Myra Miller
The blue star in Eunice lights up the sky once again.
It’s nearly a year ago when the 15-foot-wide angle-iron star was placed on the 100-foot tall rice dryer building behind G&H Outdoor in Eunice.
The star, which was thought to be missing 30 or 40 years ago from a rice dryer, was found.
The star shines from the building between East Street and La. 13.
The rice dryer is owned by the Hensgens families (Wayne, Michael, Mark and Jennifer) of Crowley.
The Hensgens never found out the history or maker of the star when it went up last year.
With this year’s star lighting, some history came to light after a meeting with Harry Guillory, 84, of Eunice.
According to Guillory the creator and designer of the star was the late Melton Miller. “He was known and given a nickname of ‘Joe-Ki,’” said Guillory.
An uncle to Guillory, Miller, worked many years ago at the then Farmers’ Rice dryer in Eunice.
Guillory said, “He designed it and put it up back then, and it seems like it was after Hurricane Audrey, in 1957.”
Guillory added about Miller, “I’m not certain, but I do know he was a very religious man, and loved to celebrate the Christmas season. I also remember him as an ambitious worker and man.”
Guillory retired as a welder many years ago. He worked 45 years, “mostly for H. Brown Machine shop.”