After 53 years, Wayne Clay, owner of Iberia Office Supply is retiring, and his journey from manager to owner is something he said he never expected.

“The things that really come to mind is that I’ve moved to New Iberia and I only knew a few people when I first got here,” Wayne Clay said of his journey to New Iberia. “ I had an opportunity to come here and work for Iberia Office Supply.”

The Jennings native, who graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University, Clay said the people of New Iberia were welcoming to him and he first arrived.

“It’s been a good place to raise my kids,” Clay said. “ We’ve enjoyed it.

According to Wayne Clay, business with the residents of New Iberia has been his favorite part while working for Iberia Office Supply.

“We’ve enjoyed all of the people we’ve gotten to know,” Clay said. 

After primary selling office supplies, Wayne Clay bought Advantage Movers 17 years ago and begin a moving business along with selling furniture.

“It’s been great to help out the community with our company,” Wayne Clay said.

Along with his moving company at Iberia Office Supply, Wayne Clay has been a member of the New Iberia Rotary Club, citing how it’s been nice working with so many people in community.

“I joined the New Iberia Rotary Club and you got to meet a lot of really good people,” Wayne Clay said. “You’ve got to do a lot of good.”

Wayne Clay said as a member of the Rotary Club, he’s given back to New Iberia with cooking for both schools and churches.

“As a member of the New Iberia Rotary club, we competed in the Gumbo Cookoff. And we’ve won in ’91’ and ’92, and they haven’t had an honest judge since,” he said, joking.

Wayne Clay also said, “It’s just been a wonderful experience as a member of the Rotary Club.”

As he sits at his desk in his final moments at Iberia Office Supply, his son, Andy Clay, said he’s going to continue to keep up the family tradition.

“We are doing our best to keep it going, because it’s a good place to live,” Andy Clay said. “We all grew up here and it’s something we can keep it  going.”

Andy Clay, who has been at Iberia Office Supply for 18 years, said he, like his father, wants to continue helping out the community as much as possible.

Andy Clay said even after retirement, his dad will help out as much as he can.

“I think he’s going to stay as busy as he can and he’s going to come back in and help as much as he can,” Andy Clay said.

Wayne Clay said when he’s gone, he’s still planning to check out the place one last time.

“I always joked that when the hearse is on the way to the funeral home, it’s going to stop here to check out the place,” he Clay said.

Wayne Clay said he’s going to be available whenever people need him.

“You do something for 53 years, you’re pretty good at it,” Wayne Clay said. “If I didn’t enjoy it, I would not have stuck around.”

Wayne Clay said, for him, he wants his legacy at Iberia Office Supply to be one where the people came first.

“We were able to give good service at a fair price and we retained a very good relationship with our customers,” Wayne Clay said. “They were happy with us and we enjoyed having them.”

If you know someone in the Teche Area who would be an interesting weekend profile, please submit the name by calling 321-6766 or send an email to news@daily-iberian.com.