Clerk of Court, chief assistant retiring Changing of the Guard

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 27, 2000

ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / June 27, 2000

July 1, 2000 will mark the end of a dynasty at the Edgard courthouse.

On Friday, Harold “Monty” Montegut Jr. officially steps down as St. JohnParish Clerk of Court and hands the reigns over to Eliana DeFrancesch.

For the first time in 48 years a Montegut will not be the St. John Parishclerk of court.

July 1 also marks the retirement of the chief deputy to Montegut, Vergel Gendron, who worked 42 years in the clerk of court’s office for both Harold Montegut Sr. and Harold Montegut Jr.Last Thursday Montegut threw a going-away party for Gendron at the Edgard courthouse, but it turned out to be a party to celebrate the careers of both Gendron and Montegut.

As Montegut served up jambalaya, corn soup and cake to his employees he talked about why he was retiring now. He could have still run for a fifthterm in 1999 but said he decided against it.

“I’m 59, and I have health problems,” Montegut explained, “and I want to enjoy my retirement. I didn’t want to end up like my dad, who waited toolong to retire.”First elected in 1984, Montegut has held the office of clerk of court for 16 years. He’s won four elections but now wants to spend more time on otherpursuits, namely art.

“I’ve studied art all my life,” said Montegut. “I do photography, painting anddigital imaging on the computer.”To prove his point Montegut brought his camera to the party and happily snapped away, taking photos of his employees and of Gendron cutting her cake.

Gendron started working at the clerk of court’s office six years after Harold Montegut Sr. first took office in 1952.”When I first came into this office I did everything,” said Gendron. “Irecorded mortgages, marriages, civil and criminal court proceedings.”Now at a youthful-looking 66 years old, Gendron feels it is time to take it easy. For the moment her biggest concern is the care of her 95-year-oldmother, who is in the hospital.

“I’ll find something to do,” said Gendron. “It will all work out.”One of the clerks asked Gendron which Montegut she liked working with.

Gendron paused, chewing thoughtfully on a bite of jambalaya. Finally, shesaid diplomatically, “They were both different.”In his praise of Gendron, Montegut said, “The wisest thing I’ve ever done is keep Vergel when I took over as clerk of court.”Montegut Jr. learned the duties and responsibilities of the clerk of courtoffice while working as an accountant under Montegut Sr. He did that forseven years.

Before his stint as an accountant, Montegut worked in the St. JohnSheriff’s Office as a radio dispatcher for sheriffs Hebert, Millet and Johnson.

The Monteguts did try to keep the clerk of court office in the family when Montegut’s brother, Jeff, ran for the office in 1999, but he lost to DeFrancesch.

Montegut said he once asked his son, Hal, an engineer, if he would be interested in running for the office.

Hal said no.

Montegut, who has been married to his wife Sybil for 34 years, said his daughter Ava is happy being married and a hairdresser and has no political ambitions, either.

Montegut and Gendron have seen a lot of changes in the office of clerk of court.

For Montegut, the biggest change has been the benefits of technology. Withthe advent of the computer and the internet, record-keeping has changed dramatically.

“Because of the new technology,” said Montegut, “growth is our biggest change.”Gendron takes a more personal and emotional view of the changes in the office.

“I enjoyed working in the old building the best,” said Gendron.

She was talking about the parish building that was torn down and replaced by the present courthouse.

“Back then everybody was together, and it was like working with a big family,” reminisced Gendron.

They both agreed they have relished their careers in the clerk’s office.

“I really liked the job,” said Gendron. “and in some ways, I would reallylike to keep on doing it.””The best thing about this job,” said Montegut, “is helping out people. Theworst thing is the responsibility.”Montegut paused. “It’s very easy to either get sued or shot in thisbusiness.” He smiled.Montegut has some words of advice for the in-coming clerk of court.

“Pray for help,” he said with a chuckle. “She’s going to be working a lotmore than eight hours a day.”Montegut said he has absolutely no regrets about retiring early. He said hishardest job now will be trying to clean up 16 years of accumulated mess in his office.

Montegut laughed and said, “My wife is waiting at our house with a shotgun to make sure I don’t bring anything home.”

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