Funeral services Wednesday for Gerald M. ‘Jerry’ Dill, 85

Jerry Dill was born in Thibodaux but “grew up” in and claims Labadieville as home, where he graduated from Labadieville High School.
Jerry received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then SLI) in January 1951 with a major in physical education. In 1961 he received his master’s degree in administration from Louisiana State University.
Jerry joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1948, spending his summers in an officer training program. Upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant.
From January 1951 to June 1951 he did a brief stint of coaching in Jackson, Mississippi.
Jerry reported to the Marine Officers Training School in Quantico, Virginia, in June of 1951. After completing his training, he served the next year in the Korean War.
In September 1953 he returned to his native Thibodaux as an assistant coach and teacher at Thibodaux High School until June 1955.
Dill moved to Crowley in June 1955 to become the first head coach at St. Michael’s, a career that would span 19 years. The last eight years in Crowley were spent as head coach and principal of the newly consolidated Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish.
During his coaching tenure, Jerry amassed an impressive record. His football teams compiled 167 wins, 47 losses and seven ties, including 17 playoff appearances out of 19 seasons, and a state championship in 1973.
Jerry’s skills and talents were not limited only to coaching. As the administrator of the new school, he quickly had Notre Dame noted for being one of the area’s top academic schools, with many of its students achieving academic honors and professional careers.
In June 1974, Dill was appointed by Bishop Gerard Frey as the first ”lay” superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lafayette, a position he served in until 1983. At that time, there were 60 schools and about 20,000 students, covering 10 civil parishes. In 1980, when the Diocese of Lake Charles was separated from the Diocese of Lafayette, he served as superintendent of Catholic schools for the new Diocese of Lake Charles for two years, helping Bishop Jude Speyrer in establishing his Catholic school system. In 1981, Dill was appointed vicar for education and communication by Bishop Frey.
Dill’s most significant contributions to Catholic schools at the diocesan level of administration include development and implementation of the position of religion administrator, which is now mandated for schools; development and implementation of a mandated diocesan evaluation program; establishment and development of a scholarship trust fund to be used for needy students in every Catholic school and at the diocesan level; development and establishment of a teacher benefit trust fund at the diocesan level and at the school level; establishment and implementation of a comprehensive employee benefits package; development of diocesan administrators’ manual and calendar; initiation and implementation of the concept of “development” for Catholic schools of the diocese.
In 1990, special recognition was awarded Jerry Dill at the annual Catholic School Achievement Banquet for his many years of service to the diocese as teacher, coach, principal, superintendent and department administrator.
One of Dill’s fondest memories through the many years is winning the state football championship. Other highlights include, as head coach and assistant principal, being instrumental in the consolidation of three Catholic high schools to form Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish. This was one of the first real consolidations of Catholic schools.
Also, as superintendent, Dill submitted a proposal for St. Thomas More High School to Bishop Frey, who gave his approval for this consolidation.
In 1992, Jerry Dill was appointed by Governor Edwin Edwards as an at-large member of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Dill served on BESE until his death after having been re-appointed in January 1996 by Governor Mike Foster.
In past years he also served on the non-public school commission of BESE and the textbook and transportation committees of the State Department of Education.
For the past 19 years he was a volunteer assistant coach at Notre Dame High School under Coach Lewis Cook and was on the sidelines for the state championship game on Dec. 4.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Crowley for Gerald Matthew “Jerry” Dill Sr., 85, who died Dec. 21, 2015, at the Heart Hospital of Lafayette.
Fr. Mikel Polson, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, will be officiating for the services.
The family is requesting visiting hours to be held Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home in Crowley. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Inurnment will be in Woodlawn Mausoleum in Crowley.
He is survived by his wife, Norma Authement Dill of Crowley; five daughters, Donna D. Hoffpauir and husband Robert of Crowley, Judy D. Guillot and husband Reece of Crowley, Joan D. Kirsh and husband Greg of Lafayette, Anne Dill of Crowley, and Linda D. Lawson and husband Lee of Crowley; two sons, Gerald M. Dill Jr. and wife Jan of St. Louis, Missouri, and James M. “Jim” Dill and wife Colleen of Lafayette; one sister, Eliska D. Pollock of Harrison, Arkansas; 21 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.
Coach Dill is preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Hilda LeBlanc Dill Sr., and one brother, Louis Dill Jr.
The family would like to thank all of those he coached and allowed him to live his love of the game through them.
The family would also like to thank the staff of the Heart Hospital of Lafayette for their valued efforts, Dr. Karrie Kilgore and the Emergency Staff of Acadia General Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael Catholic School, Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish and/or the Catholic school of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley.