Clovis Crawfish, Mary Alice Fontenot and Eunice are forever linked, but that notion is about to become official.
The Eunice Board of Aldermen are requesting Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Legislature designate the city as “The Home of Clovis Crawfish.”
That request was initiated at the Board’s meeting Tuesday with an eye to the city’s planned celebration of its 125th anniversary.
Alderwoman Connie Thibodeaux introduced the resolution, which notes Fontenot was “born and raised right outside of Eunice, Louisiana and grew up to be a journalist, teacher, creator of the fictional character of Clovis Crawfish and author of the popular children’s books featuring the character of Clovis Crawfish...”
Fontenot authored the Clovis Crawfish series, worked at The Eunice News and taught kindergarten at St. Edmund Elementary.
Thibodeaux said she has been in contact with the author’s daughter, Julie Fontenot Landry, who lives in California.
Landry and Pelican Publishing have agreed to let the city use the image of Clovis Crawfish originally presented by Eunice resident Reginald Keller, she said.
Thibodeaux said she received an email from Charles Seale, of Eunice, informing her about the author being from Eunice and wishing that the city be the “Home of Clovis Crawfish.”
Thibodeaux said she will work on a fundraiser to have a sculpture of Clovis Crawfish to be unveiled during the city’s 125th year anniversary next year.
Fontenot, who lived from April 16, 1910, to May 12, 2003, earned fame as an author particular with the Clovis Crawfish series started in 1961.
