Tim Guidry Death Article http://www.iberianet.com/news/iberia-official-guidry-dies-at/article_7d37883c-d6f1-11e4-a73f-dff5fdf22647.html Iberia official Guidry dies at 56 Posted: Monday, March 30, 2015 2:00 pm BY ZANE HILL | THE DAILY IBERIAN| 0 comments The Acadiana Fairgrounds Commission will soon begin its vetting process to replace former Director Tim Guidry, who died Thursday several years after being diagnosed with cancer. Guidry, who lived in Abbeville, was appointed as the AFC’s fourth director in 2006, beginning an era in which he told this newspaper he could easily dedicate the 80-plus hours a week to the job because he was not married and had no children. That reputation lives on among his friends and former colleagues. “He was level, easy-going, just an all around nice person and extremely knowledgeable about the industries,” said Carroll Boudreaux, chairman of the AFC. “He was very much a people person.” Guidry, 56, put on his first horse show when he was 17, beginning his long career riding and handling horses. He served as national director for the American Paint Horse Association from 1978 to 1980, president of the Louisiana Paint Horse Association and on the board of directors for the Louisiana Quarter Horse Association. Guidry’s bachelor’s degree from then-The Universityof Southwestern Louisiana was in animal sciences. Prior to being hired as the AFC director, Guidry long volunteered at the SugArena. “He was an awesome person,” said Johnna Viator, who worked as Guidry’s secretary until this year. “Very giving. Anything to do with the kids, he was very involved in that. He never met a stranger.” Boudreaux said Guidry’s chemotherapy treatments for cancer affected Guidry’s ability to consistently come to the office throughout the years, but his dedication never waivered. He said Guidry paid a visit to the SugArena office March 18, days ahead of the March 21 SugaSheaux. Even in poor health, Guidry wanted to make sure everything was good to go, Boudreaux said. “He did come back Saturday morning,” he said, “but he couldn’t stay more than an hour. He really enjoyed his work and was dedicated.” Viator said he often kept in touch with work from his home. “Even though he was sick, people were still texting him and he was texting them back,” she said. Boudreaux said the AFC will tentatively begin its search for a new director, looking as close as within the entity and as far as out of state in hopes of finding someone with as much connection with the horse-riding industry and passion for work as Guidry. “We haven’t even had a commission meeting since he passed away,” Boudreaux said. “We want to do it soon, but we want to do it right.” Discuss Print Share Share