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'''Curtis Joseph Joubert''', also known as '''J. Curtis Joubert''' (born May 1931), is a retired [[educator]] and [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[politician]] of [[France|French]] ancestry from [[Louisiana]]. He served as both a state representative and as the [[mayor]] of Eunice in Acadia and St. Landry parishes.

'''Curtis Joseph Joubert''', also known as '''J. Curtis Joubert''' (born May 1931), is a retired [[educator]] and [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[politician]] of [[France|French]] ancestry from [[Louisiana]]. He served as both a state representative and as the [[mayor]] of Eunice in Acadia and St. Landry parishes.

==Background==

==Background==

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Joubert was born in [[rural]] Lawtell in St. Landry Parish to Edmond Joubert and the former Julia Prejean. Edmond died when Curtis was only six years old, and the child entered public schools speaking only French. In 1948, he  graduated from Lawtell High School, an entity of the St. Landry Parish School Board, since reconfigured to Lawtell Elementary School. In 1951, Joubert served in the [[Korean War]]. Thereafter, he graduated from the University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]], formerly known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana or USL, from which he obtained a Bachelor of Science and a master's degree, both in the field of education. He undertook further graduate studies at USL and [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. In 1988, USL honored Joubert as its "Outstanding Graduate in the College of Education". In 1999,  as part of its centennial celebration, USL designated Joubert one of its top sixty graduates during the preceding century.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.acadianmuseum.com/legends.php?viewID=86|title=Living Legends: Curtis Joubert|publisher=acadianmuseum.com|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref>​

Joubert was born in [[rural]] Lawtell in St. Landry Parish to Edmond Joubert (1896-1939), who died when Curtis was eight years of age, and the former Julia Prejean (1897-1984).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166490916/edmond-joubert|title=Edmond Joubert|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref> The child entered public schools speaking only French. In 1948, he  graduated from Lawtell High School, an entity of the St. Landry Parish School Board, since reconfigured to Lawtell Elementary School. In 1951, Joubert served in the [[Korean War]]. Thereafter, he graduated from the University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]], formerly known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana or USL, from which he obtained a Bachelor of Science and a master's degree, both in the field of education. He undertook further graduate studies at USL and [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. In 1988, USL honored Joubert as its "Outstanding Graduate in the College of Education". In 1999,  as part of its centennial celebration, USL designated Joubert one of its top sixty graduates during the preceding century.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.acadianmuseum.com/legends.php?viewID=86|title=Living Legends: Curtis Joubert|date=November 29, 2003|publisher=acadianmuseum.com|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref>​

==Educational and political career==

==Educational and political career==

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Ioubert worked as a classroom teacher, [[basketball]] coach, counselor, and assistant principal at Eunice High School. He is the former director of the Eunice Vocational Educational Center.<ref name=bio/> In 1961-1962, Joubert was named the "Southwest Louisiana Coach of the Year."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eunicetoday.com/local/files-november-1962|title=From the Files of ''The Eunice News''|date=November 1962|publisher=eunicetoday.com|accessdate=December 9, 2013}}</ref>In 1967, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and served a term during the second administration of [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] from 1968 until 1972, alongside fellow Democrats Armand Brinkhaus, a lawyer from Sunset in  St. Landry Parish and a strong advocate of the French language and culture,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acadianmuseum.com/legends.php?viewID=188|title=Living Legends: Armand Brinkhaus|publisher=acadiamuseum.com|accessdate=May 23, 2014}}</ref> and H. B. DeJean.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024|publisher=Louisian House of Representatives|accessdate=December 9, 2013}}</ref>Thereafter in 1980, under Superintendent [[J. Kelly Nix]], he was appointed to the State Department of Education in charge of the statewide Title I program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.<ref name=bio/>​

Ioubert worked as a classroom teacher, [[basketball]] coach, counselor, and assistant principal at Eunice High School. He is the former director of the Eunice Vocational Educational Center.<ref name=bio/> In 1961-1962, Joubert was named the "Southwest Louisiana Coach of the Year."<ref>From the Files of ''The Eunice News,'' November 1962; no longer accessible on-line.</ref> In 1967, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and served one term during the second administration of [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] from 1968 until 1972, alongside fellow Democrats [[Armand Brinkhaus]], an [[attorney]] from Sunset in  St. Landry Parish and a strong advocate of the French language and culture,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acadianmuseum.com/legends.php?viewID=188|title=Living Legends: Armand Brinkhaus|date=November 7, 2009|publisher=acadiamuseum.com|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref> and H. B. DeJean.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref>Thereafter in 1980, under Superintendent [[J. Kelly Nix]], he was appointed to the State Department of Education in charge of the statewide Title I program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.<ref name=bio/>​

In 1981, Joubert was elected mayor of Eunice; he unseated the incumbent and defeated two other challengers as well. In his last election in 1990, Joubert defeated in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] his fellow Democrat Hubert "Kutch" Rougeau, 48 to 39 percent. Rougeau withdrew from a runoff electio] which he could have contested with Joubert.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 6, 1990.</ref> In 1994, Rougeau was elected mayor to succeed Joubert, who did not seek another term. Rougeau took office on January 1, 1995.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 8, 1994.</ref>​

In 1981, Joubert was elected mayor of Eunice; he unseated the incumbent and defeated two other challengers as well. In his last election in 1990, Joubert defeated in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] his fellow Democrat Hubert "Kutch" Rougeau, 48 to 39 percent. Rougeau withdrew from a runoff electio] which he could have contested with Joubert.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 6, 1990.</ref> In 1994, Rougeau was elected mayor to succeed Joubert, who did not seek another term. Rougeau took office on January 1, 1995.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 8, 1994.</ref>​

In 1995, Joubert was featured in an article in ''Southern Living'' magazine.<ref name=bio/> In 2003, he worked in the planning of the bicentennial celebration of the [[Louisiana Purchase]]. On November 29, 2003, Joubert was inducted as a "Living Legend" by the Acadian Museum in Erath in Vermilion Parish.<ref name=bio/> He is also an inductee of the Louisiana State University at Eunice Hall of Fame for his longstanding work in promoting Bengal team athletics.<ref>"Joubert inducted in Bengal Hall of Fame," Louisiana State University at Eunice.edu, accessed December 9, 2013; no longer accessible on-line.</ref>

In 1995, Joubert was featured in an article in ''Southern Living'' magazine.<ref name=bio/> In 2003, he worked in the planning of the bicentennial celebration of the [[Louisiana Purchase]]. On November 29, 2003, Joubert was inducted as a "Living Legend" by the Acadian Museum in Erath in Vermilion Parish.<ref name=bio/> He is also an inductee of the Louisiana State University at Eunice Hall of Fame for his longstanding work in promoting Bengal team athletics.<ref>"Joubert inducted in Bengal Hall of Fame," Louisiana State University at Eunice.edu, accessed December 9, 2013; no longer accessible on-line.</ref>

In 2005, Joubert was inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield. Other Louisiana mayors inducted into the Hall of Fame include [[Chep Morrison]], Victor H. Schiro,  [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Moon Landrieu]], and Ernest Nathan Morial, all of New Orleans|, Kip Holden of Baton Rouge, Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr. (1942-2016) of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], George Dement of [[Bossier City]], [[Joe Sampite']] of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], and Hyram Copeland of Vidalia in Concordia Parish.​<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php|title=Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame|publisher=louisianapoliticalmuseum.com|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref>

In 2005, Joubert was inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield. Other Louisiana mayors inducted into the Hall of Fame include [[Chep Morrison]], Victor H. Schiro,  [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Moon Landrieu]], and Ernest Nathan Morial, all of New Orleans, Melvin "Kip" Holden (1952-2025) of Baton Rouge, [[Ned Randolph|Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr.]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], George Dement of [[Bossier City]], [[Joe Sampite']] of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], and Hyram Copeland of Vidalia in Concordia Parish.​<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php|title=Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame|publisher=louisianapoliticalmuseum.com|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref>

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In 2013, Joubert obtained an historical marker to commemorate the [[Germany|German]] [[prisoner of war]] camp at Eunice during [[World War II]]. A number of the former POWs visited Eunice decades after their confinement, some during the time that Joubert was mayor. Each reported kind treatment by the people there.<ref>Todd C. Elliott, "Eunice WWII POW camp grounds slated for historical marker," ''Eunice Today,'' July 14, 2013.</ref>​

In 2013, Joubert obtained an historical marker to commemorate the [[Germany|German]] [[prisoner of war]] camp at Eunice during [[World War II]]. A number of the former POWs visited Eunice decades after their confinement, some during the time that Joubert was mayor. Each reported kind treatment by the people there.<ref>Todd C. Elliott, "Eunice WWII POW camp grounds slated for historical marker," ''Eunice Today,'' July 14, 2013.</ref>​

[[Category:Educators]]

[[Category:Educators]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Mayors]]

[[Category:Mayors]]

[[Category:Democrats]]​

[[Category:Democrats]]​