William J. Thibodeaux Collection

Collection 326

Thibodeaux, William J. (1948– ). Collection, 2007–2023

10 inches

William Joseph Thibodeaux is a native of Rayne, Louisiana in Acadia Parish. He was born on November 15, 1948, the second of five siblings—three boys and two girls. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 after dropping out of school a year earlier. In 1970, after completing his tour of duty on board the U.S.S. O’Bannon DD-450, he worked for Southern Pacific Railroad as a trackman. In 1984, after various supervisory positions in the engineering department, Thibodeaux became an engineering manager working between New Orleans and Houston. In 1986, after the merger between Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad, he continued his employment as an engineering manager for the Livonia Service Unit until retirement, resulting in 43 years of service.

Over the years, Thibodeaux collected stories from railroaders of various crafts and departments. Those were the first stories he began publishing in several local publications. Thibodeaux continues writing mostly non-fiction articles with historical significance to the Acadiana area. He interviews interesting people in both French and English, and manages a French table in Rayne where their events were first audio-recorded.

He, his wife Judy, and their eight-year-old toy poodle Baby Bear live in south Lafayette, enjoying retirement. They like taking daytrips to nearby locations. Thibodeaux is an avid reader and enjoys both fiction and non-fictional books, especially about local history. Beginning in January of 2015, he was asked by Hospice of Acadiana to continue their history program since their last historian, LC Melchior, died in December 2014. Thibodeaux usually talks about historical events that have taken place in the Acadiana area, i.e., Lafayette’s Serial Killer of 1916 and 1917.

This collection consists of Thibodeaux’s writings, as well as some maps and recordings.

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