Larry Boudreaux, whose roots are in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a direct tenth generation descendant of Michel Boudrot and Michelle Aucoin, who were born in France and settled in Acadia, (originally Nova Scotia where all Cajuns (Acadians) originated).
Later his ancestors settled in and around the Bayou LaFouche area located in what is today Assumption Parish, Louisiana. His grandfather, a blacksmith on a sugar plantation in Iberville Parish, moved his large family to Baton Rouge to avail himself of its opportunities. Larry was born in New Orleans, LA during WWII, where his dad served in the US Merchant Marines. Raised in Baton Rouge, Larry a Vietnam veteran, graduated from Baton Rouge High, and served in the US Navy for four years.
After attending two years at LSU, he moved to Houston, TX to join the working world as a sales trainee for a major office machine manufacturer. He was transferred to Tennessee as sales manager, where he also finished his BS in Business at the University of Tennessee. He then transferred back to Houston where he became a partner in a successful business.
Throughout his moves and travels, Larry always missed his Louisiana roots, so he returned home in 1990. "There is no place like home, especially if it is in Louisiana," explains Larry, who is very proud of his heritage and In fact, wants to do what he can to make others understand the logic of this unique place. He knows that a lot of people who don’t live in Louisiana feel that Cajuns are just a bunch of backward people. Consequently, Larry asks, "What standard determines backward? Could it be, enjoying life with God, your family, and your friends?" Thus he reminds all who will listen that Louisiana is a full functioning state, which doesn’t have to import its doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. Louisiana grows it’s own. In fact we do it with a sense of humor.
For more than 50 years when Larry introduced himself, people were quick to pass on to him their favorite Cajun joke about Boudreaux and Thibodeaux. Even though Larry enjoys these stories as much as anyone, he would always say, "Dat Boudreaux Ain’t Me, It’s Ma Cousin", which was the title of the first Cajun humor book he published in 1999. He follow up that book with two others, Aham Gonna Tell You Again, Dat Boudreaux Ain’t Me, It’s Ma Cousin, published in 2000 and Boudreaux’s Cajun Party Guide, finished October 2002.
