paul was a remarkable father, a role he relished beyond all others. His love for kids, all kids, would ignite yet another fire in his soul, a fire that would benefit all who knew him and many who would not have the honor. Paul wanted to help children in any way and though he was extremely busy, he turned his awareness to civic and community service.
But first another promotion, another move. Paul was now a national sales manager for National Food Stores and was transferred to Memphis. Soon his fifth child Marcy, would become the final puzzle piece that formed a picture of one of Ascension’s most enterprising families. Paul was at the center as always. They called him “Big Daddy”, and he led by example. He raised his family to be just like him--- tough, fair, and compassionate. That philosophy prevails even today in the way the family business continues to thrive. It’s run that way because they were taught to care, as he did. Paul once said, “I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t fish, and I don’t hunt and I’ve never been caught chasin’ women, but I love the grocery business, and I love LSU.”
Paul loved to be on the go and whenever he could get away, he loved to travel. He learned much from the people in different parts of the world and used his new acquaintances in these new cultures to improve his understanding of people. This only served to intensify his desire to contribute and to improve his community.
The year was now 1960, and the world was changing rapidly. Paul’s father L.C. opened Pay-Less Supermarket in Gonzales and Paul resigned from National Food Stores. He was ready to try his hand as an entrepreneur. He moved his family to New Orleans and opened a food brokerage business. He took advantage of his experiences as a food buyer, grocery manager, and staff leader to grow the idea into a thriving business. He represented a wide variety of companies and commuted daily to Gonzales to lend a hand to his father with Pay-Less. He became involved with the Jambalaya Association in 1964, as an avenue to help the community.
The Festival had been started as an annual fundraiser for the city¹s civic organizations such as the Lions Club, Jaycees, Rotary, and others. It was a responsibility Paul took very seriously.
Paul brought a new outlook to the Jambalaya Association and with new results. His was a more businesslike approach. Through his connections in the grocery business he developed the idea of corporate sponsorships by convincing Mahatma Rice and Manda Fine Meats to become involved. Even today, these two faithful Louisiana companies are platinum sponsors of Ascension Parish’s most visible event. They, like many other companies, believe in the Jambalaya Festival and its benefit to us. They also do it, in large part, because of the love and respect they garnered from knowing and working with Paul LeBlanc for so many years.
In 1964 Paul packed up the family once again and moved to Sorrento in order to better help his father operate Pay-Less Supermarket. It was just another selfless family act Paul came to be known for. He spent his time split between two businesses, commuting now five days a week to New Orleans He remained tireless on his task and true to his nature, even in these tough times. Upon meeting Paul one would never feel anything but special, that’s how he treated everyone, all the time. This time though, time was not on his side. Three years later L.C.’s health began to fail and Paul had to sell the business in New Orleans and began to operate Pay-Less full time. Soon he opened a store in Paincourtville in 1972.
Paul’s workload and involvement in civic affairs did not diminish just because he dispensed of a company he owned. He served on the Board of Associated Grocers for over 20 years. The Ascension director of the company, Terry Palmisano, once said of Paul, “Two words can describe him-TRUE GENTLEMAN.” Truer words were never spoken.
As a testimony to his results oriented philosophy and resume’ Paul was also selected to the Board of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals. All he did there was advance the cause to the degree that he would be elected as member of the LAFF Hall of Honors. It seemed whatever Paul touched turned golden. He even tried his own hand in the political arena running for State Senator in 1983. Sam Crifasi, owner of the Hi-Nabor Supermarket chain, knew Paul professionally and personally. They served on a variety of boards and committees. He had this to say in tribute to Paul. “One of Paul’s favorite sayings before he expressed his comments on the matter at hand was “Fellars, let’s be honest with ourselves.” He practiced this in life, to be honest and sincere to everybody. LSU basketball couch Dale Brown spoke fondly of Paul after his death in 1998 saying “Paul LeBlanc was truly a man of God. He was always wearing a smile and he always had a positive thought for you. He loved people. The world needs more Paul LeBlanc’s. He will be missed dearly.”
Paul served the Parish of Ascension and touched the lives of its people in many ways. He was a long-term member of the Ascension Chamber of Commerce. Paul was a member of the Ascension Tourist Commission and on the board of Blue Runner Foods. He became Chairman of United Community Bank in Gonzales. Perhaps his personal favorite public service was his membership in the LSU Alumni Association “Hall of Distinction.”
It was at home in Ascension Parish that Paul made his most powerful and lasting impression. Known by many as the father of the Jambalaya Festival, each year at this time thoughts of Paul are on the minds and lips of many of us. He was responsible for raising the awareness and the popularity of the festival to unprecedented heights. He even joined the Jambalaya Association as they cooked jambalaya on the White House lawn with President Jimmy Carter as part of the Newport Jazz Festival. Somehow, someway most of us have been affected by the timeless efforts of Paul LeBlanc. The community in many ways has honored him. The annual high school football jamboree is named the M. Paul LeBlanc Memorial Football Jamboree in reverence to his immense dedication to area youth. We can be certain that when we are out at the Jambalaya Festival, drinkin’ a cold one, eatin’ some jambalaya and passin’ a good time, that Paul LeBlanc is smiling proudly and probably trying to figure out a way to get his latest idea to improve the festival through to all of us. So listen up everyone, “Big Daddy” might be calling.
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