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KAPLAN — Kaplan High graduate Gabe Clement Jr. had his choice of running track at four major universities — LSU, TCU, UL and UCLA.
Three of the four have one thing in common — it is hot during track season.
The one university that is not hot during track season is where Clement decided he wanted to be for the next four years.
Clement committed to running track at UCLA, which is located in Los Angeles.
“The weather played a huge contribution,” said Clement. “It was perfect. They said this was how it was all year round.”
The average temperature in April and March is in the mid-70s during the day and 50s at night at UCLA.
He and his family visited the campus on June 21 and stayed for a week. Former great Kaplan football player “Mookie” Mouton (1997-1998) lives in Los Angeles and is related to the Clement family.
After the week in California, the Clements returned to Kaplan and waited to see what type of scholarship UCLA would offer before committing.
He plans to major in pre-medicine, dreaming of one day becoming a physician assistant.
“UCLA is the best public school in California and is a great place to earn a degree,” said Clement. “The hardest part about moving to Los Angeles is being away from my family. The good thing is that I have family in Los Angeles already. This is an opportunity I can not pass up. I am ready.”
Clement made Vermilion Parish history by becoming the first athlete from the parish to commit to UCLA in any sport.
Clement is coming off a stellar senior year at KHS.
He won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes at the Class 3A state outdoor track meet in May.
Earlier in the year, he ran a 46.9-second race in the 400-meter dash. No other parish sprinter has run that fast in the 400.
His best time in the 100 is 10.55 seconds and in the 200 his best time is 21.31.
Gabe Clement Sr. has helped guide him throughout his track and field journey. The older Clement ran track at Kaplan in the early 1990s and then went on to run track at USL (now UL-Lafayette).
The elder Clement went with his son on the four visits and said he is not surprised by his son’s choice.
“When he ran at Nationals in Oregon as a junior, we got off the plane and he loved the weather. So when UCLA came calling, I knew he would like it. The weather is a plus, and it is a beautiful campus,” Gabe Sr. said.
The younger Clement will no longer be a big fish in a small pond. UCLA has four sprinters running in the 45s and another in the low 46s.
“I know they will push me in practice,” said Clement. “I know I have to train harder to be as good as them.”
As a freshman, his father said his son could run in the low 46s and high 45s with proper weight training at UCLA.
The Clement family has been Gabe’s biggest supporter. However, traveling to Los Angeles to watch him run will be tough, said Gabe Sr.
They plan on watching his races on the internet.
His father said he had hoped his son would have selected UL, but that was because it was where he ran. However, he understands it is his son’s life.
“I want him to enjoy his own experience,” said his father. “It is his journey and he does not walk in my shoes. He is his own person.”

June 20, 1972 ~ July 22, 2023

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Cori Wayne Duhon, 51, who passed away Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Calcutta House in Lafayette, LA. He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Pastor Chris Reis of Our Savior’s Church in Youngsville, LA, officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Logan Duhon, Brodee Landry, Rene Duhon, Lane Duhon, Aiden Angelle, Errol Domingue, and Shane Bouillion. Honorary pallbearers will be Baylor Quebedeaux, Freddie Duhon and Jim Domingue.
Through undying determination and perseverance, Cori was a very well rounded, hard-working, tireless man of many unique talents. Cori was a man of his word, a loyal friend and dependable. If Cori borrowed something, the odds were, it came back cleaner and running better than it did before he borrowed it. Some of his greatest professional achievements include: working at an early age to continue his family’s farm, owning/operating his own 18 wheelers, advancing from a Marsh Buggy Operator to a Field Superintendent for Frogco Amphibious, starting a cattle operation in Ringling, Oklahoma from the ground up, and purchasing his own 1994 John Deere 4760 tractor. He enjoyed working outside and was a man that could jump on any piece of heavy equipment to get the job done. Cori had a work ethic like no other and nothing was done the easy or fast way. Some of his greatest memories were being a Bandido and riding the countryside with his brothers. Along with his wife on the bike with him, they were able to witness the beauty of the South Dakota’s black hills, Mount Rushmore and beautiful scenic roadways. He spent his later years making memories with those he loved the most, whether it be in the boat, crawfish boils, hunting, all done with close family and friends. A special time was spent with his wife Melissa, seeing different parts of the country while driving his Peterbilt until he no longer could. His pride and joy, were his family, whom he did it all for. Those who knew Cori, knew he was a proud “Poppa” to his grandbabies, Baylor, Avery-Kate, and Brooks.
He is survived by his wife, Melissa Matte Duhon; daughter, Allison D Landry and her husband, Brodee; two sons, Logan Duhon and Aiden Angelle; three grandchildren that were his world, Baylor Quebedeaux, Avery-Kate Landry, and Brooks Landry; brother, Rene Duhon and his wife, Andre; mother, Gloria Thibeaux Corrales and her husband, John; stepsister, Krystal H. Thibodeaux and her husband, Shannon; in-laws, Allen and Julie Matte; brothers-in-law; David Matte and his wife. Shantell, and Richard Matte and his wife, Jenny; Godchild and niece, McKenzie Duhon and her fiancé, Reed Renfrow; two nephews, Lane Duhon and Treyton Matte; two nieces, Madison Matte and Millie Matte; and his beloved, 4-legged best friend, Cajun.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Wayne Duhon; and step-father, Adrien “Neil” Harrell.
Cori’s family would like to extend a special thank you to all the doctors and nurses for working tirelessly to extend Cori’s quality of life for as long as they did, Texas Oncology and United Reginal Hospital, Wichita Falls, TX, Baylor University, Dallas, TX, MD Anderson, Houston, TX, and to Dr. Philippe Prouet II of Lafayette General for extending his grace and compassion through Cori’s last few months of care. To Cori’s Hospice of Acadiana nurses, Megan Trahan and Colleen Perkins and the nurses, Megan and Lisa at the Calcutta House, thank you for their kindness and compassion while ensuring Cori’s comfort during his final days. To countless others who came together and contributed time, money, and prayers to help him and his family during the most difficult of times, there are never the perfect words to say how thankful Cori and his family are for your kindness. Thank you to the American Cancer Society: Relay for Life of Vermilion Parish, for choosing Cori as the 2023 Male Honoree, and a very special thank you to, Kacy Coker, United Regional Hospital, who greeted Cori on that first day of chemo and who remained present and supportive to the very end. Your guidance, friendship and hugs became a part of our life and journey. Along with William, your parents, nurse, Dee Dee Pennington and so many other amazing nurses, we thank you for everything that each of you have done to make Cori push harder and feel loved.
His wife, Melissa would like to say thank you to all who made it possible for her to remain by his side from his diagnosis to his last breath. Your generosity will forever be appreciated.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.; A prayer service will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a eulogy and a special video Celebrating Cori’s Life. Thursday, July 27, 2023 from 8 a.m. until time of services.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

According to Sheriff Mike Couvillon, a former Kaplan Police Officer, identified as Terry Wayne Leopold Kraut Jr., 35, of Kaplan, has been arrested on a Third-Degree Rape charge.
Kaplan Chief of Police Joshua Hardy released a statement on Sunday that Kraut is no longer a member of the Kaplan Police Department.
The allegations against Kraut Jr. stem from an incident during the early morning hours of July 22, where Kraut Jr. was at a bar within the city limits of Kaplan when a female patron was about to leave. Kraut Jr. asked if he could bring the female home at which time she said no. Kraut persisted and stated that she would make it home safely.
Knowing Kraut Jr. was a local police officer, the victim accepted Kraut’s persisted request. Instead of bringing her home, the victim stated that Kraut Jr. traveled to a “country” road just outside of Kaplan city limits and committed a non-consensual sexual act on her.
The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to the complaint and subsequently called out the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
The Criminal Investigation Division obtained probable cause through the investigation, and an arrest warrant was secured for Third-Degree Rape, with a bond set at $25,000.
Kraut Jr. was booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center without incident and the investigation is on-going and more charges are possible.

November 30, 1948 – July 5, 2023

Ann was born on November 30, 1948 in Bellville, Texas to R.L. Walker, Jr. and Mabel Saltzman Walker. She spent her early childhood in Hempstead, then Kemah, Texas, and remained a proud Texan all her life, despite her Cajun roots. Her family moved to the Philippines in 1957 where her father was stationed by the Air Force. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1958, her family moved to Little Rock Air Force Base, Jacksonville, Arkansas where she spent the rest of her youth, graduating from Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock in 1967. Ann married Kirby Henry in 1969, then moved to Lake Charles where she was working. A short time later, she and Kirby moved to Wright, Louisiana where they remained and raised their family. Over the years, Ann owned a bakery called “I Knead the Dough” where she baked wonderful creations and catered small events. In 2009 she was awarded “Woman of the Year” by the Kaplan Chamber of Commerce for her tireless work on many successful projects. During that time, she worked as Activities Director at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, while also operating Kaleidoscopes Educational Workshops where she was certified to train activity therapists in Alzheimer’s programs. Ann later enjoyed working as docent at Le Musee’, the Kaplan Museum. She particularly loved her work there where she would meet new people, enjoy the featured artist’s creations, and share her knowledge of local history.
Ann was kind, generous and compassionate; an artistic and curious person who enjoyed culture and learning new things. One of her favorite pastimes was watching Jeopardy and playing along -- she was pretty good. She was a loyal friend, selfless, and helped all those she could, even if it was just to lend a listening ear. She had a good sense of humor, and enjoyed people, and good conversation. For several years, her love of writing led her to publish her articles in Bonnes Nouvelles, a local newspaper. She also enjoyed traveling, having visited many states, Italy and Costa Rica. Her last trip was to Tacoma, Washington earlier this year.
She is survived by her husband, Kirby Henry; children, Caroline Henry, Mandy Henry, and Lee Henry (Linda Denais); sisters, Cecelia Walker Soderberg (Bob) and Barbara Walker Sandoz (Tommy LeBlanc); mother-in-law, Laura Mae Saltzman Henry; brother-in-law, Farley Henry; nieces and nephews, Penny Saltzman Vincent (Ronald) and their children, Jagger and Averi; Eric Soderberg (Laurie Oppel), Sonja Soderberg Quaintance; Paige Quaintance Minges (Derek) and their children, Maggie, Keller, and Jett; Jessica Petry Cooper (Ben) and their children, Grant and Lauren Grace; grandchildren, Quinn Guidry, Olivia Durand, Jackson Tisdall, Kari Caldwell (Craig) and their children, Easton and Raelyn.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Lankston Walker, Jr. and Mabel Saltzman Walker; grandparents, Richard Lankston Walker, Sr. and Ella Guidry Walker, Isaac Saltzman and Agnes Frieu Saltzman; father-in-law, Leroy Henry; sister-in-law, Kathy Henry Mouton; and many other beloved family and close friends.
A Memorial Mass will be held at St. David Chapel, Kaplan, Louisiana, on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 9 a.m. and a Celebration of Life immediately following at St. David’s Hall, next door to the church.
Donations in Ann’s memory may be made to: Mount St. Mary Academy (MSM Foundation 3224 Kavanaugh Blvd. Little Rock, AR 72205 or online: https://mtstmary.edu/support-msm/give-now), or to the Breast Cancer Society, Kaplan Museum, St. David Chapel, or a favorite charity.
Special thanks to Vincent Funeral Home for their kind assistance to the family.