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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. Edgar Abel (Deceased)
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Home Phone: 337-233-3503 Lafayette mourns passing of E. Glynn Abel Lafayette has lost one of its most beloved citizens. E. Glynn Abel, probably best known for his many years as dean of men at UL when it was SLI and later USL, has died of cancer at the age of 94. While a Naval officer in World War II, he was once in charge of cargo transported through the waters of the Pacific. He later learned that he had been looking after an atomic bomb – slated for use against Japan. When he returned from World War II, there were many veterans on campus and people wondered if they could be disciplined and forced to follow the rules. Abel achieved that. He made special assistants of some of the toughest veterans of the big war. They kept the peace. Fortunately, Abel was waiting on campus, and in his gentle, kindly way, talked them down from that level so near to violence. An outstanding amateur golfer, Abel hit eight holes-in-one and a double eagle. Two of the aces came after he was legally blind. He couldn’t see the ball, so a companion in white shoes would put his foot alongside it. Abel needed nothing else for his setup. The foot was withdrawn, and Abel’s masterful swing connected solidly with the ball. While at the university, then later in his job as manager of the Lafayette Municipal Auditorium (now known as the Heymann Center for the Performing Arts), and in his lively years of retirement, he brought a caring nature and incredible energy and enthusiasm to projects that made the community better. Among other honors, he was an early president of the Beavers Club, president of the Dean of Men’s Association for a five-state area, chairman of the mayor’s committee on youth and director of community affairs. He won the Civic Cup in 1989. All who knew him felt richly blessed by his kindness, generosity and community concern. He belongs on the list of Lafayette legends. Daily Advertiser, March 29, 2008 Athletic Network Footnote: * * * * * * * * * * * * * E. Glynn Abel: Friends remember Abel as good man, leader Longtime dean made positive impact at UL Jim Bradshaw E. Glynn Abel was remembered this week as an outstanding athlete, university and community leader, mentor to young people, and “just a plain, good man.” Abel, a winner of the Lafayette Civic Cup in 1989, came from a large family in rural Carroll County, Miss., attended junior college in Mississippi, then came to SLI in the late 1930s. He made his name as one of the finest athletes to play for the school, lettering in football, baseball and track. He was a triple-threat halfback in the single-wing football attack and was named a Little All-American in 1938. That, friends say, was Lafayette’s gain. “He was just a wonderful human being who never had an unkind word for anyone,” remembers banker Buddy Webb, a friend of 20 years or more. “He was a pillar of the community.” “There isn’t a person I’ve met in this town who didn’t know Glynn, and every one of them had something good to say about him.” “He was always a leader,” according to Margaret McMillan, who knew Abel since their undergraduate days at SLI. “He got things done and was successful at whatever he did.” She remembered him as “a thoughtful and kind person” who went out of his way to help others. McMillan, who was on the faculty at the time, and others credited Abel with a leading role in the peaceful integration of the university in 1954, making it the first Louisiana college to end racial segregation. After graduating in 1939 with a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry, Abel stayed at SLI as assistant dean of men, leaving only during World War II, when he served as a naval officer in the Pacific Theater. He returned to SLI in 1945 to become dean of men and held that position until 1969, when he retired from the university and became manager of the Lafayette Municipal Auditorium (now the Heymann Performing Arts Center) and later served as Lafayette’s Director of Community Affairs. Longtime friends Red Dumesnil and Red Lerille remembered that Abel was also a supporter of the so-called “minor sports” at the university. “When he was dean of men, he used to take the tennis team on trips,” Dumesnil recalled. Lerille said he was also sponsor of the university’s national championship weightlifting team. “He was quite a guy,” Dumesnil said. He was active in a variety of civic affairs, serving as president of the Beaver’s Club of Lafayette, chairman of the mayor’s committee on youth, a member of the governor’s commission on higher education, president of Dean of Men’s Association for five-state area and of the Louisiana Dean of Men’s Association. Webb said that when he visited Abel during his last hospital stay, the avid golfer (who shot at least eight holes-in-one) told him (in jest), “I said I wanted to be buried on a Saturday so that it would mess up everyone’s golf game.” “Actually,” McMillan said, “He wanted a Saturday funeral to be sure that his friends would be able to travel and come to it without having to take a day off work. He was thoughtful even in death.” Abel Services Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Delhomme Funeral Home chapel on Bertrand Drive. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. until the time of services Saturday. E. Glynn Abel photo gallery Daily Advertiser, March 27, 2008 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Edgar “Glynn” Abel LAFAYETTE – Funeral services will be held at a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday, Mar. 29, 2008, in the Delhomme Chapel of the flowers, for Edgar “Glynn” Able, 94, who passed away Saturday, Mar. 22, 2008, at Lafayette General Medical Center. Interment will take place in Lafayette Memorial Park. The family requests visiting hours be observed Friday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. and continue Saturday from 8 a.m. until the time of service. Personal condolences may be sent to the Abel family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette is in charge of funeral arrangements. Daily Advertiser, March 27, 2008 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Athletic Network News Story, March 15, 2008 The Athletic Network extends its condolences to the Abel family. Goodbye Old Friend by Buddy Short March 22, 2008 Today I said goodbye to an Old Friend and neighbor of 35 years. He really liked his yard and would come by my house often to check out the blooms on my hibiscus babies. He was truly an amazing person and, because of his age, I affectionately called him, “Old Fossil”. He was 96. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Living Memorial by Paul Bergeron I was sorry to read about Glenn Abel’s passing. When I started at SLI in September 1939, Glenn had just graduated three months before and was working as the assistant to Dean of Men Rheil. Glenn was very much involved with the orientation of the freshmen, and one of the treats that he had for us was the viewing of a film of the conference championship football game that SLI won over Louisiana Normal (now Northwestern State U). SLI won 7 to 0 and Glenn was the big star, either passing for or scoring the winning touchdown himself. However, because I had not been properly indoctrinated yet and watched the film not knowing who had won, all the way through I pulled for Normal because my cousin Walter Ledet of Abbeville was the captain of the Normal team. On that first day I was indeed a dumb “slimey dog”. March 31, 2008 * * * * * Living Memorial by Charlie Daigle Dean Abel was one fine gentleman. How in the world he put up with some of us hooligans without losing his temper amazes me. I know of no one who stood on the “carpet” who came away disliking him. He taught many of us lessons of life that have served us very well. The world is poorer for his absence from this earth!! March 31, 2008 * * * * * Living Memorial by Fred (Erik) B. Nelson Glynn Abel was a ‘Prince among men’. I asked him, not too long ago, his secret that would allow me to live to his ripe old age? His comment was “You’re not able”…. I never heard a negative word spoken of his values nor his life style, and he had a priceless sense of humor….He is, and will be, much missed by all who knew him. God bless you Glynn Abel… April 2, 2008 * * * * *
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