Pitre, former chief operating officer of Louisiana State Newspapers, dies

Willie Pitre Jr., 70, who served as chief operating officer of Louisiana State Newspapers and publisher of The Eunice News, died Friday at his residence in Lafayette.
Pitre had a 41-year career in the newspaper industry before he retired in December 2006.
Pitre started his newspaper career at the Opelousas Daily World where he worked for 22 years. Pitre was advertising manager at the Daily World when he left to join Louisiana State Newspapers in 1988.
B.I. Moody, chairman of the board of The Moody Company, parent company of Louisiana State Newspapers, said, “Willie Pitre was a dedicated newspaper executive who focused on serving his newspaper readers and advertisers by putting out the best possible newspapers in the communities they served. My condolences to his family and to his fellow employees.”
At the time of Pitre’s retirement, Kevin Moody, president of The Eunice News’ parent company, Louisiana State Newspapers, said, “Willie helped grow our newspaper division, as well as turn the Eunice plant into the production center for several of our publications.”
Darrell Guillory, chief operating officer for Louisiana State Newspapers, said, “Willie dedicated his career to publishing newspapers. Even in his retirement he remained interested in the newspaper industry. He was a good friend and we had a great working and personal relationship. I will miss him. My condolences to his wife Corrine and family.”
Pitre enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, hunting and spending time with his grandchildren.
Pitre was a native of Lawtell.
Survivors include his wife, Corrine; and two children, Michael and Adele; and several grandchildren.
Corrine is a retired educator who taught at Eunice and Lawtell high schools.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette.
Visitation will be observed on from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday and resumes Monday at 9 am until the time of services, at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette.
A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Sunday at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette.
Entombment will follow in Fountain Memorial Cemetery in Lafayette, at a later date.