Interviewer(s): D. DiTucci. Lafayette, LA

Affiliation: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

William "Dud" Lastrapes was born in New Orleans, but moved to Opelousas, Louisiana when he was about three weeks old. After graduating from high school there in 1946, he went to Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now ULL) where he completed his degree in 1950. He worked in radio broadcasting for a few months before joining the Air Force in early 1951. When he returned, he went back into radio for six months, before joining Channel 10 (KOFY) TV. In 1970, he left the station and went into banking and later insurance. In 1972 and '78 he was elected to the school board. From 1980 to '92 he served as mayor to Lafayette. From 1990-92 he sat on the MMS board as an appointee of President Bush's. In 1992, he was elected to a two-year term as State Chairman of the Republican Party. Since that time he has done health and life insurance in Lafayette. During his interview, he discusses in-depth the local Republican Party and some of the things he dealt with during the economic down and upturns the community experienced while he was mayor. He particularly describes the local utility system.