ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / March 13, 2000

If it hadn’t been for a trip to Florida back in 1976, Willie LeBoeuf would never have discovered he had a talent for making time.

“We were on our way back from Florida,” explains LeBoeuf, “and we stopped in the town of Foley, Ala.”While shopping around in Foley, LeBoeuf found a kit for building a grandfather clock. Having done a lot of woodwork in his life, LeBoeuf bought the kit,brought it home, built the grandfather clock and was hooked on a new hobby.

Since 1976 LeBoeuf has made seven grandfather clocks without the benefit of a kit, four mantel clocks and 20 wall clocks.

A former employee at the Godchaux Sugar Refinery for 38 years, LeBoeuf has used his retirement time to really get into clock-making.

“I do it mostly for my grandchildren,” said LeBoeuf. “I make clocks as weddingand graduation presents.”LeBoeuf doesn’t see his hobby as anything more than enjoyment.

“I like it as a hobby,” he said. “I really enjoy it.”From the craftsmanship exhibited in his time pieces, one can see LeBoeuf really enjoys what he does. It takes several months to put a grandfatherclock together.

LeBoeuf has sold three of his clocks.

“Even though I’m not really interested in selling them, people have begged me so much that I sold two,” LeBoeuf said. “And I raffled one off at my churchfair and we got $850 for it.”Lately, though, LeBoeuf has been slowing down a little on his clock production.

“There is a lot of sanding involved in making the clocks,” LeBoeuf explained.

“And since the arthritis in my arm has been getting worse, I’ve kind of slacked off a little.”Now days LeBoeuf likes to help his wife with the gardening around their charming house that sits on Historic Main Street in Garyville. He and his wife,Nell, like to putter around in the yard decorated with windmills, flowers and statues. When not gardening, LeBoeuf plays catch with his dog Cici.When LeBoeuf’s arthritis isn’t acting up, you can find him in his workshop sanding, varnishing and tinkering with gears and pendulums, making sure that the world stays on time.

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