African-American leaders honored at MLK Center

The City of Ville Platte’s past and present African-American leaders were paid homage on Friday.
Inside the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Ville Platte’s First African-American Achievers & Black History Mural Dedication Awards Luncheon was held which put a spotlight on those brave men and women who paved the way for civil rights and equality in Ville Platte.
The ceremony honored 16 African-Americans from Ville Platte, who all are part of the recently completed MLK Dream mural inside the center.
“I stand on the shoulders of Freddie Dunn, Rev. M.L. Thomas, and Alton Locks,” Evangeline Parish School Board Superintendent Darwan Lazard said. “They paved the way for me to succeed and for all of us to succeed. We are so grateful for what they did and meant to our community.”
“This mural with all of our black pioneers on it,” Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said. “It is not something that I wanted to do. But it was something that I had to do.
“I couldn’t have been elected as mayor if it wasn’t for what those people on that wall. This is our way of saying thank you to them.”
Rev. Freddie Jack performed the invocation for the ceremony, the Ville Platte High’s JROTC’s Color Guard led the Pledge of Allegiance, Ashanti Thomas sung the National Anthem, Rev. Jermaine Tezeno provided the welcome and all in attendance took part in reciting a portion of the Negro National Anthem.
Min. Antoine Anthony performed a vibrant rendition of King’s “I Have A Dream” speech which Vidrine praised by stating, “It was as if Dr. King was here himself.”
Carleen Bellard, Director of Evangeline Community Action Agency, performed a pair of powerful songs that inspired loud applause from the more than 100 people in attendance, as did an anthem and poem by teenager Alonzo Lafleur.
A handful of city and parish civic leaders were on hand as well, including District Attorney Trent Brignac, Ville Platte Chief of Police Neal Lartigue, Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel, Evangeline Parish Tax Assessor Dirk Deville, City Marshal Ronald Doucet, City Councilmen Freddie Jack and Evangeline Parish School Board member Georgianna L. Wilson.
In between the prayers, poems and songs, Rev. Matthew Alfred Jr. provided short reflections on all 16 of the Ville Platte Achievers or as he called them “great warriors.”
Those 16 included: Rev. E.D. Aldred (first African-American in parish to register to vote); Herbert Alfred (first African-American to serve on Evangeline Parish School Board); Lawrence Deshotel (Bronze Star recipient and well-known grocery store owner); Curley Dossman (first African-American to serve on VP City Council), Ronald Doucet (first African-American City Marshal); Freddie Dunn (first African-American to serve on Evangeline Parish Police Jury); Gloria Frank (first African-American woman to serve on the VP City Council); Marshall Frank (First African-American Assistant Principal at James Stephens); Romeo Hargrove (first African-American Chief of Police for Ville Platte); Gervis Lafleur (former longtime Director of ECAA); Greg Lafleur (first African-American athlete from the parish to play a professional sport); Alton Locks (Principal at James Stephens); Grace Vidrine Sibley (first African-American female to integrate Ville Platte High School); Avie Thomas Sr. (first African-American to receive an occupational license from city); Edward Knotoe Thomas (community activist and humanitarian); Mildred Thomas (Founder of Prayer Line Community Group); Rev. M.L. Thomas (former longtime pastor of Ninth Missionary Baptist Church and New Hope Baptist Church); Jennifer Vidrine (first African-American and first female mayor of Ville Platte) and Olenes Vidrine (school bus driver and first African-American to establish a mechanic shop in city).
Vidrine closed out the ceremony with some closing remarks, including talking about her grandfather Olenes.
“Everything that is good about me comes from him and what he taught me,” Vidrine said. “Pop always said, ‘Jennifer help the people.’”
Vidrine closed her remarks by asking the audience to do one simple task.
“I want all of you to do something for me,” Vidrine added. “If you do nothing else, just say thank you to the ones who came before you.”