Louisiana Association for Jazz Education
		Ronney Mayard                                               Inducted 2006  Ronney Mayard graduated from Abbeville High School in 1956, obtained his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and returned to Abbeville where he taught instrumental music for thirty-one years.  He retired in 1989, but only for two years.  He returned to Vermilion Parish Schools to serve as music and arts supervisor for seven years. His first teaching position was as middle school band director.  Later, he joined Anthony Fontana, Sr. at Abbeville High School as assistant band director.  When Mr. Fontana retired, Ronney became director of bands at Abbeville High School.  He maintained an award-winning concert, jazz, and marching band program.  His bands were consistent Sweepstakes winners in LMEA District III, as well as State and Regional Invitational Festivals in Texas and Florida.  During his last five years at Abbeville High, the program produced 22 All-Staters. Mayard was a frequent guest conductor for concert and jazz bands in several LMEA districts.  He served as festival adjudicator in St. Landry and Iberia Parishes, as well as the McNeese and Loyola Jazz Festivals.  He also served as the chairman of the LMEA Jazz Division and LMEA President-Elect.  He also served as President-Elect and President of the Louisiana unit of the International Jazz Educators.   Ronney remained a lifelong active musician, playing saxophone and clarinet in the Earl Parquette Quartet.   Ronney was very active in civic affairs in Vermilion Parish.  He served as President of the Vermilion Arts Council and the Louisiana Wetlands Association.  He founded the Vermilion Carousel of Arts in 1992, and at the time of his death, he was spearheading a new festival, to be held on Labor Day weekend, the Louisiana Wetlands Fair and Festival.  He also served a term as President of the Abbeville Rotary Club.  In honor of his personal accomplishments and service to his fellow man, Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza declared April 13, 2005, as Ronney Mayard Day. Ronney Mayard was certainly and outstanding inspiration and role model to the many young music and arts educators that knew him  Ronney passed away on August 15, 2005.  Ronney was posthumously inducted into the IAJE Hall of Fame on Sunday, November 19, 2006, at the LMEA Convention in Baton Rouge.