90 Plus: Lawrence "Papa Red Dog" Zacharie
LOREAUVILLE, La. (KLFY) -- "Papa Red Dog," the Mardi Gras parade trailblazer turns 90 years old.
Lawrence "Papa Red Dog" Zacharie was born in St. Landry Parish. At five years old, his family moved to Loreauville and he has lived in Loreauville ever since. Lawrence is one of six siblings.
"We didn't have anything to start off with, but during that time, everything was take what you can get to start off with," Zacharie said.
Lawrence said it wasn't that his family went without food. His father raised about one hundred and fifty chickens and hogs.
"At night, we get a bucket, some moss and hay and light it. We go around the house four or five times. If you wouldn't do that, the mosquitoes would tear you up at night." Lawrence said.
Lawrence and his wife had 14 children. Lawrence said he got a job at Breaux's Bay Craft.
"I worked for over 60 years to raise these 14 children," Zacharie added. Lawrence laughs as he remembers a time when he caught one little fish --- and brought it home and fired it up.
"Like Jesus Christ said, he fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread; that's what I give them children. I gave each one a little piece. I ate the bone, and I was full." Lawrence said.
Papa Red Dog has a couple of being the first under his shoes, "I was the first shoe shiner in Loreauville. I used to shine shoes."
Papa Red Dog is the father of the Papa Red Dog Mardi Gras parade that used to roll through Loreauville. In 1986, he built this trailer.
"My niece saw a Mardi Gras and they wanted to use my trailer. So, I let them use it," he noted.
Lawrence kept the parade going for 38 years. When it comes to advice, papa red dog says live to be somebody and to lift up others .
"Like my poor momma and daddy used to say, 'somebody do you something, give them a piece of bread', " Zacharie explained.