If you鈥檝e ever been to an Atlanta Ragin鈥 Cajun Club crawfish boil or event, you鈥檝e most likely seen alumnus Hubert Blanchard spreading smiles and Ragin鈥 Cajuns spirit to everyone in attendance.
At the age of 91, Blanchard peacefully passed away in September. Blanchard was a founding member of the Atlanta Ragin鈥 Cajun Club and helped the club grow exponentially over the past several decades. However, his legacy lives on with the Atlanta Ragin鈥 Cajun Club and through a .
Blanchard attended the University, then Southwestern Louisiana Institute, and graduated in 1957. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree and achieved this milestone through a football scholarship. He also met the love of his life, Selma Faulk, on campus, and the couple was married in 1958.
The couple quickly moved away from Louisiana and planted roots in Georgia. Beverly Black, president of the Atlanta Ragin鈥 Cajun Club, remembers the stories of Blanchard鈥檚 transition out of Louisiana.
鈥淗e moved to Georgia to pursue a career away from family and all things familiar to his Louisiana roots. In that transition, he never forgot home. He was a Ragin' Cajun at heart,鈥 Black said.
Blanchard was very involved with his community in Georgia. He fostered deep friendships with his neighbors and became active with his local church. He also stayed connected to his alma mater as one of the founding members of the Atlanta Ragin鈥 Cajun Club. For decades, Blanchard helped plan events for the club, including their annual crawfish boil. His son, John, even proposed to his wife during an Atlanta Ragin鈥 Cajun Club crawfish boil.
鈥淢r. Hubert was a true example of a volunteer leader passionate about sharing his lived experiences as an alum of his beloved alma mater,鈥 Black said. 鈥淲e were all blessed by his contagious spirit of community and pride that are two pillars of the wonderful legacy he left behind for us to carry forward.鈥
The Atlanta Ragin鈥 Cajun Club is proud to start a scholarship in Blanchard鈥檚 name to honor his memory. Joelle Boudreaux, associate director of clubs and chapters, is thrilled that this scholarship will impact the lives of future students.
鈥淲e are excited that students from the Atlanta region will be able to benefit from this scholarship, so generously created in Mr. Hubert's name,鈥 Boudreaux said. 鈥淚t'll be exciting to assist students with their education by acknowledging and rewarding their academic and community achievements. Our goal is to earn enough funding to endow this scholarship so it is awarded in perpetuity.鈥
Blanchard鈥檚 legacy as a proud Ragin鈥 Cajun will live on for generations, and gifts are being accepted toward his . You can also about Hubert and Selma Blanchard to learn more about their impact on the Atlanta Ragin鈥 Cajun Club.
Photo Credit: Hubert and Selma Blanchard, founders of the Atlanta Ragin' Cajun Club, attending the club's annual crawfish boil. Submitted Photo