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|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]​

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]​

|alma_mater=Maurice High School<br>

|alma_mater=Maurice High School<br>

University of Louisiana at[[ Lafayette]]<br>​

University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]]<br>​

Sam Houston State University ([[Huntsville, Texas]])​}}

Sam Houston State University ([[Huntsville, Texas]])​}}

Picard was born to Romain Picard (1908-1966) and Evangeline M. Picard (1912–1990). He grew up on the grounds of Maurice High School because his father was the principal, and the Vermilion Parish School Board provided housing as part of the compensation. As a boy, Picard often gazed into the windows of the school, and although he was still too young to attend classes, he wondered what was happening inside the building. Despite his misgivings about a career in education, Picard graduated from Maurice High School and thereafter procured a bachelor's degree in upper elementary education program at the University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]], then Southwestern Louisiana Institute and later the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He obtained a [[Master of Arts]] degree in school administration from Sam Houston State University (then Teacher's College) in [[Huntsville, Texas|Huntsville]], [[Texas]].<ref name=obit>Picard obituary, ''The [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] News-Star,'' February 20, 2007.</ref>

Picard was born to Romain Picard (1908-1966) and Evangeline M. Picard (1912–1990). He grew up on the grounds of Maurice High School because his father was the principal, and the Vermilion Parish School Board provided housing as part of the compensation. As a boy, Picard often gazed into the windows of the school, and although he was still too young to attend classes, he wondered what was happening inside the building. Despite his misgivings about a career in education, Picard graduated from Maurice High School and thereafter procured a bachelor's degree in upper elementary education program at the University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]], then Southwestern Louisiana Institute and later the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He obtained a [[Master of Arts]] degree in school administration from Sam Houston State University (then Teacher's College) in [[Huntsville, Texas|Huntsville]], [[Texas]].<ref name=obit>Picard obituary, ''The [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] News-Star,'' February 20, 2007.</ref>

​In 1959, Picard began his educational career as a teacher at LeBlanc Elementary School in Erath, also in Vermilion Parish. He became a teacher/coach at Maurice High School in 1962. When his father died in 1969, Picard was named principal of Maurice High School, a position that he held for the following eleven years.​<ref name=obit/>

In 1959, Picard began his educational career as a teacher at LeBlanc Elementary School in Erath, also in Vermilion Parish. He became a teacher/coach at Maurice High School in 1962. When his father died in 1969, Picard was named principal of Maurice High School, a position that he held for the following eleven years.​<ref name=obit/>

==Both houses of the state legislature==

==Both houses of the state legislature==

Picard's chief assistant, Carole Wallin, said that he was "taken from us before he accomplished all of his dreams. . . . He was always dreaming of things to do to improve education."​ Wallin recalled that Picard was the principal when Maurice High School was [[Segregation|desegregated]]. Years later, his first act as superintendent was to begin a tour of the state's school districts. The levels of [[poverty]] he encountered appalled him, she said. Picard hence decided that perhaps the best way to lift children was to begin teaching them at an early age. That resulted in the LA4 pre-school program.​

Picard's chief assistant, Carole Wallin, said that he was "taken from us before he accomplished all of his dreams. . . . He was always dreaming of things to do to improve education."​ Wallin recalled that Picard was the principal when Maurice High School was [[Segregation|desegregated]]. Years later, his first act as superintendent was to begin a tour of the state's school districts. The levels of [[poverty]] he encountered appalled him, she said. Picard hence decided that perhaps the best way to lift children was to begin teaching them at an early age. That resulted in the LA4 pre-school program.​

Picard and his wife, the former Gaylen David (born 1942), <ref name=findagrave/>had two sons and four grandchildren. Tyron and Layne Picard said in a statement distributed at the funeral that their father's life "can be summed up in one sentence: He taught us to believe. As a father, he taught us to believe success was possible. Not a single day did he bemoan his undeserved fate. Quite the contrary, he accepted his condition with peace and deepened his relationship with [[God]]."​<ref name=obit/>

Picard and his wife, the former Gaylen David (born 1942),<ref name=findagrave/> had two sons and four grandchildren. Tyron and Layne Picard said in a statement distributed at the funeral that their father's life "can be summed up in one sentence: He taught us to believe. As a father, he taught us to believe success was possible. Not a single day did he bemoan his undeserved fate. Quite the contrary, he accepted his condition with peace and deepened his relationship with [[God]]."​<ref name=obit/>

Former state Representative Jimmy Dale Long, Sr. (1931-2016), of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], a member of the [[Earl Long|Long]] political dynasty who was the chairman of the University of Louisiana System board of supervisors, headed the House Education Committee when Picard was chairman of the corresponding Senate committee. He said that the two developed a working and friendly relationship. "Cecil and I authored a raft of education reform," Long said in his eulogy to Picard. Long said that  Picard was comfortable with himself, and it showed. . . . He told me, 'People believe honesty, and they're not easily misled,' which is how he led his life. . . . Cecil could get things done. His political legacy is [that] he made sure Louisiana's children have the opportunity for a better education."​

Former state Representative Jimmy Dale Long, Sr. (1931-2016), of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], a member of the [[Earl Long|Long]] political dynasty who was the chairman of the University of Louisiana System board of supervisors, headed the House Education Committee when Picard was chairman of the corresponding Senate committee. He said that the two developed a working and friendly relationship. "Cecil and I authored a raft of education reform," Long said in his eulogy to Picard. Long said that  Picard was comfortable with himself, and it showed. . . . He told me, 'People believe honesty, and they're not easily misled,' which is how he led his life. . . . Cecil could get things done. His political legacy is [that] he made sure Louisiana's children have the opportunity for a better education."​