FRANKLIN — Mayor-elect Eugene Foulcard is roughly two months away from transitioning as a non-profit CFO, to leading the city named for Benjamin Franklin.

Yet, his wife, children and brothers and sisters say he’s already outlining goals and objectives and all it isn’t too surprising. 

Foulcard will take the oath of office July 1st as the 19th Mayor of Franklin.

“We have to think out of the box, to continue to do everything we can to attract business and industry here, while keeping the ones that we have. This is critical,” Foulcard said.

“More and more activities for our youth – that’s another critical issue.”

“In short, restoring and improving our quality of life here is what we have to do,” he said. 

A long-time city councilman for 12 years, Foulcard will end his work career at the St. Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency, retiring after 29 years as Asst. Finance Director, and later, Chief Financial Officer. 

His sister Debra Bailey said she can’t wait to watch her brother go to work behind the big desk in city hall, because of his organizational skills.

“I call him Big Daddy, because even though he is one of our younger siblings, he always took charge of us with authority. He always told us what to do.”

Eugene is the sixth of seven children: Carl, Michael, Carol, Donald, Debra,  (Eugene), and Charles.

His sister Carol Hill said he will run Franklin as one unit, “Unity, everyone working together as one. That’s how he worked us as siblings and he’s kept that mantra throughout his life. He will work the city as one, a community for all people.”

His brother Donald concurred, saying they were all raised to have the compassion that Jesus did, for all people. 

Michael Foulcard, his second oldest brother said, “We called him, ‘It’ when he was little, because he was so small. But that name stuck with him because ‘It’ always got involved with things. He will be it, in the mix with the whole city, and not just one part of it.”

His brothers Charles and Carl Jr. believe Eugene is a born leader. 

Eugene is the son of the late Carl Foulcard Sr, who served Franklin for 26 years as city councilman. 

“My brother will carry the legacy,” said Carl Jr., his oldest sibling.  

Eugene’s mother Lydia said she knew when Eugene finished playing little league ball, she could look for something big from Eugene. 

“He said momma, I have to move on to bigger and better things. And he has, from being studious in school, to being compassionate with people.”

Eugene is married to Terri Matthews Foulcard, the director of Claire House, a substance abuse center in Bayou Vista, just outside Morgan City. 

Together, they have four children, Eugene Jr, A’Myrie, Ashley and Lynn.

Eugene and A’Myrie, students at Hanson High School, say their dad is their hero., while wife Terri said her husband is a big history buff. 

“He loves to keep up with current affairs, reads daily and loves and knows history well. He is a wiz.”

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