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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. Adam "Poor Boy" Pillette (Deceased)
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Home Phone: 337-237-2180 Contents in major areas, as follows: Eulogy by Hardy Edmiston, Jr., which includes three Po-Boy stories; Obituary and Funeral Arrangements; Announcement in Athletic Network News run throughout the week prior to the funeral which includes information of how to view of picture of him in the AN photo gallery; and Letter from William “Bill” J. Sheffield dated April 26, 2006 Letter from Laura Shepard, daughter, May 16, 2006 Letter from Adoria Richard, granddaughter, May 24, 2006 Letter from Charlotte Pillette, Email the Athletic Network if you want to add your fond memories to Po-Boy’s footnote section. ADAM JOSEPH PILLETTE, SR. For those of you who don�t know me, I�m Hardy Edmiston, a friend of POBOY�s since 1948. And I�m honored to say a few words about him today. Adam Joseph Pillette, Sr., had an unusual nickname, POBOY & D�DE�. POBOY to his friends and D�DE� to his children and grand children. And although we called him POBOY, he was a man richer in goodness and integrity than many other people I know, including myself. Adam was a hardworking, honest, loyal and dependable man, and friend to many. A good provider� who at one time held down three jobs to meet his family�s needs. POBOY always tried to make the best of a less-than-easy life. Our friendship began 58 years ago when we were both green-behind-the-ears 19 year olds. We bonded as brothers, which was rare for the times of the 1940�s when the racial divide was strong in the South. Like brothers we always tried to look out for each other. Over the years we shared many good memories together that I will always cherish. As many of you know, Adam had an ongoing love affair with his wife Helen, his children, grand children, his extended family and of course this church. But he also had another love affair that some of you may not know about. This was his love of the University of Louisiana�s Ragin Cajun athletes, coaches, staff and students. Since the family has asked me to keep my comments on the light side, I�d like to tell you a couple POBOY stories. Story One: Coach Reinhardt Basketball and Chair In the late 1930s or early 1940s Coach Dutch Reinhardt was conducting basketball practice in Long Gym, formerly the Southwestern Men’s Gym, when he heard some commotion from the entrance of the gym. He stopped practice to see what was going on. He asked the three boys the reason for the argument. The young black man indicated the other boys didn’t want him to watch the basketball team practice. Coach Reinhardt asked his name, to which he replied Adam Pillette, but that he was called Po-Boy. Coach inquired further and asked Po-Boy why he wasn’t in school. He responded that he had dropped out of school to help his mother pay bills. After Reinhardt reminded Po-Boy he needed to go back to school, he pointed to two folding chairs at the end of the bench. Reinhardt told Po-Boy that After practice Coach thanked Po-Boy for shagging the basketballs for him and asked him if he had a basketball at home. Po-Boy’s responded no, so Coach Reinhardt told Po-Boy to go get a basketball out of the ball bag and that he could keep it. That was the first basketball Po-Boy ever owned. When Po-Boy was 64 he participated in the Senior Olympics, winning 1st place in his age group in one-on-one basketball and placing second in the 1,400 meter run. He could have been one heck of an athlete had he not dropped out of school. About a year before Coach Reinhardt passed away, we had lunch. I asked him how many athletes and students he knew since becoming basketball coach, trainer for all sports, and physical education teacher…over a thousand? He replied, probably and was quick to add that there was one other person who knew more than him – and that was Po-Boy Pillette. Story Two: Willing Witness for Car Wreck In about 1949, two football players owned an old Plymouth and got in a little fender-bender with a Cadillac. The police report stated the football players had run a stop sign and it would cost them about $200 to fix the Cadillac’s fender and cover the court costs. In those days, no one had any money, much less $200. After football practice Po-Boy asked the players (his friends, who shall remain anonymous) what happened to their car. They explained the accident and added that they really needed a witness to testify that the other car ran the stop sign and not them. Po-Boy told his two friends that he worked in that area and that he had witnessed the wreck. So when they went to court Po-Boy was there. When the judge asked if there were any witnesses, Po-Boy raised his hand. The judge asked what he saw and Po-Boy said that the Cadillac ran the stop sign, not the Plymouth. The judge dismissed the case and the driver of the Cadillac paid all costs. The football players and Po-Boy remained good friends for life. Story Three: Retirement Day Goodbyes One day in January, 2006, I received a phone call from Patricia Richard, Po-boy’s daughter who was concerned about his health and wanted to discuss his retirement. (Patricia had been providing Po-Boy with transportation to and from work and for his doctors’ appointments, as well as providing his meals…really everything is the past 2-3 years since his stroke). She and I agreed he should retire because of his failing health. Patricia asked me to talk to him because she thought he would listen to me. We talked and he agreed to retire saying he was really getting tired. I asked him who he would like to tell first and his list is found below. Note: Po-Boy retired on March 31, 2006 and on that day, we visited the following offices: 1. Dr. Ray Authement. (President) We went to his office and Po-Boy thanked him for hiring him in the mid-1980s when the economy was bad. President Authement assigned him to the Athletic Department which he loved dearly. During our visit, Dr. Authement got up from behind his desk, put his arms around Po-Boy and said “Po-Boy you are a legend on this campus and you are welcomed on the campus and my office anytime.” 2. Bill Crist. (Head of Physical Plant) Bill was Po-Boys big boss and Po-Boy thanked him and his staff for being his friend and for being so kind and understanding when he was unable to work. Po-Boy really thought highly of this man. 3. Nelson Schexnayder. (Former Athletic Director) Po-Boy wanted to thank Nelson and his staff for the wonderful treatment he received during his time with the Athletic Department. Unfortunately, Mr. Schexnayder was not in that day. 4. David Walker. (Interim Athletic director) Po-Boy thanked Mr. Walker and his staff for his treatment during the time of his failing health. David thanked Po-Boy for his service to the Athletic Department and offered him tickets for any future athletic contests. I could tell, as many of you could, more good stories about Adam, but in the interest of time, I better wrap up my comments. I am grateful for my friendship with POBOY, which has transcended more than 58 years. We’ve laughed together, traveled together, and each pondered our problems together. He was my loyal and caring friend. POBOY was a loveable man and we shall miss him greatly and I especially will miss those 2 to 3 phone calls each week. In conclusion I want to leave Poboy’s family and friends with this. “When your heart is empty and sad, fill it with happy memories of POBOY & DADEE”. Rest in peace my friend, rest in peace. Adam “Po-Boy” Pillette Sr. Funeral & Obituary April 28, 2006 – Adam J. “Po-Boy” Pillette Sr. LAFAYETTE – Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2006, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church for Adam Joseph “Po-Boy” Pillette Sr., 76, who passed away Saturday, April 22, 2006, at his residence. The Rev. Thomas James, SVD, will be the celebrant of the Mass. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. A member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, he was a member of Knights of Peter Claver Council No. 76. He recently retired from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he worked for over 20 years. He was inducted as a member of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette S Club. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Helen Richard Pillette; four sons, Ronnie Pillette (fiance, Diane Jones) and Adam Pillette Jr., both of Lafayette, Wayne Pillette (fiance, Kemnetta Rucker) and Patrick (Patricia) Pillette, both of Atlanta, Ga.; seven daughters, Debra (Stanford Sr.) Mouton, Cynthia (Christopher) Faulk and Patricia (Lawrence) Richard, all of Lafayette, Christine (Wardell) Jones, Charlotte, Veronica and Laura Pillette, all of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Elodie Pillette Breaux, of Orange, Texas; one brother, Russell James Pillette, of Lafayette; 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Josephine Pillette; parents, Willie Sr. and Josephine Francis Pillette; two sisters, his twin sister, Eva Benjamin and Mary Bartie; two brothers, Willie Jr. and Leroy Pillette; and two grandchildren, Kennon Pillette and Kaosha Pillette. Pallbearers will be Robert Bartie, Wayne Smith, Victor Simpson, Terry Benjamin, Felton Henry and Alton Alex. In lieu of flowers, the Pillette family requests that contributions be made to the Adam “Po-Boy” Pillette Fund, c/o Hardy F. Edmiston Jr., PO Box 52321, Lafayette, LA 70505. Visitation will be held today, April 28, 2006, at Syrie Funeral Home from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. A rosary will be recited by the Knights of Peter Claver at 7:30 p.m. The funeral home will reopen Saturday at 7 a.m. until time of services. Syrie Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of arrangements. Adam “Po-Boy” (Dadee’) Joseph Pillette Funeral Services Set Published by the Athletic Network during the week prior to his funeral. The funeral for Adam Pillette, who enjoyed a lifetime association with UL Athletics, is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 818 12th Street, Lafayette. The wake will be Friday from 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. and again on Saturday prior to the funeral at Syrie Funeral Home, 1417 East Simcoe Street, Lafayette, (337) 235 – 2305. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the “Adam ‘Po-Boy’ Pillette Memorial Fund”, % Hardy Edmiston, Jr., P.O. Box 52321, Lafayette, La 70505. These funds will be used to pay funeral expenses. Po-Boy’s profile is posted in the Athletic Network, as he was assigned to the Athletic Department while employed at the university. He retired on March 31, 2006 and would have been 77 on May 1 of this year. To view a picture of “Poor Boy” in his element, please click on the photo gallery on the upper left of the home page, then Tailgating, then 2003, then click on AN Tailgating #1 and there is “Poor Boy” with the people he loved – former athletes. A click on the thumbnail and the enlarged picture appears. Letter by William J. Scheffield, 10501 Dogwood Trail, College Station, TX 77845, dated April 26, 2006 Dear Hardy, For me, part of my fond memories of our days at Southwestern are gone with his passing. Take care Hardy. Our best to you and your family. Keep in touch. Bill Letter from Laura Shepard, daughter, laushep@yahoo.com There are so many memoires of my father, but the most recent thing I am reminded of is the joy he displayed in knowing that his “baby girl” would be graduating with a Master’s Degree. My father had a deep, sincere affection for education. Maybe it was because he himself never obtained a high school education, but I know that he was certainly proud of me and my educational accomplishments. I remember when I graduated from Georgia State University with my Bachelors of Science in Social Work in May 2005, he told me that he was sooo proud that I decided to return to school and see my way through. I am also reminded that as he unknowingly was dying, his focus was to travel to Columbia, SC to see his “baby girl” receive her Master’s Degree in Social Work on May 5, 2005. Although, I was emotionally challenged by the his sudden death, I know that my “Dade” had the best seat in the house at the graduation ceremony on May 5, 2006. My daddy believed so much in education and what it could do for minorities, that when I moved to Columbia, SC from Atlanta shortly after undergraduate school, it was his suggestion that my four brothers and six sisters send me $50 week to help with financial expenses so that my focus would be mainly on achieving my goal. Of course my siblings were not to keen on the idea, but it was a good suggestion. I am so grateful for my father teaching me to have a strong work ethic and to take advantage of every situation that you encounter in life, the good and the bad. Emailed on May 16, 2005 by Laura Letter from Adoria Richard, granddaughter, dated May 24, 2006 – My mom and I really appreciate everything you have done for my Submitted May 24, 2006 Letter from Charlotte Pillette, I am very grateful for all that you have done to pay tribute to such a wonderful father, friend, and person. I have may fond memories of my father, but for the sake of time and space I will share a few. Growing up as a young teenager, my father’s job was to clean up night clubs after closing and on the weekends. It was there that he taught us how to clean and work hard for what we wanted. We were taught practical skills that developed into a strong work ethic that has afforded me to receive several awards and commendations from my employer. Also, it was during those times that he would discuss life lessons with us and teach us about having a strong character. Although, we lived in the projects, we never had a clue we were poor economically, because my father ALWAYS provided whatever was necessary. The strength he showed in working three jobs at one time taught me that sometimes you have to go beyond your physical limitations because of your love for someone, and it is that selfless and unconditional love that he showed by working hard and providing the basic necessities of life, parental guidance, and wisdom for all 11 children. This is no small feat for one person, and I am in awe that GOD ALMIGHTY allowed him to be my father. My Dade’ will be sorely missed, but I know I will see him again one day!
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