1925 Biography - Penick H. Dupuy

Penick Haswell Dupuy, A. B. In educational circles of Louisiana, and particularly in that territory lying adjacent to the Mississippi state line, a name that is becoming well known is that of Penick Haswell Dupuy, who at present occupies the position of principal of the Clinton High School, in East Feliciana Parish. While he has engaged in other pursuits, the greater part of his career has been devoted to the labors of the schoolroom, and his progressiveness, has proven an influence in advancing the interests of education in several communities.

Professor Dupuy was born at Poland, Rapides Parish. Louisiana, December 27, 1893, and is a son of Laurent and Elizabeth (Coker) Dupuy. The family was founded in this country by the great-S great-grandfather of Professor Dupuy, an immigrant from France and an early settler of New Orleans. His great-grandfather was a planter in the vicinity of Marksville, Avoyelles Parish, and there the grandfather, the elder Laurent Dupuy, was born in 1832. He fought as a Confederate soldier throughout the war between the states, following which he became a successful planter of Rapides Parish, where his death occurred during the winter of 1911. He married Matilde Morace, who was born in 1846, in Marksville, and died at Temple, Texas, in 1922.

Laurent Dupuy, the father of Professor Dupuy, was born August 10, 1870, near Marksville, where he was reared and educated, and where he has spent his entire life, he early adopted the vocation of planter, which he has followed throughout his career, and in which he has achieved an unquestioned success. He still makes his home in the community known as Poland, where he is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. Mr. Dupuy is a democrat in his political allegiance, and as a fraternalist holds membership in the Woodmen of the World. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Laurent Dupuy married Elizabeth Coker, who was born February 10, 1874, at Pollock, Grant Parish, Louisiana, and to this union there have been born seven children: Penick Haswell, of this review; John Everett, a graduate of Poland High School, who was in the radio service of the army during the World war, stationed at Camp Columbia, South Carolina, nine months, now residing with his parents; William. a graduate of Poland High School, living at home; Emerick C., a student at the Louisiana State Normal College, Natchitoches, where he is in his senior year; Aaron B., a graduate of Poland High School, a stationery salesman at Galveston, Texas; Blanche, a senior at Poland High School; and Grace, a sophomore at the same school.

Penick Haswell Dupuy attended the public schools of Rapides Parish, including the Poland High School, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1914. At that time he became principal of the Buckeye, Louisiana, graded school, filling that position for one year, following which he enrolled as a student at Louisiana College, where he remained during the term of 1915-1916. In the latter year he entered the Louisiana State University, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1920, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He is a member of the Sigma Delta Chi academic journalistic Greek letter fraternity, of the Theta Theta Greek letter fraternity, and of the Dagger fraternity of the college. During his attendance at the university he made a special study of journalism in addition with his regular course. Upon the completion of his education Professor Dupuy became a traveling salesman for the Mente Bag Company, traveling out of New Orleans for one year, after which he entered the service of the Cudahy Packing Company, with which he was identified for a short time, in 1921 he was reclaimed by the educator's profession, when he became assistant principal of the LeCompte (Louisiana) High School, where he remained something over a year, and in the fall of 1922 accepted his present post as principal of the Clinton High School. Under his supervision are six teachers and 159 scholars, and his administration has been both progressive and constructive.

Mr. Dupuy is a democrat in politics, but has never taken anything but a good citizen's part in political activities. He belongs to the Episcopal Church and holds membership in Gordy Lodge No. 133, F. and A. M. of LeCompte. He was inducted into the United States service while attending Louisiana State University, May 29, 1918, and went into training for the infantry service at Camp Beauregard, Alexandria. After three months he was transferred to Nela Park, Cleveland, in the chemical warfare service, where he remained six months. He won promotion to the rank of corporal, and received his honorable discharge March 1, 1919. Professor Dupuy is unmarried.

Note: The referenced source contains a black and white photograph of the subject with his autograph.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 237-238.