Longtime Head of Louisiana State Rice Milling Company Passes Away

USA Rice extends condolences to the family and friends of Frank Godchaux, of Abbeville, Louisiana, who passed away February 13, at the age of 92.  

Frank was a veteran of WWII who graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1949 before joining his family's business, Louisiana State Rice Milling Company.  He eventually became president of the company, a position he held as through several business iterations, first when it merged with River Brand Rice Mill to become Riviana Foods, and when it was bought by the Colgate Palmolive Company.  In 1986, Frank negotiated the buyback of Riviana Foods and became chairman of the board there until the company was bought by Ebro Puleva in 2004.  In the meantime, he and partner Elton Kennedy started Planters Rice Mill in Abbeville.

Frank was a respected leader in the U.S. rice industry who was active on numerous boards and committees, serving as a member of the USDA National Rice Advisory Committee and as chair of the Rice Council.  He received the Rice Millers' Association Distinguished Service Award in 2015.

"To me, Frank was a leader, a mentor, and my friend and golfing partner," said Mark Creed, CEO of Creed Rice Company in Houston.  "My love and prayers go out to cousins Agnes, Leslie, Frank IV, and Mary.  Unfortunately, we have lost another loved one from the greatest generation in history ... our loss, God's gain!"

A graveside service will be held Saturday, February 16, at Graceland Cemetery, Abbeville, Louisiana.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 101 E. Vermillion Street, Abbeville LA, 70510, or Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Philanthropy Department, 1514 Jefferson Highway, BH 607, New Orleans LA, 70121, for The John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute.