Edwin Edwards guest speaker for Chamber banquet in St. Martinville

Edwin Edwards, four-term Louisiana governor and – at the age of 86 – current candidate for U.S. Congress, will headline the St. Martinville Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet here Thursday, April 24.

Tickets are $50 per person, $400 for a table seating eight with amenities. They will be available through April 22. Contact Nicole Allen at 394-7578 or Becky Patin at 280-2279.

Some legal unpleasantness and a short-lived reality show notwithstanding, Edwards remains a beloved figure in south Louisiana, and his authorized biography, “Edwin Edwards: Governor of Louisiana,” by Leo Honeycutt (who was guest speaker here four years ago), has been a regional best-seller for half a decade.

The former governor will be autographing the book at the banquet, and there will be copies for sale.

It is not a campaign stop since Edwards is running in the 6th Congressional District of Louisiana, which begins on the other side of the Atchafalaya Basin and spreads eastward to Lake Pontchartrain, north to the Felicianas and south to Houma.

The theme for this year’s banquet is “Run For The Roses,” paying homage to next month’s Kentucky Derby. Those who are so inclined are encouraged to wear some lavish headgear for competition in the Proper Topper Contest.

As usual there will be a live auction, door prizes and a raffle (tickets $2).

Emcee for the evening will be James Johnstone, auctioneers Guy Cormier and Craig Prosper. Jon Melancon will provide live Cajun music.

The cash bar will open at 6 p.m. and the banquet will get underway at 7 p.m.

The menu includes turkey with fried pecan Bourbon sauce, eggplant dressing, green beans and yams.

The event is being held, as it is each year, at the Woodmen of the World hall, 1255 Capritto-Forty Arpent Rd.