Robert DeBlieux

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Robert Buford "Bobby" DeBlieux
Mayor of Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, USA
In office 1976 – 1980
Preceded by	W. Ray Scott (1960-1976)
Succeeded by	Joseph Michael "Joe" Sampite (1980-2000)
Louisiana State Preservation Officer
In office 1980 – 1988
Born	January 26, 1933 (1933-01-26) (age 75) Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	(JoAnn Weaver DeBlieux, deceased 1979.
Children	Daughters from first marriage: Annie Camille Davis (born ca. 1959) Dené DeBlieux Mathies
Occupation	Businessman; historian; preservationist
Religion	Roman Catholic
(1) Former Mayor DeBlieux is known principally for his multiple activities in regard to historic preservation of Natchitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana. (2) DeBlieux maternal ancestors arrived in Natchitoches in 1718; his paternal roots began in 1803, year of the Louisiana Purchase. (3) In Louisiana, only Natchitoches and New Orleans have federally-designated downtown historic districts.

Robert Buford DeBlieux, usually known as Bobby DeBlieux (born January 26, 1933), is a historian, preservationist, painter, author, businessman, and a former Democratic mayor of Natchitoches, the oldest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Contents 1 Family history, education, military 2 Natchitoches Historic District 3 State preservation officer 4 Civic endeavors 5 The DeBlieux Collection 6 References

[edit] Family history, education, military

DeBlieux (pronounced like the letter "W") was the middle of three sons born in Natchitoches to Jefferson Davis "Jeff" DeBlieux, Jr. (1904-1984), and the former Marie Dell Roubieu (July 4, 1907 - April 11, 2002). Known as "Miss Pat", Mrs. DeBlieux was a devout Roman Catholic who attended mass daily and was like her middle son interested in historical preservation. Robert DeBlieux is named for his maternal grandfather. Mrs. DeBlieux's family came to Natchitoches in 1718, four years after the founding of the city. The ancestors of Jeff DeBlieux arrived in 1803, the year of the Louisiana Purchase. DeBlieux's older and younger brothers were Jefferson DeBlieux, III (1930-1998), of Houma, the seat of Terrebonne Parish in south Louisiana, and Victor Dale DeBlieux (1941-1993) of Natchitoches.^[1]DeBlieux was a cousin of the late State Senator Joseph Davis DeBlieux, who represented East Baton Rouge Parish from 1956-1960 and again from 1964-1976.^[2]

In 1956, DeBlieux received his bachelor of science in fine arts and history from Northwestern State University (then Northwestern State College) in Natchitoches. He then served in the United States Army from 1956-1958. In 1960, he earned his master of science degree in counseling and psychology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. In the early 1960s, DeBlieux was employed by the correctional office of the Natchitoches Parish juvenile court. From 1965-1976, when he was elected mayor to succeed W. Ray Scott, who had served for the sixteen years since 1960, DeBlieux was self-employed in the retail hardware business.^[3]

DeBlieux has two grown daughters, Annie Camille Davis(born ca. 1959) and Dené D. Mathies, from his first marriage to the former JoAnn Weaver DeBlieux (born ca. 1934).^[4] He is the proprietor of the Tante Huppe historic inn at 424 Jefferson Street in Natchitoches, a bed and breakfast named for one of his ancestors.^[5] He is a nationally known authority on Louisiana architecture and engages in landscape painting.^[6]

[edit] Natchitoches Historic District

As mayor, DeBlieux was instrumental in founding the Natchitoches Historic District, which also includes the mammoth Cane River Creole National Historical Park.^[7] Within the district are seven National Historic Landmarks, three State Historic Sites, and historic plantations, homes, and churches. Most of the 116,000 acres (470 km²) is privately owned, but many sites are open to the public. The district extends thirty-five miles and covers both banks of the Cane River, once the principal tributary of the Red River.^[8]DeBlieux filed the application for federal landmark designation.^[9]The Natchitoches District and Vieux Carre in New Orleans are the only such historic districts in Louisiana. The area had deteriorated prior to the historical designation, and over several years the downtown area was revitalized.^[10]

[edit] State preservation officer

DeBlieux was defeated for reelection as mayor in 1980 by fellow Democrat Joe Sampite (pronounced SAM PEH TAY), who served until 2000. DeBlieux was then named as Assistant Secretary and Preservation Officer for the State of Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, initially under the appointment of Republican Governor David C. Treen and continued under Treen's successor (and predecessor), Democrat Edwin Washington Edwards.^[11]

In 1989, DeBlieux was the local assistant in the filming in Natchitoches of Steel Magnolias, starring Dolly Parton and Sally Field in a picture which is said to have captured the civic spirit of the community, still known for its brick streets downtown.^[12]

In the 1990s, DeBlieux worked in the tourism industry about Natchez, Mississippi. He was for five years the chief executive officer of the Garden Club in Natchez.^[13]

DeBlieux's historic preservation endeavors include his establishment of Museum Contents, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Natchitoches. He has also been president and a board member of the Natchitoches Historic Foundation.^[14] DeBlieux said that Natchitoches has done more than most cities its size to preserve its history: "Natchitoches Parish is special, because it’s maintained its visual heritage. . . . For instance, the plantation houses here are in their original settings and not influenced by a lot of industrial and modern encroachments. A visitor here really feels like he’s stepping back in time.”^[15]

[edit] Civic endeavors

DeBlieux has been involved too in the American Legion. He is a member of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival Committee, a major event in central Louisiana which is held on the first Saturday of December and draws tens of thousands of visitors into the community. The downtown and Cane River areas are vividly lit during the holiday season through New Years week. DeBlieux has also been involved in the Louisiana Trails Council and the Boy Scouts of America.^[16] At twenty-seven, he was the president of the Natchitoches Jaycees from 1960-1961.^[17]

[edit] The DeBlieux Collection

His DeBlieux Collection in the archives of NSU contains the papers of interrelated Natchitoches families spanning more than two centuries. Featured are the Natchitoches pioneer families: Brezeale, Cloutier, Huppe, Hyams, Janin, Lambre, Metoyer, Prudhomme, and Walmsley, many of which intermarried. The topics include social customs, business affairs, home schooling of children, legal cases, political insight, and civic service. There are also the financial records of the DeBlieux & McCain store from 1902-1939.^[18] There are also some documents on the career of the legendary Huey Pierce Long, Jr., in the collection.^[19]

DeBlieux is a coauthor of Natchitoches and Louisiana's Timeless Cane River.^[20]Another DeBlieux work is A Walking Tour of the Natchitoches Historic District, which focuses on the old Kaffie-Friedrick Hardware building.^[21] He has also published Historic Black Churches of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.^[22]

Preceded by W. Ray Scott

Mayor of Natchitoches, Louisiana Robert Buford DeBlieux 1976–1980

Succeeded by Joseph Michael "Joe" Sampite

[edit] References