Former star athlete, public official dies from lung cancer

BY DREW HINSHAW

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – At the turn of the 90s, registered voters of St. Charles Parish faced a curious referendum: a surprisingly popular tax increase, with a little something in it for nearly everyone.

The recreational department would receive the funding it needed to transform its mediocre facilities into a first-class hub of youth activity. The tax would also fund the Council for the Aged, which would hold events and provide assistance for the elderly. Kids: satisfied. Parents: satisfied. Parent’s parents: also satisfied. It passed overwhelmingly.

The man who drummed up such widespread support for the referendum was then-Councilman-at-Large John &#8220Stevie” Sirmon, a well-liked former state championship athlete who led an all-too-short lifetime of public service and community involvement before he died Saturday from lung cancer complications. He was 55.

Because of his exceptional commitment to athletics, thousands of young parishioners have grown up enjoying fields they would never have otherwise known. Yet, for the former track star who made it possible, sports were about more than competition or self-improvement. In his personal life and public policy, Sirmon’s commitment to athletics reflected his desire to foster fellowship and community around him.

&#8220Sports was never just sports,” Sirmon’s brother Bill Sirmon said. &#8220He didn’t care if his sons played football, in the band, in a drama group, whatever – he just wanted them to belong to a certain organization. He thought that was healthy for a child.”

The Sirmons came to St. Charles Parish when Stevie was still young, after his father, a rice farmer, lost his crops and had to abandon their home in Gueydan, West Louisiana. As a teenager, sports became Stevie’s way to establish himself in the community. In high school he ran sprints for the state championship track team one year, played wingman for the state championship football team the next. After graduating from the University of Southeastern Louisiana with a degree in English and Physical education, he taught English and coached track and football at Hahnville High School. For years after he left the school, he would continue to announce their football games.

The transition from the announcer’s box to the political arena was perhaps a logical and easy step for a man so entrenched in the community. His life’s work may have revolved around athletic competition, but his colleagues in the council say they were most touched by his desire and ability to resolve conflict and forge consensus.

&#8220He did a lot to bridge the West Bank and the East Bank,” said St. John Parish councilman Steve Lee. &#8220He was a coalition builder.”

Parish President Albert D. Laque, under whom Sirmon served as public officer of information for seven years, recounts running for office at the same time as him. &#8220He was supporting my opponent,” Laque said. &#8220But when he and I both won, we saw we had a lot in common and grew to really like each other.”

Fitting for an English teacher, a wingman, and a public officer of information, Sirmon’s great gift was in communicating.

&#8220In fact, he wrote most of my speeches,” Laque said. &#8220A lot of us used to go to him to correct our spelling or help us put a sentence together.”

Besides stumping for referendums, announcing high school football, and giving locker room pep talks, Sirmon’s primary soapbox was Cox cable channel 6- a public information channel that he transformed from a 24 hour slideshow into a forum for debate.

&#8220The TV station was on before him, but he improved the hell out of it,” Laque said. &#8220He had different programs for the different elected officials.  He would host them and talk to them about community affairs.”

According to his brother Bill, Sirmon saw parish-controlled television as a place for parishioners to turn to, not only for day-to-day community news, but in the event of an emergency as well. In preparation for this year’s hurricane season, Sirmon help create a public service radio station, 1370 AM, to serve in the event of a power outage.

&#8220One of the biggest things in an emergency, as we learned from Hurricane Katrina, is communication – its a big deal,” Laque said.  &#8220Now, because of his work, people can turn on their TVs or radios and find out all the information they need.”

And his legacy continues from there. The St. Charles Parish Council still recognizes the term limits he instituted. Councilmen in St. John Parish used them to model their own term limits. He authored the protocol through which St. Charles Parish council meetings are held to this day. Again, his colleagues in St. John Parish based their own protocol off of his.

Just two months ago, the St. Charles Parish council appointed Sirmon the new registrar of voters in a near-unanimous 8-1 vote. It would be his last public office in a life of community service cut far too soon.

&#8220He handled himself with tremendous dignity and poise,” said Lee, concerning Sirmon’s final months. &#8220He knew what was going on, but he had no fear.”

&#8220We’re glad we had him for a little time, and that he could accomplish all that he did in such a short time,” Bill Sirmon said. &#8220He was really trying to do what was best for the parish.”