Staff Report
Eunice lost a trio of leaders from Friday to Monday.
Former Mayor Curtis Joubert, when contacted for comment, said, “This is some week we’ve got here in Eunice.”
On Friday, former Police Chief Anthony”Tony” Fuselier died.
On Saturday, Adam “Brother” Johnson died.
And on Monday, retired mayor’s administrative aide Joan McManus.
Fuselier, 64, served one term from 1987 to 1990 as police chief.
Current Police Chief Randy Fontenot said Fuselier affected his life.
“He impacted my life and my family’s life quite a bit, but not directly, but indirectly because of the positions he put me in while he was chief,” Fontenot said.
“He was a nice guy. Always a smile on his face. He was good to work with. He had an open door policy with his officers. You were able to go in and talk with him at any time about just any issue and he would listen. He was a good listener,” Fontenot said.
Joubert remembers Fuselier as a kind-hearted guy who loved civic work.
“He did a good job. He was a very popular young man and when he lost he kept right on doing his civic work and did a good job,” Joubert.
Fuselier loved both schools in Eunice, “but in particular he really felt like St. Ed’s was his own,” Joubert said.
The Joe Nagata Memorial football jamboree was spearheaded by Tony Fuselier who served as jamboree chairman with its first games played in August 2013.
“It is not just co-spirit,” Fuselier said of the jamboree. “It is a house united. We are bringing our two schools together for the benefit of our kids and our schools.
“Everything we raise goes to the two booster clubs and at the same time we are honoring an individual who meant so much to both Eunice High and St Ed’s.”
Eunice High athletic director Paul Trosclair said Fuselier was a man with a passion and served the Nagata Jamboree well to help it become one of the premier jamborees in Louisiana.
“He and the committee made it great for both Eunice High and St. Edmund,” the coach said. “Tony was a hard worker when it came to getting sponsors.
“It is a really big loss for the city of Eunice.” Trosclair said. “Whoever takes his place has some huge shoes to fill.”
Trosclair said it took a few years to get it all together,” he said of the process. “But I think the committee has gained over $150,000 – it has helped both athletic programs.”
Joubert and former mayor Lynn Lejeune said Fuselier was a great cook.
“He was one of the great chefs of Eunice,” LeJeune said. “I had a lot of good meals over at his house.”
McManus, 76, was for many years a friendly fixture at the Eunice mayor’s office.
She began her work at City Hall with Joubert in 1981. She left the office in 1986, but returned and worked for mayors Hubert Rougeau, Gil Young, Ken Peart, Lejeune, Bob Morris and Rusty Moody.
Joubert said, “Joan McManus was a very special person. She worked for me for quite awhile and we never had a cross word. She was always jolly and cooperative.”
Lejeune said McManus was a “dear friend” who never complained and always sought to make every situation a win-win for those involved.
“I had the pleasure of knowing her for many years and whenever I was elected she worked directly with me on all of the business of the day,” Lejeune said. “She was always so kind and rewarding to everything she did. Just a real team player and very supportive of all of the projects.”
McManus served as the coordinator for numerous city events such as Main to Main, Main Street, Mardi Gras, Crawfish Etouffeé Cook-off, exchange programs.
After she retired, McManus said, “Throughout all my years working for the city and mayors ... I had fun. It was an enjoyable job and work experience.”
In addition to her work at City Hall, McManus was involved with numerous civic and charitable groups.
She was the wife of Vernon McManus, city attorney.
Johnson, 88, was never a city official, but he was at the heart of the city civic life.
Joubert said, “He was one of my very best friends.”
He added, “Brother was a very flexible guy. He had no enemies that I knew of which is a remarkable achievement in life.”
Lejeune said Johnson was involved in civic work and traveled with Joubert promoting tourism and economic development.
Joubert said, “You could always count on Brother to help if you needed help.”
Johnson’s obituary states, “He was a retired pipeline superintendent as well as an avid community activist. He enjoyed cooking, camping, cruising, and spending his free time with his family especially his grandchildren.”