Remembering Jake Ardoin

By Tony Marks

Ville Platte Gazette

A life-long Evangeline Parish resident, affectionately known as “a man among men,” passed away in the evening hours of Sunday, May 10, surrounded by his wife and children.
Born on the Platin at Miller’s Lake on August 13, 1932, Mr. Ardoin was the oldest child of Hazel Miller and Leslie Ardoin. He attended school in Vidrine, then in 1956, he graduated from SLI with a bachelor of science in business administration. Returning home to raise cattle, farm rice and soybeans, and manage timberland, he eventually retired from active farming but continued to manage the family farming operations and the 3,300 acres of Miller’s Lake. Jake’s grandfather, former Evangeline Parish Police Jury President Jean-Baptiste Gus Miller, had the insight to use the lake to flood rice. Jake served Miller’s Lake as an overseer all his life for the heirs of his grandfather.
Jake aspired to join Dr. Joe Musick of LSU in the experimentation of planting different seeds of rice to improve for future use of rice seed. Jake was honored by the Rice Festival in Crowley due to his dedication to the Rice Station and Dr. Musick.
Mr. Ardoin served on the boards of Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation, Evangeline Parish Farm Bureau, and the Mamou Rice Drier. He was actively involved in the LSU Rice Research Station near Crowley and was named Farmer of the Year in 1983. Serving on the Board of Directors at the Evangeline Bank and Trust Co. from 1958, he retired as chairman of the board in 2017. He was also a member of the Ville Platte Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce as well as a longtime supporter of Sacred Heart School. He was also an initial member of the Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish Council and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus.
Ardoin is survived by wife Genevive B. Ardoin; son Dr. Gregory Ardoin and wife Erin; daughters Ginger Landreneau and husband Ricky, Sara A. Whitney, Amy Poche’ and husband Andy; sister Dottie DeJean; 12 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren.