Harold J. Lagroue

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a 12:00 pm on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at Our Lady of Fatima Church for Harold Joseph Lagroue, Jr., 91, who passed away at his Residence on Saturday, November 22, 2008. Reverend Michael Russo, Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Entombment will take place in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. Mr. Lagroue was a resident of Lafayette, LA, and a member of Our Lady of Fatima Church. He was affectionately known by his friends and family as Lefty. Lefty was born on August 16, 1917 in New Orleans, Louisiana and was the oldest son of Harold J. Lagroue, Sr. and Genevieve Chisolm Lagroue. He Graduated from Alcee Fortier High School in 1936 where he was Class Vice President and Captain of the championship Track and Field Team. He then attended Tulane University and graduated in 1940 with a degree in Architecture. While at Tulane he was elected to Gargoyle Honorary Architectural Fraternity and received the Albert Toledano Award for 4th year design and the American Institute of Architects Award for Undergraduate Design. Though he had a deferment because he was helping to design and build military installations in Texas and Louisiana, Mr. Lagroue joined the Navy and was commissioned an Ensign in 1944. He served as Commanding Officer of a Naval Minesweeper in the Pacific and was awarded the American Theatre Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal and was released from active duty and honorably discharged with a rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade in 1946. Mr. Lagroue was married to the former Alice Fogleman from 1941 until the time of her death in 2004. They moved to Lafayette in 1946 where he began the practice of Architecture. He became a registered Architect in 1946 and a member of the American Institute of Architects in 1949. He was president of South Louisiana Chapter of the AIA in 1961 and was elected to Emeritus status in 1989. He continued to Practice his profession until he was well into his eighties. He was a member of the Louisiana Architects' Associations Governing Board as well as The Louisiana Architectural Selection Board. Some of the notable buildings that Mr. Lagroue designed are Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and School, Paul Breaux High School, Carencro High School, Monastery of Mary Mother of Grace, Louisiana School for the Deaf in Hammond, as well as many other buildings and residences around Acadiana. Involved in many civic organizations, Mr. Lagroue was a member of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, the Lafayette Planning Commission and was chairman of its board in 1956. He also served as Chairman of the Lafayette Zoning Commission and was chairman of the Lafayette Building Code Board of Appeals. He was Professional Division Gifts Chairman of the United Giver Fund and Advisory Board Member of the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau among other civic board memberships. He was Corporate Member of Lafayette Town House Club, Charter Member of Oakbourne Country Club. One of the two original founding members of Les Brigands de Lafite where he reigned as King. He was also Charter Member of The Krewe of Gabriel, serving as its first Scriber and as a Duke in 1950. He served as a Duke and reigned as King of the Order of the Troubadours Mardi Gras Ball in 1966. Harold Lagroue was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 62 years Alice Fogleman Lagroue, his daughter Mary Lagroue Breaux, and his brothers George Lagroue and William Lagroue He is survived by his daughters Eileen Knight and her husband John of Atlanta Georgia, and Pegi Lagroue Derby; his son Harold Lagroue, III and his wife Beverly of Lafayette; Nine Grandchildren, John Knight, Jr., Scott Knight, Susie Knight, Phillips, Bess Derby Foret, Andre Breaux, Stuart Breaux, Mary Claire Moody Lagroue, Harold Joseph Lagroue, IV and Thomas Braxton Lagroue and seven great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be John Knight Sr., John Knight, Jr., Scott Knight, Raoul Breaux, Andre Breaux, Stuart Breaux, and Michael Foret. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hospice of Acadiana 2600 Johnston St., Ste, 200, Lafayette, LA. 70503, Academy of the Sacred Heart of Grand Coteau building fund, P.O. Box 310, Grand Coteau, LA. 70541 or to the Carmelite Monastery, 1250 Carmel Ave., Lafayette, LA 70501. The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 from 8:30 am until the time of services at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette in Lafayette.

Harold J. Lagroue

August 16, 1917 - November 22, 2008