This year’s Many Christmas Parade and Festival is pleased to announce that Louisiana Senator Louie Bernard will serve as this year’s grand marshal. The parade is set to roll on Sunday, Dec. 11 with the parade at 3 p.m. and the festival at the Sabine Parish Fairgrounds from 7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Louie Bernard is a life-long resident of Natchitoches Parish. He will quickly tell you that service to people is the best work of life. Louie graduated from Natchitoches High School and earned a degree in Political Science and History from Northwestern State University. He began his public service work with the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury where he worked for 16 years as Purchasing Agent, Assistant Secretary –Treasurer, and then as Administrator. Louie was elected Clerk of Court for Natchitoches Parish in 1991. Prior to his retirement in 2016, he was an active member of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association and served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and was one pf only two state Clerks to serve as President of this organization twice.
In addition to his public service, his numerous civic involvements have included Chair of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, Chair of the Melrose Arts & Crafts Festival, President of the Natchitoches Rotary Club, Board of Directors of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, and Chair of the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church.
Elected in October 2019, Louie was sworn in as Senator for District 31 in January 2020. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate Insurance Committee and serves as a member of the committees on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, & Rural Development & Transportation, Highways & Public Works. He is also an interim member of Revenue & Fiscal Affairs, as well as other statutory committees.
Louie is married to the former Gayle Haworth, also of Natchitoches. They have three children-Brandon, Clay and Anne- and are blessed with four grandchildren.