J. Rayburn Bertrand
Encyclopedia
J. Rayburn "Ray" Bertrand (October 1, 1918 – March 6, 2005) was a businessman, civic leader, and decorated World War II
veteran who served as the Democratic
mayor of Lafayette
, Louisiana
, from 1960 to 1972. During Bertrand's three terms, the city nearly doubled in population, having grown from 40,000 to 75,000, and the corporate limits were extended more than sixty times. Lafayette expanded from 8.5 mi² (22 km²) to 24 mi² (62 km²) during his tenure.
in Allen Parish to the former Ethel Marie Acosta and Joseph Claude Bertrand. The family moved to Lafayette in 1932, when Joseph Bertrand sold his electrical operation to a major utility company. Bertrand graduated from Lafayette High School
in 1936, then attended Louisiana State University
and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
(then Southwestern Louisiana Institute), from which he graduated with a bachelor of science
degree in accounting and business
.
and was accepted in December 1941, after having worked for a time as an accountant with a New Orleans firm.
Bertrand became a fighter pilot early in World War II
. He flew from England
with the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group. He was part of its first mission, which was also the first combat mission of the P-47 Thunderbolt
fighter plane. During two years with the group, Bertrand flew eighty-eight combat missions over enemy territory. He earned two Distinguished Flying Cross
es and seven Air Medal
s. His group was honored with the Presidential Unit Citation. Bertrand flew every position from wing man to group leader of ninety ships. His missions included bomber escort, strafing, fighter sweeps, and drive bombing. He was promoted to the rank of major
while he was on combat duty. He retired as a lieutenant colonel
.
and insurance
fields.
Ronald J. "Ron" Gomez, Sr.
, who was a young reporter at the time that Bertrand became mayor, recalled that Bertrand was "the perfect match for the time and place. He brought dignity and integrity to the political arena and won the trust of his constituents by delivering on his promises. I was impressed with the fact that he took the time to explain to this young reporter, new on the scene, the intricacies and players of the political network in Lafayette and his personal vision and agenda for its future."
Lafayette gained recognition during the Bertrand years for its race relations; there were no serious racial disturbances in the city throughout Bertrand's 12-year tenure. Bertrand also worked to reduce pollution problems by the extension of some 250 miles of sanitary sewer lines. His administration improved drainage and paved or repaved every street in the city. The Bertrand administration was credited with the expansion of electrical generation capacity from 50,000 kW
to more than 207,000 kW. The capacity of the Lafayette water treatment plant tripled during Bertrand's administration.
Bertrand worked to implement civil service for municipal employees. Lafayette public and cultural facilities were also improved, as new buildings were erected, including a new police department headquarters, a new library, a new city court building, and a planetarium and youth museum.
Bertrand was mayor under the former city commission
type of government. His accomplishments gained state recognition, including two "Project Earth" awards for activities and programs related to improving the environment. He was president of the Louisiana Municipal Association and was cited as Louisiana's "Mayor of the Year" in 1962.
Bertrand retired undefeated as mayor. In the election of 1972, Democrat Kenneth Francis "Kenny" Bowen
(whom Bertrand had defeated in 1968 when Bowen was a Republican) was elected mayor.
On leaving office as mayor, Bertrand joined the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company (now a part of Bank One Corporation
), and served as senior vice president and member of the board of directors. After his retirement from the bank, he continued to manage real estate properties and use his expertise in government to advise and assist boards and commissions working on municipal planning.
. He was president of the Lafayette Board of Realtors and the state Board of Realtors, a board member of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, co-chairman of The Bishop's Services Appeal, president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, executive board member of the Evangeline
Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America
, campaign chairman and president of United Way of Acadiana, and member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition.
He was active in Mardi Gras
activities, having served as King of the Krewe of Attakapas and as King Gabriel XLII. His community service won him the city's most coveted honor, the Lafayette Civic Cup Award. He also received the "Distinguished Citizens Award" from the Boy Scouts. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi
honor society and an honorary member of the UL Blue Key Club.
Bertrand survived his three brothers, one of whom was Richard J. Bertrand, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from Lafayette Parish from 1948–1952 and 1956-1964.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran who served as the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
mayor of Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, from 1960 to 1972. During Bertrand's three terms, the city nearly doubled in population, having grown from 40,000 to 75,000, and the corporate limits were extended more than sixty times. Lafayette expanded from 8.5 mi² (22 km²) to 24 mi² (62 km²) during his tenure.
Early years
Bertrand was born in KinderKinder, Louisiana
Kinder is a town in Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,148 at the 2000 census.The Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial Park , an American Legion enterprise, was dedicated on June 11, 1988, in Kinder to remember those who died in military service to the nation.Kinder was...
in Allen Parish to the former Ethel Marie Acosta and Joseph Claude Bertrand. The family moved to Lafayette in 1932, when Joseph Bertrand sold his electrical operation to a major utility company. Bertrand graduated from Lafayette High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1936, then attended Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
(then Southwestern Louisiana Institute), from which he graduated with a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in accounting and business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
.
World War II
Shortly after graduation, he applied for aviation cadet training with the United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
and was accepted in December 1941, after having worked for a time as an accountant with a New Orleans firm.
Bertrand became a fighter pilot early in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He flew from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group. He was part of its first mission, which was also the first combat mission of the P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
fighter plane. During two years with the group, Bertrand flew eighty-eight combat missions over enemy territory. He earned two Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
es and seven Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
s. His group was honored with the Presidential Unit Citation. Bertrand flew every position from wing man to group leader of ninety ships. His missions included bomber escort, strafing, fighter sweeps, and drive bombing. He was promoted to the rank of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
while he was on combat duty. He retired as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
Political career
Prior to his election as mayor, Bertrand worked in the real estateReal estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
fields.
Ronald J. "Ron" Gomez, Sr.
Ron Gomez
Ronald James Gomez, Sr., known as Ron Gomez , is a veteran print and broadcast journalist, author , and businessman from Lafayette, Louisiana, who served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from Lafayette Parish, from 1980-1989. From 1990-1992, he was the secretary of natural resources in...
, who was a young reporter at the time that Bertrand became mayor, recalled that Bertrand was "the perfect match for the time and place. He brought dignity and integrity to the political arena and won the trust of his constituents by delivering on his promises. I was impressed with the fact that he took the time to explain to this young reporter, new on the scene, the intricacies and players of the political network in Lafayette and his personal vision and agenda for its future."
Lafayette gained recognition during the Bertrand years for its race relations; there were no serious racial disturbances in the city throughout Bertrand's 12-year tenure. Bertrand also worked to reduce pollution problems by the extension of some 250 miles of sanitary sewer lines. His administration improved drainage and paved or repaved every street in the city. The Bertrand administration was credited with the expansion of electrical generation capacity from 50,000 kW
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
to more than 207,000 kW. The capacity of the Lafayette water treatment plant tripled during Bertrand's administration.
Bertrand worked to implement civil service for municipal employees. Lafayette public and cultural facilities were also improved, as new buildings were erected, including a new police department headquarters, a new library, a new city court building, and a planetarium and youth museum.
Bertrand was mayor under the former city commission
City commission government
City commission government is a form of municipal government which once was common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government...
type of government. His accomplishments gained state recognition, including two "Project Earth" awards for activities and programs related to improving the environment. He was president of the Louisiana Municipal Association and was cited as Louisiana's "Mayor of the Year" in 1962.
Bertrand retired undefeated as mayor. In the election of 1972, Democrat Kenneth Francis "Kenny" Bowen
Kenny Bowen
Kenneth Francis "Kenny" Bowen, Sr. was a three-term Democratic mayor of Lafayette, Louisiana, the fourth largest city in the state, according to the 2000 census...
(whom Bertrand had defeated in 1968 when Bowen was a Republican) was elected mayor.
On leaving office as mayor, Bertrand joined the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company (now a part of Bank One Corporation
Bank One Corporation
Some of the banks that were merged into these banks include:*Bank One**Security National Bank & Trust **Affiliated Bankshares of Colorado **American Fletcher Corp. **City National Bank and Trust Co...
), and served as senior vice president and member of the board of directors. After his retirement from the bank, he continued to manage real estate properties and use his expertise in government to advise and assist boards and commissions working on municipal planning.
Civic leadership
Bertrand's name was synonymous with civic leadership in Lafayette: he was a member of the Lafayette Airport Commission, the City of Lafayette Planning and Zoning Commission, the Beavers Club, and the American LegionAmerican Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
. He was president of the Lafayette Board of Realtors and the state Board of Realtors, a board member of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, co-chairman of The Bishop's Services Appeal, president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, executive board member of the Evangeline
Evangeline
Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie, is an epic poem published in 1847 by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem follows an Acadian girl named Evangeline and her search for her lost love Gabriel, set during the time of the Expulsion of the Acadians.The idea for the poem came from...
Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, campaign chairman and president of United Way of Acadiana, and member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition.
He was active in Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
activities, having served as King of the Krewe of Attakapas and as King Gabriel XLII. His community service won him the city's most coveted honor, the Lafayette Civic Cup Award. He also received the "Distinguished Citizens Award" from the Boy Scouts. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
honor society and an honorary member of the UL Blue Key Club.
Death and legacy
Bertrand was first married to the former Martha Julie Burgin, and they had one daughter, Cheryl. After Julie's death, Bertrand married Faith Mensman. At the time of his death, Bertrand had been married to Faith for some twenty years. Bertrand was survived by his wife, daughter, a sister, a stepdaughter, two grandsons, and three great-grandchildren.Bertrand survived his three brothers, one of whom was Richard J. Bertrand, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from Lafayette Parish from 1948–1952 and 1956-1964.