Former St. John School Board member Richard DeLong dies at age 76
Times Picayune 11-16-2009


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Former St. John the Baptist Parish School Board member Richard DeLong died recently in
Zachary. He was 76.

Mr. DeLong served on the board for 10 years, including as board president for several years.
He retired in 2000 due to his health and family considerations, moving back to his native
state of Illinois until last year, St. John School Board member Russ Wise said.

Mr. DeLong was noted for his diplomacy during an especially contentious period on the board,
Wise said.

"Things could have deteriorated" many times, were it not for Mr. DeLong's calming words,"
said Wise, who served on the board with DeLong from 1995-1998.

Wise eventually ran for Mr. DeLong's 8th District seat after he resigned. He said Mr.
DeLong's endorsement made a huge impact on voters.

Mr. DeLong was an expert in antique clock repair and with his wife, Glenda, had an antique
clock repair store in Illinois, Wise said. Mr. DeLong traveled across the country to repair
clocks, often for free, he said.

A native of Hamburg, Illinois, Mr. DeLong died Nov. 8 at Lane Regional Medical Center in
Zachary. He was a former president of Ex-Cel Services, a janitorial service, and retired from
the Finishing Line in New Orleans. He was in the Army from 1953 to 1955.

Survivors include his wife, Glenda DeLong; three daughters, Karen DeLong Twohig, Penny
Blanchard and Margie Lazenby; two sons, Gregory and Louis DeLong; a sister, Patricia Danzer;
a brother, James DeLong; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.