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Vermilion Parish Police Juror Ronald Darby has been named the King of the Louisiana Cattle Festival.
The festival is set for Oct. 10-14.
Darby has been married to his wife, Gaynell Darby, for more than 35 years. They are the proud parents of seven children, Farmick, Ferric, Christopher, Rodney, Rhonda, Roderick and Redena. The Darbys have 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Darby has been a part of the Vermilion Parish Police Jury, representing District 4, for 15-and-a-half years. He is currently serving on the Louisiana Police Jury Association Executive Board of Directors. He serves on various committees for the parish, including fiances, public works, general needs, coastal restoration and protection, 911, courthouse, rabies and animal).
Darby is an Ordaned Elder at Lighthouse for Jesus Ministries in Abbeville, under the leadership of Pastor Donnie Bolden Sr.
He has served on various boards, past and present. That list includes the Acadiana Planning Commission, Acadiana Crime Lab, Workforce Commission, Christian Service Center, Council on Aging, ASSIST Agency, Herod Village, Vermilion Youth Planning Board, Fire and Police Civil Service Board, St. Mary/Vermilion Board of Directors for Head Start, NAACP, Louisiana Police Jury Black Caucus Association.
Darby is currently a Red Cross volunteer.
For eight years, Darby worked as an apprentice lineman for the City of Abbeville. For the last 18 years, he has work as a service technician for Cox Communications.
When asked what he enjoys doing, Darby mentioned praising God, playing with his grandkids and working in his community with those who are less fortunate and in need.

ERATH — A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Willis Morvant, 86, will be held at 3:00PM Wednesday, October 3,2018 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Fr. Hampton Davis, Deacon Ricky Picard, and Deacon Jerry Bourg officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum.
Visitation will held at David Funeral Home of Erath on Wednesday October 3, 2018 beginning at 10:00AM until time of service, with recitation of the Rosary at 1:00 PM.
A native and lifelong resident of Erath, Mr. Morvant passed away at 4:15AM on Monday, October 1, 2018 at his residence. For forty-five years he owned and operated Morvant’s Service Station, then worked for the Vermillion Parish Police Jury, where he worked at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center before retiring. Being raised on a dairy farm taught him a sense of pride in hard work, which he passed on to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. Willis’ best times were spent fishing, gardening, dancing and most importantly an annual beach trip with his family.
Mr. Morvant is survived by his wife,of 20 years, Marie Morvant; three sons , Billy Morvant and his wife Joan of the Woodlawn Community, Marcus Morvant and his wife Janice of Erath and John Ledet, of Charenton; four daughters, Leurline Norris and her husband Allen of Erath, Eva Hoffpauir and her husband Allan of New Iberia, Denie Charpentier of Gonzales and Leah Billiot of Thibodaux; two brothers Mayo Morvant and Elson Morvant; twelve grandchildren, Elizabeth Gaspard, Angela LeBlanc, Jonathan Norris, Hayley Guidry, Kala Ramero, Martin Janak, Dale Neson, Dana LeDet, Devon Charpentier, Dustin Billoit, Haley Billiot and Shawn Hoffpauir; tewlve great-grandchildren, Chase Norris, Blaire and Samantha Gaspard, Reagan Bouillion, Lexi and Kinley Romero, Samuel Guidry, Leyla Neson, Destinee Neson, Keely Neson, Owen Charpentier and Sophia Billiot.
He is proceeded in death by his first wife Geraline Gary Morvant; his parents Renee’ and Clementine Aucoin Morvant; a brother Leo Morvant Sr.; four sisters Erita Delahoussaye , Marie Dore’, Effie Dore’, and Eunice Vincent.
Serving as pallbearers will be Billy Morvant, Marcus Morvant, Allen Norris, Jonathan Norris, Jordan Romero, Josh Guidry, Martin Janak and Leon Morvant.
Serving as honorary pallbearer Devon Charpentier.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhom.org
David Funeral Home of Erath at 209 East Putnam, Erath (337)-937-0405 is in charge of handling the funeral arrangements.

KAPLAN – The task was one not many teams can perform.
Coach Stephen “Tank” Lotief’s Kaplan Pirates were the latest to try to derail the Notre Dame Pioneers, hosting the Pios on Friday for homecoming, and they were halfway home to an upset.
But, after trailing just 7-6 at halftime with a stirring drive, Kaplan failed to score in the second half as the Pios walked away relieved with a hard-fought 20-6 victory.
“We did what we know to do,” Lotief said. “We do what we do. In the second half, we couldn’t put together any drives. So, we’re 2-3. We were 2-3 last year, too (rebounding to reach the state semifinals).
“We have to try to get better. We will get better. We’ve got some holes we need to fill.”
“They weren’t scared of us,” Pios coach Lewis Cook said. “The last two years they were in the semifinals on this field, so I don’t think they were scared. They played us as hard as anybody has.”
Notre Dame executed a bone-crunching 17-play, 81-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead with 3:07 remaining in the second quarter – the cue for many Pios foes to begin to wilt.
But Nathan Sistrunk escaped for 36 yards with the ensuing kickoff to the KHS 37 to provide a wake-up call.
Drake Abshire picked up 15 yards on first down, Mason Frick hit Logan Roy for 13 yards to the ND 31 for another first down and a 9-yard Braylon Romero run notched the 16.
Four plays later Abshire slashed in from the one to close the gap to a single point 32 seconds before half. A two-point conversion failed, but the Pirates looked revived.
“We work on special teams,” Lotief said. “That return (by Sistrunk) sparked us a little bit, but not enough.”
“We know we have some things to work on (in special teams),” Cook said. “They did a good job on returns tonight.”
Kaplan had momentum and received the second-half kickoff, but two straight unsuccessful possessions were followed by Pioneer touchdown drives of 68 and 59 yards, and the decision was in the works.
The Pirates mustered just 51 yards of offense after halftime.
Quintlan Cobb and Beau Mathews led the defensive charge that set the tone for the evening, forcing a pair of early ND punts, before the visitors found their rhythm and scored.
Abshire, whose first punt soared 56 yards to reverse early field position, rushed 14 times for 48 yards and the lone TD. He also returned two kickoffs for 51 yards.
But the Pirates couldn’t capitalize and fell to 2-3 again.
They’ve been here before and emerged as contenders. Time will tell if they can go there again.