I was born in 1955 at Fort Riley, Kansas, where my father, a U.S. Army officer, was then assigned. My parents were natives of Thibodaux, Louisiana, where I grew up and have resided for most of my life. Like many local residents, I am a descendant of French Acadians who settled in Lafourche Parish and take pride in the unique character and culture of this area.
After graduating first in my...