Roland LeBlanc III (right) accepts his Hall of Fame trophy from his former AHS track coach Jed Bourque. Bourque coached LeBlanc for four years.
Accepting Harris LeMaire’s awards are his children (left to right) David LeMaire, Wendy LeMaire Diz and Scott LeMaire.
Friends and family take a photo with Roland LeBlanc III at the hall of fame banquet.
Roland LeBlanc smiles for the camera.
Harris LeMaire and family take a group photo at the banquet.
LeBlanc, LeMaire inducted into the Abbeville High Athletic Hall of Fame
Roland LeBlanc enjoys challenging himself. Whether it’s improving his time in a 1,600-meter race, working to strengthen his cross-country team, or attempting to dunk a basketball despite being 41 years old and only 5 feet 7 inches tall, he is always pushing his limits.
Whatever challenges he sets his eye on, he eventually gets to them.
LeBlanc, a 2002 Abbeville High graduate, was honored Thursday night by being inducted into the Abbeville High Athletic Hall of Fame. Also, Harris LeMaire was inducted, who was involved with Abbeville athletics for 40 years.
LeBlanc was one of the most decorated long-distance runners at Abbeville High. He won multiple cross-country races throughout the state and finished in the top five at the state meet, earning him all-state honors.
He competed at the state outdoor meets in the 1600 and 3200 meter races. LeBlanc went on to race cross country at LSU.
LeBlanc decided to take up running because he was too small for football and basketball. As a freshman, he was only 5-7 and weighed less than 140 pounds. One person who was glad he chose to be a cross-country runner was his new cross-country coach, Jed Bourque. Bourque was a rookie coach when LeBlanc was a freshman.
Bourque spoke about LeBlanc at the Hall of Fame banquet.
“When I recently visited with one of his teammates, who was his older sister, Ann, she told me, ‘As a freshman, we knew he was gonna be good. He was fast and he was passionate.’”
Bourque expressed his excitement in coaching LeBlanc and witnessing him achieve his set goals.
“I considered myself privileged to watch him,” Bourque said. “He had a graceful stride and perfect form and endless stamina, relentless competitor, mental strength to fight through pain, knowing that every race he competed, he had the bulls eye on his back...Everyone wanted to beat Roland LeBlanc, but not many could.”
LeBlanc ran because he wanted to be the best at running, he told the crowd at Magdalen Place on Thursday.
“Why did I do what I did?” asked LeBlanc. “I wanted to do something well. I knew it took effort, commitment, and passion to achieve that. Beyond what I accomplished in high school and college, I apply those same principles to everything else in life.”
Today, LeBlanc, 41, lives in New Orleans and runs a thrift shop. His family and friends attended his induction ceremony, expressing their gratitude for his support and presence in their lives.
So, what is LeBlanc’s latest challenge in his young life? It’s not running a marathon or competing in an Iron Man competition.
Instead, LeBlanc is training to dunk a basketball on a 10-foot hoop. He mentioned that he has improved his vertical leap by 10 inches over the last two years and is now just one inch away from being able to soar above the rim.
Few doubt that he will accomplish this challenge in the next two years.
Harris LeMaire had a passion for Abbeville High
LeMaire has been involved with Abbeville High athletics for more than 45 years.
With Harris’s giving nature and commitment, his heart was deeply invested in Abbeville High School, which he supported through the Quarterback Club, which is now the Abbeville High Booster Club.
In 1990, as president of the AHS booster club, he would breathe new life into the program, which Don Chauvin described as “in deep trouble,” “saddled with over $10,000 of debt and unable to buy victory on credit.”
Harris led the initiative that brought the AHS Booster Club to the Abbeville Bingo League, starting with one night a week specifically dedicated to the athletic club, which grew to four separate sessions dedicated to AHS Athletics.
During the first year of bingo, the boosters netted over $11,000, which was used to wipe out the debt they inherited. From 1990 to 2016, the ABL Booster Bingo raised well over $200,000.
These funds raised went directly to benefit things such as uniforms, a minivan for the cheerleaders to travel to games, transportation for teams from game to game, the building which is now the weight room, the two extra lanes on the track, the football field sprinkler system, coaches stipends – which was allowed back in the day, and the list goes on.
Thanks to Harris, bingo continued to support AHS Athletics until 2016. Harris would also step in for the voice of the Wildcats, Russell Gary, when needed. His commitment to AHS continued as an active member of the Booster Club until 2005.
While Harris made a meaningful impact on the community, it would be unfair not to highlight that his most extraordinary devotion was to his family. His service to others was remarkable, but they do not compare to the love, care, and presence he gave at home. He was a man of honor – a devoted husband, father, brother and grandfather. All who knew him felt his strength, his leadership, his commitment, and above all, his heart.
On hand to accept LeMaire’s award were his three children, David LeMaire, Wenday LeMaiire Diz, and Scott LeMaire.
Gill Meaux, who nominated LeMaire for the athletic hall of fame, spoke about LeMaire at the banquet.
“Mr. Harris never missed a fundraiser for Abbeville High and was always willing to help anyone raise money,” said Meaux. “I remember driving one Saturday, looking in the Stines parking lot and seeing a tent with a few men cooking. Yeah, you guessed it. Mr. Harris was cooking to help out the Abbeville High cheerleaders.
“What he gave to our school and community with his hands pales in comparison to what he gave his heart.”
