Carl Guidry
| Carl Anthony Guidry | |
 | |
| In office 1979 – 1996 | |
| Born | November 24, 1934 Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Died | December 8, 2024 (aged 90) Baton Rouge |
| Resting place | Resthaven Garden of Memory in Baton Rouge |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Louque Guidry |
| Children | Eight children:
Thomas Guidry |
| Alma mater | Catholic High School Louisiana State University |
| Religion | Catholic |
Military Service
| |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Second lieutenant and major; on the staff of the 31st Judge Advocate General Corps |
| Battles/wars | Cold War |
Carl Anthony Guidry (November 24, 1934 – December 8, 2024) was a judge and attorney from his native Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Background
A son of Louis Hilaire Guidry and the former Edna Barbay, he graduated in 1952 from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge. In 1957, he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and received a Reserve Officers' Training Corps commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry. He served in the 31st Judge Advocate General Corps before being honorably discharged with the rank of major.[1]
Career
In 1960, Guidry received his law degree from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center and launched a life-long career in law. For twelve years, he practiced law with former State Senator J. D. DeBlieux, a highly regarded civil rights attorney in Louisiana.[2]
In 1971, the Democrat Guidry became the youngest judge elected to the Baton Rouge City Court. In 1979, he was elected to a seat on the 19th Judicial District Court of Louisiana. After twenty years on the 19th district court in both the criminal and civil sections, he retired as the chief justice in 1996.[1]
In retirement, Guidry worked into his late seventies through ad-hoc judicial appointments across the state. Considered a consummate jurist, he was always professional and knowledgeable in legal matters. According to his obituary, Judge Guidry "presided over his courtroom with integrity and decorum and his proceedings and judgements were always fairly based on applicable law and tendered with compassion and resolve." Judge Guidry was a Roman Catholic and one of the earliest parishioners of the St. Thomas More Parish established in the 1960s. He was a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 969 and served as a Knight of St. Gregory. In 1952, Guidry attended his first House of Retreats, an observance that he maintained for the succeeding sixty-eight years. He and his wife, the former Barbara Louque, served for years as weekly Perpetual Adoration Prayer volunteers for St. Thomas More Parish.[1]
Guidry enjoyed fishing in the marshes of Leeville in Lafourche Parish and throughout South Louisiana with his wife and brother. The Guidrys had eight children, Thomas Guidry (Margaret), Stacy Whitesell, Kevin Guidry (Dr. Kathy Guidry), Gregory Guidry (Susan), Gerard Guidry, Susan Aguilar (Jim Dutcher) David Guidry, and Stephanie Aucoin (Paul). The couple also had fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.[1]
Judge Guidry is entombed at Resthaven Garden of Memory in Baton Rouge.[1]