Friday, July 30th, 2010

BEST Activist/Community Champion: John Breaux

Winner

John Breau

John Breaux

Sadly, this Award is given posthumously. John Breaux, age 57, was killed Jan. 30, 2009, after being hit by a driver who veered off Highway 287 in Lafayette. Breaux was a familiar figure in Louisville and Lafayette, known for his simple acts of kindness. As he spent most days riding his bicycle and picking up trash, he would hold open a door for someone or share his kind smile. Breaux lived with his family in Louisville, where a life-sized bronze statue of him, straddling his bike and waving, is planned as a permanent memorial. The statue will be placed on a grassy knoll near the Steinbaugh Pavilion in the Front Street Plaza. The sculptor, Louisville’s Dawn Record, considered Breaux a friend and is donating her time. Cost of the materials will be paid for through donations made to the John Breaux Memorial Fund. Record said she hopes the statue, including a trash bag hanging from the bike’s handlebar and a spot to leave flowers, can be installed by Jan. 30, 2010, the anniversary of his death. A memorial bike ride took place on Feb. 1, with hundreds honoring Breaux’s life. On May 9, dozens of people took part in the city’s inaugural John Breaux Spring Cleanup Day. John Breaux’s legacy is alive in the communities he loved. To donate to the John Breaux Memorial Fund to help cover the cost of materials for the memorial statue, visit any U.S. Bank branch.