In 1958 Dr. Henry E. Gautreaux of Covington was honored to be named King of the annual Kaa Cee Carnival Ball. His excellent reputation was well-known throughout the community. He was appointed interim coroner for St. Tammany Parish in 1947 and went on to serve as coroner for many years. He also served as the physician for the Covington Volunteer Fire Department in 1951.
An article in the St. Tammany Farmer newspaper applauded him for his lifetime of unselfish community service, a doctor who came up from the horse and buggy days in the era of penicillin. antihistamines and vitamin pills, all the time retaining his simplicity, friendly interest and sense of unflagging duty.
According to the article, Dr. Gautreaux finished Tulane University's school of medicine in 1904 while residing in New Orleans. He came to Covington In 1906. His practice was so busy that not many young men could keep pace with him.
The doctor served as St. Tammany's coroner for more than 16 years, and the newspaper admitted that at times the load had been quite strenuous. "It's not unusual to hear of him making four and five widely separated calls through St. Tammany parish to witness the aftermath of violent, sudden or unexplained death," the article stated.
"And in all these years, no one has ever opposed him for the coroner's office. Perhaps it's just as well, because there's every indication you couldn't lick him in a political race," it was concluded.
In 1952, Dr. Gautreaux was named "Citizen of the Year" in a contest sponsored by the Covington Lions Club.
When asked how many babies he had delivered into this world, he reminded the writer that he discontinued his obstetrical practice in 1946. "But", he added, "I suppose I delivered at least 2.000 babies while I was at it."
The article closed with this comment: "Lots of those 2,000 have grown into manhood and womanhood, and now have children of their own. Lots of them are named Henry. Some even went all the way and took both names—Henry Gautreaux, plus the mandatory last name.
Farmer Feb. 21, 1958
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In 1952 he was honored by the Lions Club as Man of the Year
The incredible story of Dr. Gautreaux was told in this extensive article in a 1952 edition of the St. Tammany Farmer.
Dr. Henry Gautreaux, Covington Medical Legend
St. Tammany Farmer January 18, 1952
Forty-six years ago there came to Covington a light, a light in the lives of many which was destined to shine bright and long. That light has never even as much as quivered one time in all those years—at least never in such a way that it would dim the way trod by our citizens.
The battery of that light is encased in a shell that has withstood many a lick, many a fall and an kinds of weather—but never a short. Shorts don't come in those kind of lights and last as long and served as well as the one Covington has been so fortunate in having all these years. No Christmas lights on the tallest tree ever shown any brighter.
We have the opportunity so few times in a generation to know a man of the character, ability, understanding and tenderness which is so much of Dr. Henry E. Gautreaux.
Dr. Gautreaux has been named the "Outstanding Citizen of Covington in 1951," and it is an honor so rightfully deserved—even if he does think different.
Dr. Gautreaux was born in New Orleans, one of five children, the son of Henry E. and Mary Scallen Gautreaux. He attended Jesuits High School there, as well as Tulane University, where he graduated in medicine in 1904. It was after two years' internship at Touro Infirmary that he came to Covington to make his home, in 1906.
Since first coming to Covington right after the turn of the century, Dr. Gautreaux has seen and has been a big factor in the many changes which have made this section the attraction and healthy spot it is today. He remembers well, certainly, when two pairs of shoes were needed to cross the street when it rained—one pair to wear across the street and the other to put on after getting there.
He has struggled his share of the time to get to patients needing his attention, with his horse and buggy, on cold, wintry nights or in the hot summer sun. Nothing ever stopped him or made him give an excuse.
Dr. Gautreaux will say he never did anything in his line which he wasn't supposed to do. But it is just human nature to want to slack off just a little once in a while. This we have never heard of him doing.
His chosen profession didn't take all his useful time, though. He had activities other than medicine that would keep many an average person busy themselves. Throughout his life he has served his fellow men in one way or another. In 1914 he served as a member of the local draft board and devoted time to selling Liberty bonds.
He was active then, and still is, in Red Cross work in St. Tammany parish. Committees on which he has served as chairman and member are too numerous to remember, much less name. There are few committees in the Louisiana State Medical Association on which he hasn't served.
He is a past Grand Knight of the Covington chapter of the Knights of Columbus, and has served at some time in all the offices of the organization. He was Deanery Chairman of the Holy Name Society and District Chairman of the Eucharistic Congress when it convened in New Orleans in 1939. He received a citation from Archbishop Rummel for his work in that capacity. He is a charter member and vice-president of the St. Tammany Homestead Association.
He is married to the former Myrza Mayer of Eunice, whose parents are Louis and Catherine Todd Mayer of Eunice. They were married Nov. 3, 1928.
It has always been said, and has proven so true through the years, that a man's success in life is governed largely by the home he has provided for him by his wife.. Mrs. .Gautreaux plays her role as a devoted and helpful mate in a manner which would be an envy of the stout-hearted trouper.
She sacrifices and gives every time her husband feels it his duty to help any cause. But, after all these years, both Dr. and Mrs. Gautraux have enjoyed whatever they have given to make others enjoy life. For 22 years they never had the opportunity to take a real vacation. Their first, in 1948, was a trip to Texas. Indeed, a small return on a life's investment.
With all the extra activities, Dr. Gautreaux had time to spend with his four children, Henry, Byron, Murial (now Mrs. Hubert Gallagher) and Raymond. He also found time to do the parish coroner's work under other doctors for over 25 years. In 1946, he was appointed coroner, succeeding Dr. Fenwick Young, who resigned. He was elected without opposition to that post in 1948 and again in the election held this week.
One of the many things he has done for the community and which he takes extra pride in is the new ultra-modern mental hospital being built in St. Tammany parish, near Mandeville. He is a member of the Board of Directors of that institution, which will be dedicated in April this year. His interest in it lies in the fact that the hospital will be used partly for research work in the mental disease field of medicine. For him to be made its first director would, indeed, be a climax to a life that has been so full, and such an inspiration to his fellow men.
Dr. Gautreaux was appointed interim coroner when Dr. Fenwick Young Resigned in 1947
He was also active during the formation of the St. Tammany Humane Society
In 1954 he was honored by the state medical society.
Dr. Gautreaux was instrumental is establishing the Mental Health Hospital in Mandeville
He died on July 2, 1969
