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The SLCC Foundation is honoring a strong supporter of the community college and communities across Acadiana with its most prestigious award. The SLCC Foundation named Gulf Coast Bank its 2020 Benefactor of the Year through a small gathering at the bank’s home office on Nov. 2.
The College plans to recognize Gulf Coast Bank’s widespread impact throughout the Vermilion Parish and Acadiana communities during a ceremony later this year when it is deemed safe to gather.
Gulf Coast Bank has partnered with SLCC since 2013 in a number of ways. The Bank has offered time and expertise through its President and CEO, Paul Patout, serving as a key voice on the SLCC Foundation board in its early years of development. In addition, Gulf Coast Bank has partnered with the Lt. Dronet Marine Corps League in Abbeville to offer an annual scholarship for a student who graduated from a Vermilion Parish high school and who is studying at SLCC’s Gulf Area Campus in Abbeville. The Bank also helped to underwrite several initiatives and events at SLCC, including the Foundation’s scholarship 5K.
“I cannot think of a more deserving honoree this year than Gulf Coast Bank,” said Lana Fontenot, executive director of the SLCC Foundation. “Leaders and employees at Gulf Coast Bank have poured their hearts into this community through the generosity of their time, talent, and treasure. While the pandemic has not allowed us to host our typical public event, and we look forward to celebrating and are nonetheless excited to honor their overall investment and decades-long support for this community.”
Under the leadership of the Patout brothers, Paul Patout as President & CEO, and Pat Patout as Chairman of the Board, Gulf Coast Bank has become known throughout Acadiana for its continued generous support and commitment to the local community. Pat and Paul’s dedication and enthusiasm cannot help but spread throughout the company. Gulf Coast Bank’s impact includes not only financial contributions, but also the volunteered time and effort of its team; employees are regularly encouraged to volunteer at events in the community, and on average serve over 250 hours total each year.
Many organizations have been impacted by Gulf Coast Bank’s support over the years, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Vermilion, the Vermilion Economic Development Alliance, One Acadiana, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, SLCC, the Community Foundation of Acadiana, LARC, St. Jude’s, as well as many other local festivals, fund raisers, and events.
“Gulf Coast Bank’s commitment to the community is almost immeasurable,” said Anne Falgout, executive director of the Vermilion Economic Development Alliance. “They take every opportunity to be involved whether it be through philanthropic contributions or hands-on assistance. They volunteer, they donate, and they lead in our business community by example. They are so deserving of our thanks, so I’m thrilled that SLCC has recognized them!”
Paul Patout and Pat Patout have been recognized over the years for their generosity and commitment to Acadiana. In 2019, they received a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the American Legion Vermilion Post 29, in appreciation of their efforts and contributions over the years. Gulf Coast Bank was named Business of the Year by the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce this year, as well as by the Louisiana Cattle Festival in 2016. In 2015, Paul Patout and Pat Patout received the Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) Leaders in Philanthropy award for their contributions to Vermilion Parish and the greater Acadiana area.
“Gulf Coast Bank’s passion to give back to the community is rooted in our history. We are inspired by those that came before us at Gulf Coast Bank,” said Paul Patout, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Bank. “My father Charles Patout, Lorraine LeBlanc, Richard Dubois, and many others truly put their heart into this Bank and the communities it serves, and we are honored to continue the legacy, which would not be possible without our amazing team that cares as much as we do.”
The Benefactor of the Year award is the fourth for the SLCC Foundation, where an outstanding partnership is recognized each year. Previous honorees are the Hugh and Byrnes Young Foundation, Lafayette General Health and Elder Outreach.

About Gulf Coast Bank
Charles Patout founded Gulf Coast Bank in 1971 in Abbeville. Paul Patout joined Gulf Coast Bank in 1980 when the Bank had only four branches, and his brother Pat Patout joined him in 1982. They have witnessed many changes in banking over the years. Today, the Bank has grown to 12 branches with 130 employees. Providing outstanding customer service and maintaining active involvement in the communities it serves have remained top priorities for Gulf Coast Bank, and that passion comes directly from the enthusiasm and dedication on which the company was founded.

About the SLCC Foundation
The South Louisiana Community College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization organized for the purpose of engaging in educational, scientific, literary, benevolent, and charitable works in support exclusively for the campuses of South Louisiana Community College. The SLCC Foundation secures and manages unrestricted and restricted assets to continually support and enrich the academic and scholarship programs at South Louisiana Community College. The SLCC Foundation is managed by a 17-member board of directors.

DELCAMBRE — Pam Blakely’s pink colors will be staying around Delcambre for another four years.
Blakely made history four years ago when she became the first female mayor of Delcambre. She beat long-time former mayor Carrol Broussard,
Broussard decided to run again this election, but got the same results.
Blakely won 57 percent of the votes (575 votes), while Broussard received 33 percent (279 votes).
Long-time Delcambre Police Chief James Broussard is back. He received 55 percent of the votes (459 votes) compared to Ivan McIntyre, who received 45 percent (374 votes).

Delcambre Aldermen Race

District 2
Sarah Trahan..115 votes (55 percent)
Bud LeBlanc ....93 votes (45 percent)

District 4

Steve Broussard ....74 votes (58 percent)
Lester Miguez....53 votes (42 percent)

Constables Justice of
the Peace Ward 1
(Top 2 are winners)

Randy Granger ....2,464 (39 percent)

Paul Poche.......2,283 (36 percent)

Cory Benoit...1,514 (24 percent)

January 23, 1995 ~ November 2, 2020

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Joe Del Duhon, IV, 25, who died Monday, November 2, 2020 at Abbeville General Hospital. He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Father Donald Bernard officiating the services. Pallbearers will be Hayes Doucet, Canon Clark, Chelcie Sonnier, Blaythe Painter, Kenneth Johnson, Cy Boudreaux, Boyd Denais, and Sklyer Touchet.
Joe Del will be remembered by his loved ones for being a naturally gifted athlete who possessed a big heart, his generosity, his selflessness, and kindness. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
He is survived by his parents, Joe Del Duhon, III and Donde Hoffpauir; brother, Hayes Doucet; two sisters, Taylor Duhon and Brooklyn Comeaux; paternal grandmother, Barabara Baudoin and her husband, Rodney; maternal grandparents, Larry Hoffpauir and his wife, Linda; nieces, Kinsley Hebert and Knova LeBlanc; aunts, Nikki Baudoin, Barbara Lynn Duhon, Donna Duhon, Crystal Daigle and Kaysha Clark; first cousins, Keesha Touchet, Skyler Touchet, Cameron Duhon and Cannon Clark; and his four-legged best friend, Drake.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Joe Del Duhon, Sr.; uncle, Joe Del Duhon, II; and first cousin, Kylan Langlinais.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Thursday, November 5, 2020 from 8:00 AM until 12:45 PM when the procession will depart for the church.
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.

The Vermilion Parish Police Jury received great news Friday afternoon when they got word from FEMA that President Donald Trump approved 100 percent federal cost-share for debris removal caused by two hurricanes.
Police Jury President Dane Hebert said by FEMA picking up the other 25 percent it will save the parish about $1 million.
In the past, FEMA usually has agreed to pay for 75 percent of debris removal and the local government pay for 25 percent.
The only time FEMA has paid for 100 percent was for Hurricane Rita 15 years ago.
Hebert said he received a phone call from one of Trump’s aides, who asked Hebert what his parish and south Louisiana is in need of at this moment.
Hebert told the president’s aide it would help the parish if FEMA paid for 100 percent of the debris removal. The aide said he would see what he could do.
On Friday, FEMA announced Vermilion and other parishes were going to receive 100 percent.
“I want to thank President Trump for helping us,” said Dane.
There are contractors in the parish picking up storm damage debris from Hurricane Laura. Then came Hurricane Delta, which did more storm damage.
The two hurricanes were combined for debris removal. They still have 65 days out of 90 days to remove debris.
The contractors bring the debris to a landfill out of the parish.
Thus far, they have removed 155,000 cubic yards of debris throughout Vermilion Parish.