Rodney J. Ledoux ‘Coach Ledoux’

Rodney J. Ledoux (“Coach Ledoux”) entered heaven on January 31, 2015, at Lafayette General Hospital. Funeral services will be held at St. Bernard Catholic Church on Saturday, February 7, 2015, at 11 a.m.
Visiting hours will be at Pellerin Funeral Home on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday, February 7, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. A Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Coach Ledoux’s eulogy will be presented in the funeral home by Jack Dale Delhomme at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday.
Fr. David Broussard will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Scriptures will be read by Austin Hebert and Christian Ledoux. Gift Bearers will be his grandchildren.
Interment in the St. Bernard Catholic Church Cemetery No. 2 will follow services.
Pallbearers will be Gill Frederick, Carol Patin, Tex Hebert, Bobby Ayo, Larry Patin and Frederick Stelly.
Rodney Ledoux is survived by his wife of 54 years, Connie Brantley Ledoux; two daughters, Ann Ledoux Hebert and husband Richey Hebert of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, Lisa Ledoux Bruce and husband, Steve Bruce, of Spring, Texas; and one son, Dr. Mark S. Ledoux, of Memphis, Tennessee.
Rodney Ledoux is also survived by seven grandchildren, Angelle Hebert Dueitt and her husband Jett Dueitt of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, Austin Hebert of Lafayette, Louisiana, Natalie Ledoux and Christian Ledoux of Memphis, Tennessee, ans Steven Bruce, Jacob Bruce and Katie Bruce of Spring, Texas; two great-gandchildren, Evelyn Dueitt and Olivia Dueitt of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana; and one sister, Betty Ledoux Bertrand of Jennings, Louisiana; and her children, Nina Ravey, Joan McLean and Dirk Bertrand.
Rodney also leaves behind close friends and loved ones too numerous to count.
Rodney J. Ledoux is preceded in death by his parents, Demas and Leah Ledoux of Basile, Louisiana.
Coach Ledoux was born July 8, 1930, on a farm in Tiger Point, Louisiana (near Basile, Louisiana), and resided there until he graduated from Basile High School in 1947. Coach then attended McNeese State Jr. College, before volunteering to serve in the United States Army. Following his service in the U.S. Army, he completed his degree in education from SLI (now UL Lafayette) in Lafayette, Louisiana. He later obtained his Masters Degree and Masters Plus 30 at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and was also a licensed counselor. Coach played college basketball at both McNeese and SLI.
Coach Ledoux began his teaching and coaching career at Port Barre High School, and also coached and worked at Melville High School. Coach Ledoux then accepted a coaching and teaching position at Thibodaux High School, where he made lasting friendships and met his wife, who was teaching at a neighboring school. In 1962, Coach Ledoux moved to Breaux Bridge where he taught and coached at Breaux Bridge High School for 24 years. Upon his retirement from public school service, he became a counselor at Teurlings Catholic High School for eight years.
Coach Ledoux was elected to represent District 6 for the St. Martin Parish School Board and served in that position for 23 years. He acted as President of the school board from 1994-1995. Coach Ledoux was very active in his community and leaves a lasting legacy of service and involvement. Coach served as chairman of the parish recreational program for 14 years (1966-1980). He also served under the Louisiana High School Athletic Association as Commissioner of the Lafayette Area Basketball Officials for 19 years.
Coach Ledoux was a highly regarded high school basketball coach in the State of Louisiana. He produced district titles and appearances in the state playoffs and Top 20 tournament. In 1968, he coached the State All Star “East” team to victory. As one of his great friends and supporters said “…He was like a fireball…(Coach) would take kids who didn’t have any talent and teach them the full-court press and they would start killing these schools playing with football players…He always had a cigar in his mouth…You couldn’t help but pick him out in a crowd”.
In 1990, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) honored Coach Ledoux for his unselfish service, leadership and contributions to the high schools of Louisiana and their athletic programs.
For his entire life, Coach Ledoux was an extraordinary teacher, counselor and coach to students, athletes, family, friends and everyone he met. Coach Ledoux had a passion for mentoring, and constantly encouraged everyone around him to reach their fullest potential, both on and off the court. Words cannot express how much he will be missed, but his legacy will continue to shine bright in all who were touched by his life.
Honoring Coach Ledoux’s dedication to the importance of athletic programs for high school students, an athletic scholarship fund will be established in his name. His family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the “Coach Rodney Ledoux Athletic Scholarship Fund”, 404 Gaston Drive, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517.
Pellerin Funeral Home, 211 Berard St., Breaux Bridge, (337-332-2199) is in charge of arrangements.
To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com.