‘A lot of changes over 20 years’

When retiring Crowley Alderwoman Mary Melancon went to the Crowley Annex Building on Dec. 13, she was told she would be going to a party for Tim Monceaux, the man who will be replacing her in the Ward 4, Division B seat she has held for 20 years. 

“I thought something was funny when I saw my son L.C. was in town,” she said with a smile. “Turns out the party was for me.”

Family, fellow council members and many of the friends she has made during her five terms in office were present to celebrate her retirement. For those in attendance, a surprise party at the Annex Building was the least they could do. To listen to Melancon discuss it, it was almost as though she wondered what all the hooplah was about. 

“It’s not like I’m going anywhere, I’m still going to attend council meetings ,” she said. “I told Tim ‘Look buddy, I’m going to be watching you.’”

Melancon obviously is confident about the job Monceaux will do.

“He’s been waiting for 20 years for me to leave,” she joked. “I’m very excited to have him in office. He’s so full of life.”

Melancon said moved to Crowley when she was 17-years-old. The front part of the house on Jeannette Street, where she has lived for decades, used to have a beauty shop in the front half. It was owned by a woman named Mildred Unverzath. 

“I worked there until I married Burkin (her late husband),” she said. “We took over the house and raised eight children there.”

She obviously earned the respect of her neighbors during those years. She decided to run for office to represent them on the Crowley City Council in 1994. When asked what motivated her to run for office, she began to laugh. 

“My Lord, that was 20 years ago,” she said. “I think I decided it was time for a change in my ward. After my first four years I just couldn’t quit.”

Re-elected to four more terms, those in her ward must have felt she was doing something right.

“I think I’m well-liked by the people in my ward ... either that or they’re just being polite when they see me,” she said.

Melancon’s 20 years have seen four mayors (Istre, Webb, delaHoussaye and Jones) each of whom Melancon said she has had a good relationship with.

Some of the highlights Melancon recalled during her tenure included:

• The addition of the baseball and soccer fields at the Crowley Recreation Department in 1998.

• The vote for the improvements to downtown Crowley in 2002.

• The cleanup following Hurricane Lilly.  “That was a mess,” she said.

• The opening of the Avenue H Bridge in 2011.

• The opening of the Glady Trahan Tennis Courts in 2012.

• The city-wide street improvement projects during 2012-2013.

“Over the last 20 years the city looks so different,” she said. “From the downtown area to the streets around town, things have definitely improved. They still have plenty of work to do.”

And Melancon will be watching. 

“I’m going to be like that kid in the back of the classroom,” she laughed. “Tim’s going to answer to me if I don’t like something.”

Melancon seems as though she has nothing but fond memories of her days on the council. 

“I enjoyed what I was doing and very much enjoyed the people I worked with (she specifically mentioned Elliot Doré who she called “her right elbow”). I’m leaving the city in good hands,” she said. 

When she’s not keeping an eye on the city council, Melancon said that she plans to spend time with her family and work in her garden. In fact, when the Post-Signal spoke to her Monday morning she had just finished cleaning up from a family Christmas party at her house on Sunday.

Aside from her children, Melancon has 13 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. 

As for the future of the city of Crowley, Melancon feels very confident. 

“I’m very optimistic,” she said.