Stanwood R. Duval, Sr. and Family Papers

Stanwood Richardson Duval, Sr. was born 7, July 1913 in Houma, La. to Stanwood Duval and Mamie Richardson Duval. Duval graduated from Terrebonne High School in 1931 having lettered in both football and track. He attended Tulane and LSU and graduated from LSU in 1938 with a Pre-Medical Bachelor of Science degree. Duval married Bonnie Parker Faught on August 7, 1940, a native of Groesbeck, Texas. She was the daughter of Alva Hodge Faught and Grace Louise Beasley. Stanwood and Bonnie had three children, Stanwood Richardson, Jr., Charlene, and Claude Berwick Duval II. His brother was State Senator Claude B. Duval.

Duval was employed by Texaco until he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on June 8, 1942 and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on October 31, 1942. He attended Artillery School at Quantico, Virginia. Upon finishing, he was assigned to I Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment on March 29, 1943 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Duval was promoted to 1st Lt. prior to leaving the United States with the 4th Marine Division attached to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines as Naval Gunfire Forward Observer. He participated in all landings with the 4th Marine Division including the battles of Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Duval received four battle stars and three presidential citations for action in the Pacific. He retired from the United States Marine Corps Reserve at the rank of Major in 1958.

After his service in World War II, Duval began the Duval-Whitney-Stevenson, Inc. Insurance Agency in January of 1946 and served as its President. He was a member and past-president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Terrebonne and served on the state executive committee of the Louisiana Association of Insurance Agents. Duval was very active as a community leader and served on numerous civic boards and commissions. He was a member and past-president of the Houma Rotary Club, member and past-president of the Terrebonne Parks and Recreation Board, member of the Houma-Terrebonne Regional Planning Commission, member on the Terrebonne Parish Jury Commission and member and past-president of the Terrebonne Parish LSU Alumni Association. He served for many years on the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and chaired its Tourist Commission which established the Tourist Information Center for Terrebonne Parish. Duval also served on the Houma-Terrebonne Bi-Centennial Commission. Because of his civic activities and community leadership, Duval was honored in 1977 with the Houma Courier-Terrebonne Press’ “Most Useful Citizen” award.

Additionally, Duval was a member of the Lennox Hotard Post of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and for several years, volunteered as a recruiting officer for the United State Marine Corps. He also served on the vestry of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. Duval was known as an avid fisherman and was active in the Terrebonne Sportsman League and was a member and past-president of the Whiskey Pass Silver King Rodeo Association.

Duval died 2 June 2001 at age 87 at his home in Houma, La.