Friends remember how Manson Saltzman enjoyed helping Gueydan

GUEYDAN - One of the most political figures in Gueydan is gone.

Manson Saltzman died Wednesday morning at 5 a.m. after battling two different types of cancer.

He was 77 years old.

Saltzman was into politics for more than half his life, up until the very end.

In 1963, at age 28, he became the youngest elected police juror in the state. He served on the police jury for 12-1/2 years and was elected as vice-president and finance committee chairman.

In 1980, he was elected mayor of Gueydan, a position he held for four full terms plus one year of a special election term.

Because of the complications of cancer, he decided not run again for mayor. But after sitting out eight years, Saltzman jumped back into the political ring when he was asked to be an alderman on the Gueydan Council seat, filling former alderman David Dupuis’s position. Dupuis was named the new mayor after Bob Hensgens stepped down when he was elected as a state representative.

Last year when he was sworn in, he said he wanted to get back into politics because his health was good.

For almost a year, he did not miss any Gueydan city council meetings. He attended his final one on Aug. 7.

“He had so much knowledge of the town of Gueydan,” Dupuis said. “He was a great resource. He knew where every waterline and gas line was. Manson was a leader who made a major impact.”

Gale Smith, who is an alderman today and was the aldermen when Saltzman was mayor, said, “He did a lot for Gueydan. He was a very good mayor and easy to get along with.”

Rep. Hensgens said Saltzman is a major reason why he got involved in politics. When Hensgens was thinking about throwing his name into the political arena for the mayor’s race, it was Saltzman who encouraged him to do it.

“He was the most political person from the Gueydan area in 40 years,” said Hensgens. “He did so much for Gueydan.” Saltzman also encouraged Hensgens to run for state representative. After he won the state race, it was Saltzman who drove him to Baton Rouge to meet long-time political figures in Baton Rouge.

Hensgens said Saltzman had the most political impact on his life, “I loved him so much and I do not say I love too many men,” Hensgens said. “When we were together, we would talk politics for 45 minutes and then the final 15 minutes, we would talk about him dying. He accepted the fact that he was dying.”

Until the end, Saltzman loved LSU baseball and had season tickets.

Gueydan attorney Edward Saal is a long-time friend of Saltzman. He is the town’s city attorney and swore in Saltzman to the alderman seat.

“He loved to do projects,” said Saal. “He was always looking to improve Gueydan.”

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Anna Lee Breaux Saltzman of Gueydan; three children, Lucinda Rynott and her husband Stan of Lafayette, Patricia Heard and her husband Tim of Gueydan and Gordon Saltzman and his wife Danielle of Gueydan and six grandchildren.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Gueydan, 311 Fourth Street, on Friday, August 24, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a rosary to be prayed at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 25, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. until the procession departs for church.

All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Gueydan.