Bourg’s Guedry elected district governor of international organization

The year was 1961. Clayton Guedry was fresh out of college, a new teacher in Terrebonne Parish transplanted from Donaldsonville, and he had a toothache. With no previous dental experience in Houma, Guedry drove around until he found a “sign that said dentist.” Forty-nine years later, that trip to the dentist is still paying dividends.

Guedry’s dentist happened to be a member of the Houma Civitan Club, a local version of an international organization focused on civic involvement through knowledge, service and fellowship. He accepted an invitation and joined the club.

He began his new role with the club Friday, when his term as governor of the Magnolia district commenced. The Magnolia district – which encompasses Louisiana and southern Mississippi – is one of 23 in the United States and Canada. Civitan also has clubs in 23 different nations over four continents.

The Bourg resident said the Houma club employs TARC to cut grass and volunteers at the Special Olympics. They also provide families with food baskets during the Christmas season, honor servicemen through various projects and have recently been selecting one needy family each month to assist.

“I believe in the message and the mission of Civitan, and this is why I’ve stayed in the organization for this many years,” he said.

Guedry struggled to pick out a specific memory that stood out more than the rest. He talked about “seeing the joy on the faces of some of these families that are really destitute when we help them.” He also brought up the construction of the current clubhouse in 1988.

“We did all of the carpentry, finishing work, painting and so forth on it,” he said. “We dedicated the clubhouse in 1988. We were able to pay for it in a relatively short time.

“Maybe the first time I was elected president. I was young, most of the guys were older than me and I considered it an honor to be named president.”

Among his multitude of memories includes the first time he visited the Civitan International Research Center. The Birmingham, Ala.-based facility works toward researching and treating physical and mental disabilities.

“They have some of the best scientists in the world working in that facility, and that’s the big, major project,” Guedry said. “This is a well kept secret as far as I’m concerned because there is a lot of good that goes on there.”

The responsibilities of being governor will send Guedry on the road. Friday, he went to Hattiesburg, Miss., to install incoming officers.

“It’s just a matter of a formality of swearing them in and so forth,” he said. “It’s always a pleasant occasion.”

He will also represent the Magnolia district at regional and international conventions. As governor elect, he and his wife made a trip to Cancun, Mexico and this year’s international convention will be held in New Orleans, leading him to admit “I feel very privileged to be governor at this time.”

Civitan is constantly looking for new members, and Guedry said one of the great aspects of being involved is the fellowship. They hold two meetings per month, which prospective members are invited to attend, as well as a family day.

When he first arrived in Terrebonne Parish, Guedry was a teacher. He moved up the career ladder and worked as a principal. He has since retired and dabbled in “little businesses and so forth.” His profession has changed over time, but the bond he fostered with Civitan as a new member of the community has only expanded.