Julius Patrick, Jr. (May 16, 1938 - November 26, 2006), was the African American Democratic mayor of Boyce, in northern Rapides Parish, who died in a head-on collision in a chain-reaction accident on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish near Gramercy in south Louisiana. Patrick was first elected mayor of Boyce, a community of 1,200, in 1978. He served for twenty-eight consecutive years, while he was simultaneously a full-time educator until his retirement from the Rapides Parish public school system in 2005. is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Boyce is a town in northern Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Rapides Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 10 Interstate 10 (abbreviated I-10) is the southernmost east-west, coast-to-coast interstate highway in the United States. ... Ascension Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Gramercy is a town located in St. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Education encompasses teaching and learning specific skills, and also something less tangible but more profound: the imparting of knowledge, good judgement and wisdom. ... The term public school has three distinct meanings: In the USA and Canada, elementary or secondary school supported and administered by state and local officials. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Motorist Mercuria J.S. Colomb (born 1978) of St. Rose in St. Charles Parish allegedly started the chain-reaction accident. She first eluded state police but later turned herself in to authorities. Colomb was driving a car that turned into an eastbound Sports Utility Vehicle. The impact cause her vehicle to cross the interstate median, to sideswipe a westbound oncoming car, and then to crash head-on into the car driven by Patrick. The mayor was killed instantly, according to police. Colomb stands accused of negligent homicide, negligent injury, and improper lane usage. She left the crash scene headed east on I-10. St. ... St. ... Negligent homicide is a charge brought against persons, who by inaction, allow others under their care to die. ...

Patrick's accomplishments as mayor

Boyce Democratic Councilman Kelvin V. McCoy (born 1963), who ran against Patrick and another candidate, the officially nonpartisan Ernest "Ernie" Johnson, in the September 30, 2006, jungle primary, said that Patrick "reminded me of Dr. [Martin Luther] King -- and our dream for the town of Boyce." For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... In the jungle primary, all candidates run in the same initial election regardless of party label. ... Martin Luther King redirects here. ...

In the primary, Patrick led with 200 ballots (45 percent), to Johnson's 162 votes (36 percent), and McCoy's 83 votes (19 percent). In the November 7 general election, Patrick prevailed over Johnson, 278 votes (58 percent) to 203 ballots (42 percent). is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election. ...

McCoy, who served four four-year terms with Mayor Patrick on the town council, cited Patrick's accomplishments:

(1) a new town hall

(2) two new fire stations and firetrucks

(3) rural development grants for sewage and drainage

(4) economic development including Boise Cascade and a new Central Louisiana Electric Company plant under construction. Boise Cascade LLC, which uses the trade name Boise, is an American pulp and paper company, ranked as the thirteenth biggest pulp and paper company in the world. ...

McCoy also said that Patrick "made sure everybody was treated equally. He never looked down on anyone. And he cherished his wife and children just as much as he cherished his community."

Boyce mourns death of Patrick

Ernie Johnson referred to his former opponent's passing as "a sad and tragic thing for the town of Boyce, for the family and for the people who loved him so much. Our hearts go out to the family."

Carolyn Aaron, who has worked for the town for some two decades, the past seventeen as the town clerk, said Patrick "can't be replaced. This is a new beginning for the town of Boyce. He taught me just about everything I know about government. Now we have to go on about the business of the town."

Don Wilmore, who has served on the Rapides Parish Police Jury, the parish's governing board [called county commission in most states] for fifteen years in a district that includes Boyce, praised Patrick's accomplishments: "He was especially effective in getting grants. He was a good friend and a good mayor."

Resident Kim Cudd, who has lived in Boyce for about two years, said that Boyce "needs to be cleaned up. It needs a face-lift. . . . We'd like to see our property values go up."

Patrick was an educator for forty-one years, the last thirty-eight in Rapides Parish. He was a science teacher and then a principal, first at Reed Avenue Elementary School in Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish, and then at North Bayou Rapides Elementary School. A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... For university teachers, see professor. ... A principal is the chief administrator in an elementary school, secondary school, or high school. ... Alexandria is a city in Louisiana and the parish seat of Rapides Parish. ...

Ruby Smith, supervisor for the Rapides Parish Child Welfare and Attendance Office, said that Patrick "touched the lives of many, many students, not only in Boyce but across the state. . . . He was an educated politician with Christian values." For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ...

Last rites

Services for Patrick were held on November 30 in the gymnasium of Northwood High School in the community of Lena, north of Boyce. Northwood replaced the former A. Wettermark High School in 1996. More than a thousand mourners attended, including Rapides Parish District Attorney James "Jam" Downs, himself a former town attorney for Boyce. Six ministers, led by the Reverend Joe S. Green, participated, and expressions of condolence were delivered by representatives of Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's office, the National Conference of Black Mayors and its Louisiana chapter, and the Louisiana Municipal Association. is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... A district attorney is, in some U.S. jurisdictions, the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Categories: Stub | 1942 births | Governors of Louisiana ...

Patrick was preceded in death by his father, Julius Patrick, Sr., and his mother, the former Ella Belle Wardsworth, and two sisters.

Survivors included his wife, the former Beatrice Jackson (born 1941); one son, Ronald Kevin Patrick (born 1961) and wife Ann Patrick of Garland, Texas; three daughters, Karen Patrick Jones and husband Ed Jones of Shreveport, DiAnthia L. Patrick of Fairfax, Virginia; and Riqui J. Patrick of Silver Spring, Maryland; one brother, Major Williams of Natchitoches, the seat of Natchitoches Parish, and two grandchildren. For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Garland is a city in Dallas County in the U.S. state of Texas. ... : Port City , River City , Ratchet City : The Next Great City of the South United States Louisiana Caddo 117. ... Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia Coordinates: Country United States State Virginia County Independent City Founded 1805 Government  - Mayor Robert Lederer Area  - City  6. ... Not to be confused with Silver Springs. ... The city of Natchitoches (pronounced , or NAK-uh-tush) is the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Natchitoches Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ...

Pallbearers included members of Patrick's fraternity, Omega Psi Phi. Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ) is a national fraternity, and was the first black national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. ...

Burial was in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pineville across the Red River from Alexandria. Arrangements were handled by Winnfield Funeral Home of Alexandria. , Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... The Red River is one of several rivers with that name, and of two rivers with that name in the United States. ...

Patrick's successor

In the special election held on March 31, 2007, Democrat Donald W. Welch was a runaway winner with 206 votes (62 percent). He defeated Ernie Johnson, who once again ran as a "No Party" candidate and received 66 votes (20 percent). A second Democrat, Rossalin E. Turner Williams, polled 62 votes (19 percent). A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... is the 90th day of the year (91st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

References

http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/NEWS01/611280322/1002

http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/NEWS01/611300315

http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/NEWS01/611280324/1002

http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061201/NEWS01/612010334

http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/OBITUARIES/61129022&SearchID=73264658484724

http://www.rapides.k12.la.us/northwood/history.htm

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=09300640

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=11070640

http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=03310740

http://wesawthat.blogspot.com/2006/11/boyce-mayor-julius-patrick-killed-in.html