V. Price LeBlanc

"I'd like to be remembered as someone who cared for his fellow man," Price LeBlanc often said. The cattle farmer turned auto dealer died at the age of 88 on Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, at his lifelong home in St. Gabriel, closing the page on a long and accomplished life. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Monday, Nov. 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation will re-commence at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3625 La. 75, St. Gabriel, on Tuesday, Nov. 23, from 8:30 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Charles Landry. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Price LeBlanc was born Sept. 7, 1922, the fourth child of William Hardee LeBlanc and Mary Ada Maillian LeBlanc, who preceded him in death, along with his brothers, W.H. "Bill" LeBlanc and Gordon S. LeBlanc; and sisters, Marion LeBlanc LaPlace and Mary Ada LeBlanc Williams. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Shirley M. Wolf LeBlanc; two daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy LeBlanc and Charles A. Bondy, and Lori LeBlanc and Russell W. Anderson; four sons and daughters-in-law, V. Price LeBlanc Jr. and Christine R. LeBlanc, Gregory J. and Geri L. LeBlanc, Clifton D. and Elizabeth D. LeBlanc, and Brent P. and Jolie C. LeBlanc; and grandchildren, Elizabeth Bondy Fortenberry, Catherine Bondy, Caroline Bondy, John Anderson, Myles Anderson, Philippe LeBlanc, Matthew LeBlanc, Gregory LeBlanc Jr., Alex LeBlanc, Hannah LeBlanc, Taylor LeBlanc, John LeBlanc, Emily LeBlanc, Clifton LeBlanc Jr., Victoria LeBlanc, Brennan Price LeBlanc and Brianna LeBlanc. After completing St. Gabriel High School and receiving his honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps, he graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile in 1947 and remained a dedicated alumnus. Before attending Spring Hill, Price LeBlanc claimed to have been a shy young man, a claim his many friends and associates find difficult to believe. After Spring Hill he began working in the cattle business, and in 1954, started selling automobiles at Standard Motors in Baton Rouge. He quickly went into business on his own selling used cars, and then Ramblers in St. Gabriel. In 1964, he opened a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership in Gonzales. The Toyota dealership which opened in 1969 recently celebrated its 41st anniversary. In the early 1960s, leveraging his cattle-rearing background, the "The Tradin' Country Boy" restored the old Louisiana tradition of lagniappe or something extra by giving his "Country Sausage" to all who gave him a chance to earn their business. In 1980, Price LeBlanc introduced the endearing and all familiar "Dahlin'" salutation and slogan in honor of his beloved mother. He often attributed his success and the attainment of countless awards for customer satisfaction and sales to a simple truism, "treat others as you would like to be treated." Quotes like: "Without our friends we're nothing!" and "Make sure you treat people right when you're going up the ladder, because you just might see them again ... going down," are vintage Price LeBlanc. He lent support to and helped raise funds for many non-profit organizations in the area including: Catholic Charities, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Epilepsy Foundation of Louisiana, National Federation of the Blind, St. Joseph's Academy, Catholic High School, LSU, LSU 4-H, Spring Hill College and St. Gabriel Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities, St. Gabriel Catholic Church, or the charity of your choice. He was a loyal son of his community and the congregation of St. Gabriel Church, whose rolls contain generations of his family going back to Acadia and France in the early 1600s.