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- [S674] Newslibrary.com, "Hollier remains active in community service," Kaplan Herald, Kaplan, Louisiana, 12 November 2009.
Kaplan Herald (LA)
November 12, 2009
Section: Local News
Hollier remains active in community service
Article Text:
Lloyd Hollier, son of Kaplan natives Deussaurd and Edia Breaux Hollier, has led a long and fulfilling life.
Born in 1926, T-Lloyd as he is affectionately known, was schooled in Kaplan until he gained employment at the City Service Refinery where he became a burner and welder tech in the ship yard.
In 1945, he was drafted to serve during World War II as a part of the Amphibious Army of Engineers.
After spending six weeks in San Antonio, Texas for his induction into the Army, he traveled to Fort Louis, Washington (located near Tacoma and Seattle) where he stayed for a period of two years.
The young serviceman avoided deployment overseas due to the war ended not long after his service began. However, the Army did send him to school to further his training in welding.
Upon discharge from the Army, Hollier continued his education at the Abbeville trade school.
After graduation, he had a difficult time finding a job.
By this point, he was married to Imay Harrington and needed a means to support his new family.
He took a leap of faith in 1950 and opened a grocery store in the front part of his house, located on the 500 block of Louisiana Avenue in Kaplan.
The business was appropriately named Hollier’s Friendly Store, and credits his 34 years of success to his friendly nature and people skills.
Lloyd says it is important for a businessman to be honest and good to his patrons.
“When you say something, make sure you can do what you say. Don’t just talk to talk. Sure, you can’t please everyone, but I was able to please more than I displeased,” he said.
The general grocery store included health and beauty items, and a meat market.
The measure of his success was displayed by having to expand his building four different times.
He explains, “Business was good, and I needed more room.”
When he first opened, the dimensions of Hollier’s Friendly Store were only 11x12 feet! By the end, his building grew to 60x120 feet.
In 1956, Lloyd moved his family out of the back of the store and into a house he built on the adjacent lot, which he still occupies today.
By 1984, the grocer retired and sold the building which was eventually moved from its original location.
Today, only the empty lot remains, serving as a reminder of days gone by.
Retirement did not necessarily mean slower times. He remained active by participating in many organizations and also by traveling.
Lloyd has been a member of the Lions Club since 1968 and became president in 1971. He has also served as secretary and treasurer for the club. He also sat on the board of the Eye Foundation, along as chairman of the club’s radio auctions.
Over the years, T-Lloyd brought many disabled children to Leesville as part of the Lions Club support of crippled children.
For his dedication in humanitarian services, Lloyd was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Award by the Lyons Club International Foundation.
In his hometown, Hollier has also been an active member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, and the ALP. With the American Legion and the K.C., and served as cook for many special occasions. He was also commander of the American Legion from 1986 to 1987.
Today at the age of 83, Lloyd isn’t as active as he would like to be, but he still manages to make the meetings.
In 1971, Lloyd became Kaplan’s Chairman of the March of Dimes, and later he became chairman for all of Vermilion Parish.
In the 1960’s, he donned the role of Santa Claus for the Kaplan area.
Every year, on Christmas Eve, Lloyd would fly out of Sonnier’s 28th Flying Service in Kaplan and fly over main street.
Townspeople would gather around to see the arrival of ‘Santa’. The plane would land on the other side of the old Richard’s Grocery Store, and he would then abandon his ‘sleigh’ for a convertible.
The crowds would watch with anticipation as Chris Cringle would make his descent down Cushing Avenue.
This tradition was a very enjoyable experience for Hollier and still treasures it today.
Other accomplishments include being named Citizen of the Year in Kaplan on three different occasions. He was acknowledged for his involvement in the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Cattleman Association.
Aside from cooking, one of his favorite hobbies was deep sea fishing.
Every year for Labor Day, his group of friends would take a boat out from Intracoastal City.
In 1969, Lloyd won a third place trophy for catching a 19 pound red snapper!
Lloyd recalls the fate of his trophy fish, “We ate every last bite!”
Interestingly enough, all three trophies that year were procured by passengers aboard his boat!
For the past 10 years, Hollier has also played host to residents of Hannut, Belgium as part of the Jumelage (twinning of the cities). He plans to open his home again in the future.
In regards to the Belgians, Lloyd remarks, “Although we’re all French people, they do not speak the same French as we do – but we can make each other understand.”
For now, Lloyd is determined to take it easy and relax. He has the time to reflect on many of his life experiences, including what has changed the most about the town he resides in.
He has found that the town has grown outward in land area. He also can recall when Kaplan had a booming economy with more industries – like when there were two new car dealerships in Kaplan, the existing Ford and also a Chevy dealership.
The highlight of recent years has been birthday cards he received from Presidents – on his 80th birthday he received a card from former President Bush. This year on his 83rd birthday, he received one from President Obama.
He is a proud life-long resident of Kaplan and can often be found out and about within the community.
He and his late wife, Imay, have one child, Brenda Hoffpauir.
Copyright (c) 2009 Kaplan Herald, Louisiana State Newspapers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Record Number: 33216efac7a8545d1a040d8be56b22fd12d91b
- [S565] Vermilion Today, Abbeville, Louisiana (online archive), "Lloyd Dennis Hollier," obituary, 24 November 2015.
LLoyd Dennis Hollier
A loving husband, father, grandfather, & great grandfather was called from this earth on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.
Father Mark Miley will officiate at a memorial mass on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic church in Kaplan, LA. for Lloyd Dennis Hollier. A rosary will be prayed at 1:30 PM.
He is survived by his daughter Brenda Hoffpauir and her husband Burt of Kaplan, LA, his grandson Chris and wife Laura of Katy, TX and his great grandson Colin also of Katy, TX. He was preceded in death by his wife Imay Harrington Hollier, his parents Deussard and Edia Breaux Hollier, his grandson Marc Neil Hoffpauir, and his brothers Milton, Enuel, and Sidney Hollier.
Lloyd was born on October 9, 1926 to Deussard & Edia Breaux Hollier. He was the youngest of 4 boys and attended public school in Vermilion parish. In 1944 he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. Private Hollier, a construction Engineer, was awarded the World War II Victory Medal.
He married Imay (Tie) Harrington, the love of his life, in 1945.
In February, 1950 Tee-Lloyd and Tie (as they were affectionately called) decided to open a small grocery store which they named “Hollier’s Grocery – The Friendly Store”. They owned and operated the business for 34 years before selling in April, 1984. Over the years the small grocery grew and a meat department was added. Lloyd was the first to offer stuffed & seasoned pork chops and “The Friendly Store” became known as “The House of Stuffed Pork Chops”.
Mr. Hollier was extremely active in many civic organizations.
He has been an active Lions Club member for nearly 50 years having joined the Kaplan Lions Club in the early 70’s. By 1972 Lion Hollier became a life member of the Louisiana Lions League for Crippled Children’s Camp in Leesville, LA. He was appointed to its Board of Directors and served on the board over 20 years. He and Miss Tie brought quite a few children to camp throughout the years. As a Lion he held the local position of President, vice-president, secretary-treasurer (for 17 years) and board member for his local chapter. He served on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation for many years and was instrumental in getting Lions International to send their Glaucoma Testing Unit to Kaplan to perform free eye exams in the hopes of early detection and prevention of glaucoma. He was the man people called when they needed glasses and could not afford them. Ironically the man who helped so many people see better ended his life with adult macular degeneration.
In 1978 he was chosen as cabinet secretary of Lion District 8-0 and because of his diligent service he was appointed champion secretary-treasurer for District 8-0 under the leadership of District Governor Edwin Kelly in 1984. He also chaired the annual Lions Club auction for many years to raise funds for various community projects as well as being Vermilion Parish March of Dimes Chairman from 1972 until 1978.
Lloyd was also a 66 year member of American Legion post 271 and served as commander from 1986 to 1988. It was during his term that the Vermilion Honor Guard was established. The primary function of the honor guard is to serve as a final memorial for deceased veterans throughout the parish as well as participating in other civic ceremonies. As a Legionnaire he presented the American Legion Award to many a graduating senior boy and girl at both Kaplan High School & North Vermilion High School from 1984 until 2013, when he had to relinquish his duty because of failing eye sight. He also presented the Lions Club Scholarship every year on Awards Night. In the mid 50’s he enjoyed playing the part of Santa Claus for the American Legion annual Christmas Drive & gift distribution.
For his years of service, Lloyd was honored by The Lousiana Cattle Festival as their “Citizen of the Year” in 1992.
As an active member of The Kaplan Knights of Columbus he and Imay were recognized as their “Family of the Month” in 1997.
In 1998 he was named “Man of the Year” by the Kaplan Area Chamber of Commerce.
In his later years he began cooking for public functions and everybody raved about his rice dressing! He would cook for 12 or 1200 with a steady hand and a ready whistle.
In 2009 Governor Bobby Jindal recognized Lloyd Hollier with a medal for his service in the Army during WWII. The Kaplan Herald and Abbeville Meridional also ran a front page feature on Lloyd’s life and his dedication to civic organizations and duties.
In 2011 The Kaplan Herald featured Lloyd Hollier in their 2nd annual THANK-A-VET issue and presented him with a flag that had flown over the nation’s capital.
When the Special Olympics was organized in Kaplan he was asked to present the colors at the beginning of the ceremony – a duty he did lovingly and conscientiously for over 25 years.
Although he never travelled to Belgium as part of the Jumalage he and Imay were a host family & participants in the bi-annual activities since the inception of the twinning of the cities. He continued his participation even after Imay’s death in 2004 until 2014 when he had to curtail his activities due to his failing health.
Lloyd served his God, his country, and his community giving generously of his time and energy. He loved his family unconditionally as a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a gentle man in every way, never having a harsh or negative word for anyone or anything. He was a giant of a man, not in physical stature but in his big heart and kind character. His smile could light up a room. He will be truly missed.
The Vermilion Honor Guard will render military honors and Dr. Jack Gupta, Joseph Dickie Hollier, Colin Hoffpauir, Farrell Vincent, Nelson Gaspard, and Leo Duhon will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family wishes to thank Hospice of Acadiana for its compassionate care. Because Mr. Hollier donated his body to LSU Medical School there will be no graveside services at this time. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Acadiana @ 2600 Johnston Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 705003-3240 or Vermilion Honor Guard @ 2830 Big Foot Rd., Abbeville, LA 70510.
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Hollier & Dufilho Family History
