Benoit, Robert, physicien

Educator and historian Robert C. Benoit, who spent three decades with both the American Press and the Calcasieu Parish school system, died Monday, July 2, 2007. He was 74. Benoit was the editor of the paper's "50 Years Ago" column, combing through microfilm for his daily recap of the local stories from yesteryear. He was also a newsroom fixture on Saturdays mornings, when, as he described in his farewell column, "yours truly edited the mail, pounded out rewrites, and developed a crick in his neck taking telephone obits and last-minute stories from correspondents." He retired from the paper in 1995 after 33 years of service. The American Press, however, was a part-time job for Benoit. He was a career educator. Benoit taught at LaGrange High School, his alma mater, and retired in 1987 after 30 years as a classroom teacher.

Local history was a passion for Benoit. He was the editor of Images of America: Imperial Calcasieu, a picture history of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis parishes published by the Southwest Louisiana Historical Association (Arcadia Publishing). He wrote stories about Gerstner Field, an airfield south of Lake Charles, and about the murder conviction and execution of Toni Jo Henry in 1942. He also helped write the 50-year history of University United Methodist Church, where he was a member. Benoit was president of the Southwest Louisiana Historical Association, which in 2001 honored him with the President's Award. A graduate of McNeese State University, he served in the army in Korea.