James E. ‘Jimmy’ Guirard Jr.

Catahoula – James E Guirard Jr. (Jimmy) of Alexandria, Virginia, died January 10, 2016, at his home in Catahoula.
He was born May 15, 1936, in St. Martinville at the home of his grandparents, Alice and Wade O. Martin. He was the son of Tootie and Jim Guirard.
He grew up in Catahoula and graduated from St. Martinville High School. He received a double Bachelor’s degree in Government and French from LSU. He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in Political Science to the University of Bordeaux, France.
After returning to LSU, he served as president of the law school student body. He was a moot court finalist and he received his juris doctor degree in 1963.
After moving to the Washington, D.C., area, he served as Legislative Assistant to Sen. Russell Long. Subsequently, for almost two decades, he served as Chief of Staff to three U.S. House and Senate chairmen, Rep. Edwin Willis, Sen. Allen Ellender and Sen. Russell Long. He was recognized by both Who’s Who in U.S. Government and Who’s Who in American Politics.
During 1981, he served as National Affairs Director of the American Security Council Foundation (chief sponsor of President Reagan’s Coalition for Peace Through Strength).
From 1982 to 2003 he was a Governmental Affairs Consultant representing (as he put it) only “just causes.”
Since 2002, he has served as founder and president of the TrueSpeak Institute dedicated to truth-in-language and truth-in-history in public discourse. He has written and lectured extensively on the vital war of words and war of ideas aspects of the global war on terrorism. Most of his articles can be found on TrueSpeak.org.
Jimmy leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Ruth Curl Simmons Guirard. He is survived also by his brother, Greg Guirard; his daughter, Sunny Gritsko and husband Dan; his son, Ed Guirard and wife Misha. He was so proud also of his grandchildren, Dan and Cait Gritsko, Hannah and Mike Moore, Caleb Gritsko, Esther Gritsko, Rachel Gritsko and John Gritsko; and one great-grandchild, Elijah Gritsko.
A family celebration of life was held at his beloved Nine Oaks in Catahoula. Memorial donations  may be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St. Suite 200 Lafayette, LA 70503.