VILLE PLATTE ROTARY CLUB MEETING
JUNE 2, 2015
The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from Kip Manuel give a brief history of Manuel Hardware. He stated there were four investors that began in 1948 Roy Tractor Company in Ville Platte: Leroy Soileau, Gilbert Aucoin, John Miller and Sam Miller with two employees: Henry Lee Manuel and A.B. Billeaudeau. A few years later in 1950, the owners sold the company to the two employees. The company began selling hay balers and shredders in addition to tractors. Also the company began selling grain bins as the business continued to grow through the years. In 1972, Henry Lee Manuel convinced his son, Kip, who was attending college to come work in the business. Kip acquired a contractor’s license and began building metal buildings. Among the customers the company constructed buildings included Cabot, Union Tank, Holloway and T&J Ford. Kip Manuel introduced the new owners of the business, Ryan Vidrine. He is a graduate of McNeese and has been in the Ag industry for a number of years. He and his wife are planning to expand the business into new markets.
In other business:
Welcomed the new editor of the Ville Platte Gazette: Raymond Partsche;
Was reminded that the annual installation banquet will be June 16 at 6;00pm at Nick’s on Main;
Was told that there will be a garage sale at Eric Gil’s State Farm Office on LaSalle Saturday from 7-12 noon for the Make A Wish foundation;
Is still seeking applicants for the Rotary Scholarship for the Coreil Campus of Louisiana Technical College.