After 44 years, six principals and countless art teachers, the man who created New Iberia Senior High’s art program has decided to retire.

Ronnie Judice, 68, of New Iberia, graduated from the University of Southwest Louisiana with no intentions of being a teacher.

Instead, the commercial art and advertising major moved to Houston in 1965 after graduation with the hopes of making it as an artist, he said recently during an interview in his longtime classroom at NISH.

After three months in Houston, Judice said he decided to return to his hometown of New Iberia and his fiancée, Ann, who he has now been married to for 45 years.

“I was engaged, so I came back and started substitute teaching at North Street Elementary,” Judice said.

Shortly thereafter, Judice was offered a job at Delcambre High School, where he taught fifth-graders for two years.

Yet, it wasn’t until his second year as a teacher that he was able to use his skills as an artist, he said, adding, “my first year I only taught American history.”

In 1967, Judice said he left Delcambre for an opportunity to start an art program at NISH.

Beginning with basic design classes, during his career at the school, Judice oversaw the program’s evolution, from adding theatrical set design classes, to instruction in painting and acrylics, and eventually the more advanced concepts of wire sculpting, jewelry design, and even ceramics.

In his off-time, Judice said he also has lent his talents to numerous Mardi Gras krewes throughout Acadiana, using his knowledge of wire sculpturing to design elaborate head- and back-pieces for carnival royalty.

With the 2011 school year winding down, Judice is looking forward to retirement, he said.

“I’m hoping I’ll have time to paint,” he said. “I haven’t painted for myself in years, basically whatever hits me at the time.”

Paul Schexnayder, an Iberia Parish art instructor, said Judice will be missed for his years of dedication to molding New Iberia’s aspiring young artists.

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