Biographies: W. E. "Spec" LaCroix, 1951, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: August 20, 1951 Winn Parish Enterprise Know Your Neighbor Spec LaCroix Marks 19th Year As Agent W. E. "Spec" La Croix marked his 19th year as bulk agent for Magnolia Petroleum Company in Winnfield on last Thursday, August 23. The bulk plant has been in its present location on South Bevill Street for the past 10 years. Since taking over as agent here, Spec estimates he has sold an average of 720,000 gallons of gasoline per year, or a total of 13,880,000 gallons. At present the Magnolia "Flying Red Horse" emblem stands over seven service stations in Winn Parish, including Drewett's, I. B. Cole's, Winn Motor Co., Don Thompson's, Jack Beckley's, J. W. Ott's, and Gus Crawford's at Jordan Hill. Before getting the Magnolia agency, Spec operated a service station, the "East End Filling Station" in Winnfield. Spec came to Winnfield 35 years ago with $10 in his pocket, and after getting his bearings, opened the filling station, which he operated five years. He took over the agency shortly after it was opened here, then located near the Rock Island depot. Spec's civic activities include membership in the local Rotary Club for 16 years, the Athletic Association, three terms on the Winnfield Town Council, secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Louisiana Fish and Game Preserve Commission, Winn Parish Chamber of Commerce, and most recently, president of the Winnfield Band Boosters, an organization of which he is still an active member. He served one term as president of the Rotary Club. His work with the Athletic Association includes aiding in the move to get the high school athletic field lighted. He is presently serving on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. While serving on the Town Council, Spec says he ordered the road grading machine which the Town now uses, against the rest of the Council's wishes. He guaranteed payments on the machine, made them, and the town now owns it. "Don't tell me I can't do something," Spec says. During his administration as president of the Band Boosters, the club grossed $ 1,600 in funds for the high school band. It bought uniforms, a bass clarinet costing $500, a public address system costing $250, and other articles for the band, including the Bandburgermobile, which is considered the most outstanding purchase the Band Boosters have made. This is used at football games and on the streets in Winnfield on weekends to raise money for the band. Spec's daughter, Helen Lynn, plays flute and piccolo in the band. Was an Athelete Although always small in size, Spec was in his day considered one of the fastest men on a basketball court. He attended Bolton School in Alexandria, and was the first four year letterman to graduate from the school. He lettered in basketball, football, track, and baseball and later played semi-professional basketball. After graduating from high school Spec was offered a basketball scholarship at Louisiana College in Pineville, but declined in order to try out at LSU. "I wasn't six feet or over, and they wouldn't even let me on the court there," Spec says. He and four more players organized an independent team and played in the Baton Rouge area. How the Name "Spec"? He is known to everyone as Spec. Has been for a long time, ever since grammar school days. But how did it start? That's a long story all ow which cannot be printed here. At any rate, Spec credits Hugh Hatcher with dubbing him with the nickname, as a result of his being small. "In those days you fought your way to and from school, and I didn't cull any of them regardless of size," Spec says. Hugh Hatcher was a larger boy, and bantered the smaller one for a fight, which was accepted. In the pre-bout argument, a wisecrack to the effect that "You wouldn't make a speck as big as a gnat," or something like that, which was parlayed into a lifetime name for Spec LaCroix.