No one single deed supports his being Avoyellean of the year, but taken together, his public service to the peoples of Avoyelles is notably outstanding. He was also a humanitarian as we see from a 1863 newspaper clipping.

We choose the year 1863 as this was a year that he apparently donated the use of one of his buildings to aid sick and injured soldiers during the Civil War. As noted in the Marksville Bulletin of _______, "The Confederate Hospital is now located in Mr. Ricord's building on Monroe Street."

One of the most prolific individuals in the early history of Avoyelles Parish was Fabius Ricord. He is referenced as a Notary Public, Postmaster, Mechant, Sheriff, Clerk of Court and landowner. Variations of the name F. Ricord, Fabien Ricord, and Fabius Ricord - appear in several different places in Corinne L. Saucier's History of Avoyelles Parish, as noted below.

His name is first mentioned as being the Postmaster at Holmesville in 1838. This was where Mr. Ricord began his great public service career in Avoyelles Parish.

The General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Research list his name as being Fabius Ricord, postmaster at Holmesville in July, 1838.

Corinne L. Saucier's History of Avoyelles Parish references his name several times as noted: Fabius Ricord was Sheriff of Avoyelles Parish in 1843 and 1874. *F. Ricord's store in Holmesville in 1847 Fabius Ricord is listed as being the Clerk of Court, 1856-1859; again from 1864 to 1865.

According to the Avoyelles Abstract and Land Company, Fabius Ricord purchased two acres of land in 1841 for $16,564.11 where the Watermelon Bayou meets Bayou Boeuf. When an old house at this location was demolished in the 1970's two were found that listed: "F. Ricord & Company, Holmesville, La." In the Avoyelles Abstracts, Mr. Ricord is prominently mentioned during the period from the mid 1830's to 1850's having been a Notary Public, Postmaster, Sheriff, Clerk of Court and landowner. In reviewing the above dates, Mr. Ricord was in the Holmesville area from 1837 until at least 1856 when his name was listed as being Clerk of Court in Marksville. In addition to being Postmaster at Holmesville, he also had a store there. He apparently left the area in the 1850's and became Clerk of Court at Marksville in 1856 .

In Marksville, he had property on the west side of Main Street along Bon Tempt Street. It is believed he had a store front on Main, (where the Avoyelles Journal/Marksvillle News building is today) and other buildings on Monroe Street to the rear. It was in one of those buildings that he apparently unselfishly donated the use of for a hospital during the civil war.

*When an old house was torn down in the late 1970's at the place where the Watermelon Bayou joins Bayou Boeuf, a few of the boards had addresses on them. Two such addresses, in heavy black ink was: To: "F. Ricord & Co, Holmesville, La., Red River." The sender's address was "Calhoon, c/o Customs House, Levee St., New Orleans." Another such board notes: "F. Ricord & Company, Holmesville, La."

I do not have Mr. Ricord's birth record, however I do recall reading somewhere that he was born in France and came to Avoyelles Parish in the early 1830's.

Taken together, Fabius Ricord's wholesome, personal service to Avoyelleans is remarkably outstanding during that period in time. For such services Fabius Ricord should be appropriately recognized as Avoyellean of the Year for 1863.

Nominated by Jerry Lafleur