A Point Aux Chen man retired from over 40 years of public service. Over 20 current and former elected officials took turns congratulating and thanking him.
Reggie Paul Dupre Jr. retired from his position as Terrebonne Parish Levee Board Director, July 1. Ending 45 years of public service during a Terrebonne Parish Levee Board meeting held at the St. Anne’s Community Center in Bourg. Angela Hidalgo, Dupre’s recommendation as a replacement, was appointed immediately after. The many collegues and friends described Dupre as a gentleman, a statesman, a public servant, a mentor, and a negotiator. Now retired, Dupre said he intends to spend time with his family and do some camping, but people could still call on him for advice.
His daughter Brittney Dupre said its the family's turn to have him.
"It's not just him retiring, it's all of us, because where he was with you guys, he had to sacrifice a lot with us... Of course we will miss you guys," she said. "Ya’ll can still call, but try to keep it brief."
Hidalgo, Dupre's replacement, has worked for 22 years at the levee district in roles including Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Executive Director.
Local, state, and federal elected officials took turns cracking inside jokes and well-wishing Dupre in his future endeavors. Dupre has worn many public servant hats over his many years ranging from Terrebonne Parish Deputy, Parish Councilman, Louisiana State Senator, Louisiana State Rep., and Levee Director. According to Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District Col. Cullen Jones, Dupre is the author of three Louisiana State Constitutional Amendments, but his efforts went far beyond just legislation.
“You were involved with the Morganza to the Gulf project since its inception in the late 80’s to where it is at now at $1.1 billion dollar investment that continues to grow,” Jones said. “What an amazing legacy.”
He then gifted Dupre a personal Coin of Excellence.
Dupre grew up the son of Alida D. Naquin and Reggie Dupre Sr., the owners of the Bourg Supermarket. He said one piece of advice from his mother that always stuck with him was “Never forget the people you come from.”
He didn’t. During his farewell speech, Dupre turned to Godfrey Naquin, 96, the man whose faith in Dupre was unwavering. Dupre told how he dropped out of High School, but Naquin wouldn’t have it. In 1987, Godfrey said Dupre would get a law degree and become a State Senator.
“And I told him that night, ‘Godfrey, you are insane. There’s no way that people from Houma and Bayou Lafourche are going to vote for somebody from Point Aux Chen to be their Senator,” Dupre said. In 2001, the night he won the State Senator seat, he had written a concession speech because he thought he would lose. He didn't know what he'd say, “It took me a half-hour to get to the podium. Right in front of the podium, the first person was Godfrey.”
Naquin said he was proud of everything Dupre had accomplished. When he returned from the marine corps and saw that Dupre had quit school, he stopped him and told him if anyone was going to make a difference for the down-the-bayou communities, it was him. He said his prediction came true.
“It fills my heart and I know that his mother and his father would be so proud of him,” Naquin said.
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