Ville Platte Rotary Club welcomes recent guests

June 2, Meeting
Rotarian Kip Manuel gave a brief overview of his family’s company, Manuel Hardware, during the June 2, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club.
He said that in 1948, four investors, Leroy Soileau, Gilbert Aucoin, John Miller and Sam Miller, along with two employees, Henry Lee Manuel and A.B. Billeaudeau, started Roy Tractor Company in Ville Platte. In 1950, the owners sold the company Manuel and Billeadeau. In addition to tractors, the company sold hay balers, grain bins and shredders. The company thrived and continued to grow. In 1972, Henry Lee Manuel convinced his son, Kip, to work in the business. Kip acquired a contractor’s license and began building metal buildings. Over the years, the company has Among constructed buildings for Cabot, Union Tank, Holloway and T&J Ford. In closing, Kip Manuel stated he was ready to semi-retire and introduced the new owner of the business, Ryan Vidrine. Vidrine is a graduate of McNeese and has been in the Ag industry for several years selling agriculture chemicals and enjoys visiting with the farmers. Vidrine said he and his wife have several ideas to expand the business into new areas in the near future.
June 9, Meeting
Rotarian Kermit Miller invited electrical contractor Winston Lafleur to be the guest speaker for the June 9, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. LaFleur addressed the group about a new missionary group he formed known as the Ville Platte Christian Mission. The group’s goal is to raise enough funds to finance yearly missions to the Honduras. Lafleur noted that this past March, the group raised money through a city-wide garage sale. While in the Honduras, the group helped in the construction of two homes, as well as assisted with a water purification project. Lafleur stated that prior to forming this group, he traveled with a missionary group out of Prairieville. He closed by stating the group is planning another garage sale for next March or April to fund another mission trip. He added that any and all donations for the garage sale will be accepted and greatly appreciated.