Lloyd Gomez, GHS Founder                                      Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by N.O.V.A. - May 2005
Times Picayune 10-21-1994

Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 


************************************************


Gretna Historical Society Founder Lloyd Gomez Dies


Lloyd Edward Earl Gomez, founder of the Gretna Historical Society and a retired 
insurance agent, died Wednesday of a heart attack at West Jefferson Medical 
Center in Marrero.  He was 80.  Mr. Gomez was a lifelong resident of Gretna. He 
attended Gretna High School and Tulane University. 

He was a Prudential Insurance agent for 17 years and was named "Man of the 
Year" in 1978. He received the Life Underwriters Award and was president of 
the Life Underwriters Association. 

He also was a foreman supervisor for Celotex for 22 years and was the first 
president of the Supervisors Association. 

Mr. Gomez, a preservationist, founded the Gretna Historical Society and was 
it's president for two years. 

He was a member of the David Crockett Volunteer Fire Co. for 62 years and 
president of the Louisiana State Firemen's Association. He founded the Louisiana 
State Fire Museum and started an emergency service, featuring an ambulance 
and a portable iron lung unit. 

He was parade chairman of the Choctaw Carnival Club for 20 years and the 
Grela Carnival Club for 15 years. 

In 1950, he was awarded the Rotary Civic Award of the Year. He received the 
Order of St. Louis from the Archdiocese of New Orleans and was a member of 
the German Heritage, Cultural and Genealogical Society of Louisiana. 

Survivors include his wife, Thelma M. Gomez; three daughters, Bonnie Burmaster, 
Ysonde Halstead and Faith Saragusa; a brother, Russell Gomez; and six grandchildren.

A Mass will be said Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 
610 Sixth St., Gretna. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park in Gretna. 
Mothe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.