Broussard, Louis L.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 493-494. Edited by Alcide Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Broussard, Louis L., principal of high school, Thibodaux, La. was born at St. Martinville, St. Martin parish, La., Aug. 11, 1886; son of Theodore LaZaire Broussard, whose birth occurred in the same parish as that of the son in the year 1845. He was reared in the same parish and his life ended there Oct. 13, 1910. The father's first business venture was a dry goods store in the city of New Orleans, which he owned and conducted at the corner of Canal and Baronne streets about 10 years. He then returned to St. Martinville to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the sheriff of St. Martin pa rish, and after having served the remainder of this unexpired term was successively elected for 3 terms to that office, embracing a period of 12 years incumbency. At the expiration of his third term he retired from active life, and so spent the remainder of his days.

He was married to Miss Alice Guerniere Bienvienu, also a native of St. Martin parish, and now making her home in St. Martinville and New Orleans. Louis L. Broussard was the youngest of 6 sons born to his parents. His paternal grandfather was born, lived and died in St. Martin parish. His paternal great-grandfather was one of the French-Canadians who came from Nova Scotia and located in St. Martin in pioneer days. Louis L. attended the public schools of St. Martinville, including the high school, and in 1902 entered Louisiana State university, where he remained 3-1/2 years, following this with a course at the state normal school, from which he graduated in 1906. He next took a special course in science at Yale college, and in the fall of the same year of his graduation from the state normal began teaching in the country schools of Terrebonne parish, where he remained only 1 year. In 1907 he was elected assistant high school principal at Baton Rouge, occupying this station 18 months. In the middle of the term of 1908 he was elected principal of the high school at Thibodaux, and immediately entered upon the duties of his position there. At the close of the school term of 1910 he made a tour of Europe, followed by a course in French at the University of Paris.

 In the same year he was elected superintendent of schools for the parish of St. John the Baptist, but after 1 year in this office he was called back to the principalship of the Thibodaux high school, and has since so continued. His first work as a teacher at Thibodaux was in the old high school building, and it was largely through his agitation of the subject, in cooperation with others, that the present modern structure was erected to domicile the high school. This new building, it is said, would be a credit to any city in America. Prof. Broussard was a member of the committee to which plans of the building were submitted for approval, and all corrections and changes were made to accord with the views of this committee. The building was completed in 1912, and as it stands represents an expenditure of more than $60,000. The attendance at the old school building was less than 200, while there are more than 400 in attendance at this time and the number constantly growing, with a high school department of from 70 to 80. The school has a commercial course which fits the student for practical business. A semi-weekly publication is conducted by the students of the high school, and this paper is more than self-supporting. It has an actual circulation of more than 600 copies, and all the work necessary to its production is done exclusively by the high school pupils. Prof. Broussard is a democrat. He affiliates with the Roman Catholic church, and is a member of the Louisiana State Teachers' association.