TOMBSTONE TUESDAY: Delfres Emile Guidry

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY (March 11, 2025) : Delfres Emile Guidry was the Mayor of the City of Port Lavaca from November 1,1919 until April of 1928. D.E. was born on February 8, 1864 in Humphreys, Louisiana and grew up on his family’s farm, the youngest of 9 children. He married Ethel B. LaBauve from Edna, Texas on November 26, 1881. In 1899, D.E. and Ethel moved with their 3 small children from Edna to Port Lavaca, where they had 3 more children and D.E. established a successful dry goods store located on South Guadalupe at Austin St. next to the original site of the First National Bank. Locals call Guidry’s “the Racket Store” because he sold everything! In 1906, the store moved to the corner of Guadalupe and Main Street. D.E. was voted in as the Mayor when the City of Port Lavaca re-incorporated in November of 1919 and served until April of 1928. During his tenure the City completed the construction of the seawall, which was built to protect the city from storm surge after the 1919 hurricane caused extensive damage. The seawall extends along the shoreline from near South Street to near the projection of East Wilson Steet along the wetlands line. D.E. died on April 27, 1946 at the age of 82 and is buried in the Lynnworth Cemetery portion of the Port Lavaca Cemetery.

Tombstone Tuesday is written and compiled each week by Jody Weaver and Sheryl Cuellar of the Calhoun County Historical Commission, sharing the people and stories behind Calhoun County's history .