FRANKLIN — The St. Mary Parish Council bid a final adieu to New Iberia native Calvin LeLeux with a resolution of respect honoring the boat builder for his work over 50 years as an engineer and later chairman of the board of Sewart Seacraft and Swiftships in Morgan City.

LeLeux, 74, died April 13, leaving a devoted family at home and work.

St. Mary Council Vice-Chairman Kevin Voisin read the resolution Wednesday before the council passed it in an 8-3 vote, with three of the members being absent.

The resolution noted LeLeux’s service in the U.S. Air Force, his work in the space program, his work in shipbuilding, his love for his coworkers and employees, his passion for golf and his love for the outdoors.

“The members of the St. Mary Parish Council wish to acknowledge publicly their sorrow and sympathy to the family of Mr. LeLeux,” Voisin said.

Eric Geibel, Swiftships’ Vice-President of Operations, said LeLeux was not just a boat builder.

“He was a unique soul that was able to build cultural connections across multiple ideologies. His special ability to develop loyal friendships will stand the test of time and forever secure his indelible legacy to all who knew him,” Geibel said.

One of LeLelux’s first cross-cultural business deals was when his company was awarded a $200 million contract to build 35-meter boats for the Iraqi Navy at Swiftships’ Levee Road site along the Atchafalaya River in Morgan City.

The company also was in charge of training the Iraqi sailors, who lived on site.

In a 2011 interview, U.S. Air Force Captain Jennifer S. Ferrau said the unique Iraq-America partnership began in 2010, explaining that the Iraqi Navy was increasingly assuming responsibility for the protection of its territorial waters and its oil export infrastructure.

During their stay in Morgan City, the roughly 45 Iraqi sailors lived on a barge docked inside the Swiftships’ yard.

Chris Meyers, the lead instructor with VSD LLC, a company working in conjunction with Swiftships on the training program, said the sailors trained for 90 days, in a program on site in the Swiftships’ yard, in renovated railroad cars that had been wired to offer hands-on-training.

He said training situations included harsh weather and sea-sick scenarios, how to use AK47s, a cannon and even 50-caliber machine guns, among other things.

Shehraze Shah, one of LeLeux’s business partners, said those who were fortunate enough to know and work with him, “have lost a great friend and inspiring mentor.”

“The rest of the world has lost a great human being,” he said.

“To quote Maya Angelou, a great soul never dies. It brings us joy again and again.”

In its 76-year history, Swiftships’ proven steel and aluminum hulls have provided commercial supply and coastal defense vessels to 52 nations, according to company representatives.

Geibel said Swiftships is the proud legacy of a heritage beginning with Sewart Machine Works and founder Fred Sewart in 1942 before becoming Sewart Seacraft in 1946.

The company was renamed Swiftships in 1969 and in 1979 began a general expansion of its shipyards creating six divisions in Morgan City and Marrero in Louisiana; Pass Christian, Mississippi; Houston and Freeport, Texas; and Singapore.

In 1981, Swiftships became part of United Nuclear Corporation of Falls Church, Virginia.

In November of 1985, the company broke away from the conglomerate and became the Swift Group owned by LeLeux, Dennis Spurgeon, Robert Ness and Dave Ganley.

In 1990, Ganley retired, and in 2000, Spurgeon sold his shares to Ness and LeLeux

In 2004, Ness opted out of the company, leaving LeLeux as sole owner.

Geibel said LeLeux began his career as an engineer and, “worked his way up to ownership through his hard work and dedication.”