Changes

|death_place=Lafayette, Louisiana

|death_place=Lafayette, Louisiana

|resting_place=St. John Cemetery in Lafayette​

|resting_place=St. John Cemetery in Lafayette​

|spouse=(1) Martha Julie Burgin Bertrand (deceased)<br>​

|spouse=(1) Martha Julie Burgin Bertrand (deceased)

(2) Faith Mensman Bertrand (married for approximately twenty years until his death)​

(2) Faith Mensman Bertrand (married for approximately twenty years until his death)​

|children=Daughter Cheryl Louise Bertrand (first marriage) and stepdaughter Dana Faith Whelchel Holladay, both of Lafayette​

|children=Daughter Cheryl Louise Bertrand (first marriage) and stepdaughter Dana Faith Whelchel Holladay, both of Lafayette​

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]​

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]​

|footnotes='''Notes''':<br>

|footnotes='''Notes''':<br>

*Mayor Bertrand's admirers wanted to rename the [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]] Regional Airport in his honor.​

*Mayor Bertrand's admirers wanted to rename the [[Lafayette]] Regional Airport in his honor.​

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*Bertrand won two [[Distinguished Flying Cross]]es and seven Air Medals during his [[World War II]] service.​

*Bertrand won two [[Distinguished Flying Cross]]es and seven Air Medals during his [[World War II]] service.​

*During Bertrand's twelve years as mayor of Lafayette, the city nearly doubled in population.​}}

*During Bertrand's twelve years as mayor of Lafayette, the city nearly doubled in population.​

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'''John Rayburn Bertrand''', known as '''J. Raymond  Bertrand''' or as '''Ray Bertrand''' (October 1, 1918 &ndash; March 6, 2005) was a [[business]]man, civic leader, and decorated [[World War II]] veteran who served from  1960 to  1972 as the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] mayor of [[Lafayette]],  [[Louisiana]].  During Bertrand's three terms, the city nearly doubled in population, having grown from 40,000 to 75,000, and the corporate limits were extended more than sixty times. Lafayette subsequently became the state's fourth largest city.

'''John Rayburn Bertrand''', known as '''J. Raymond  Bertrand''' or as '''Ray Bertrand''' (October 1, 1918 &ndash; March 6, 2005) was a [[business]]man, civic leader, and decorated [[World War II]] veteran who served from  1960 to  1972 as the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] mayor of [[Lafayette]],  [[Louisiana]].  During Bertrand's three terms, the city nearly doubled in population, having grown from 40,000 to 75,000, and the corporate limits were extended more than sixty times. Lafayette subsequently became the state's fourth largest city.

==Political career==

==Political career==

Prior to his election as mayor, Bertrand worked in the [[real estate]] and [[insurance]] fields.

Prior to his election as mayor, Bertrand worked in the [[real estate]] and [[insurance]] fields.<ref name=obit/>

[[Ron Gomez|Ronald J. "Ron" Gomez, Sr.]], who was a young reporter at the time that Bertrand became mayor, recalled that Bertrand was "the perfect match for the time and place. He brought dignity and integrity to the political arena and won the trust of his constituents by delivering on his promises. I was impressed with the fact that he took the time to explain to this young reporter, new on the scene, the intricacies and players of the political network in Lafayette and his personal vision and agenda for its future."<ref>[[Ron Gomez]]​, "Remembering Ray," ''The Independent Weekly,'' March 16, 2005.</ref>Gomez himself lost a hard-fought race for mayor in 1992.

[[Ron Gomez|Ronald J. "Ron" Gomez, Sr.]], who was a young reporter at the time that Bertrand became mayor, recalled that Bertrand was "the perfect match for the time and place. He brought dignity and integrity to the political arena and won the trust of his constituents by delivering on his promises. I was impressed with the fact that he took the time to explain to this young reporter, new on the scene, the intricacies and players of the political network in Lafayette and his personal vision and agenda for its future."<ref>[[Ron Gomez]]​, "Remembering Ray," ''The Independent Weekly,'' March 16, 2005.</ref>Gomez himself lost a hard-fought race for mayor in 1992.

On leaving office as mayor, Bertrand joined the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company (now a part of [[Bank One Corporation]]), and served as senior vice president and member of the board of directors. After his retirement from the bank, he continued to manage real estate properties and use his expertise in government to advise and assist boards and commissions working on municipal planning.​<ref name=obit/>

On leaving office as mayor, Bertrand joined the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company (now a part of [[Bank One Corporation]]), and served as senior vice president and member of the board of directors. After his retirement from the bank, he continued to manage real estate properties and use his expertise in government to advise and assist boards and commissions working on municipal planning.​<ref name=obit/>

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==Civic leadership==

==Civic leadership==