Former Eunice mayor Moody Jr. dies at age 71

Former educator and mayor Claud “Rusty” Moody Jr. died Tuesday morning at the age of 71 — a little more than a month after his Oct. 7 resignation as mayor of Eunice.
A public announcement of his death was made by Mayor Scott Fontenot at a 9 a.m. special Board of Aldermen’s meeting Tuesday at City Hall.
The former mayor’s death overshadowed the business of the meeting, which was the appointment of Connie Thibodeaux as Ward 4 alderwoman.
Fontenot was voted mayor by the council after Moody resigned Oct. 7. Fontenot had been Ward 4 alderman.
After setting qualifying and election dates, the aldermen, city clerk and mayor shared memories of Moody and expressed condolences to his family.
Moody’s career spanned 42 years as an educator and nearly five years as mayor of Eunice.
Jack Burson, alderman-at-large, said, “I had the pleasure of watching Rusty Moody operate as principal for 17 years at Highland Elementary School right across from my house. I used to notice how the kids would run up for a hug when they got off the bus.
“One of his former students, who now works for a city street crew, told me a story about the time he got paddled for misbehaving and then got his hug and candy before he left the office.
“Rusty had a rare ability to get people to do what they should be doing with great good humor, which seems to be somehow a lost art in our politics in America today. I don’t think I ever met a better man in all the years I’ve worked with various governmental bodies. We will miss him. He set a high standard we will have to live up to.”
Moody was elected with 69 percent of the vote in the November 2010 election and was re-elected in 2014 with no opposition.
Earlier this year he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but continued his duties.
“The council has done a wonderful, amazing job of bringing Eunice back,” he said at the time of his resignation.
Moody was a teacher at Eunice Junior High, assistant principal at the junior high, principal at Highland Elementary and assistant superintendent of operations.
Moody was selected as St. Landry Parish Elementary Principal of the Year and Acadiana Reading Council Principal of the Year.
Moody is a 1961 graduate of Eunice High School. He continued his education at Louisiana State University to a master’s and 30-plus degrees.
He served fro 1967 to 1969 in the U.S. Army and was stationed in South Korea.