Rodier Had Spiritual, Economic Vision
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Bill Rodier engaged the challenges of life with exceptional vigor and ended his earthly journey with a spiritual awakening that emotionally moved those who remembered him on Saturday.
Elected officials and local and statewide elected leaders gathered at Our Saviors Church in Opelousas for a ceremonial service that recognized Rodier, 63, who died last month following two and a half years of lymphoma treatment.
Rodier was remembered on the professional level for his 13 years as executive director for the St. Landry Parish Economic District, where he successfully guided exponential economic development along Interstate 49 south of Opelousas.
However those in attendance were also allowed to peek inside the religious faith that Rodier,a former triathlete, Iron Man competitor, motorcycle racer and master diver, acquired as his life progressed.
“His life is a testimony to transformation. (Rodier) embraced adventure and challenges, experienced disappointments and heartbreaks. When he was committed to do something, he was all in,” said Stacie Rodier, wife of Bill Rodier.
Our Saviors Church Pastor Eugene Risner traced the steps in the religious conversion of Rodier.
Risner recalled that Rodier was once a backdoor spectator at Sunday services, but eventually Rodier discovered there was something additional to be gained by investing in religious faith.
Risner portrayed Rodier as someone who could create a series of ripples if he was plunged into a lake.
“You look at his life and say this was a guy who did some really crazy stuff. But he came to our community and he was someone who made it better,” Risner added.
Although his physical condition worsened, Rodier was still networking economic projects on Zoom calls just days before his death, Risner added.
“I walked into Bill’s hospital room in Baton Rouge and he was dressed in a sports coat and a shirt with a collar. However I looked down and I noticed Bill was in his underwear. I asked Bill what he was doing and he said he was just finishing a board meeting,” Risner recalled.
Mandi Mitchell, executive director of the Lafayette Economic Development Association, said state economic leaders have voted to posthumously present Rodier with an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award in 2027.
“What a legacy,” Mitchell said. “Bill will be remembered as someone whose passion allowed this area to undergo infrastructure expansion and business expansion. You knew with Bill that something out of the box was always coming,” Mitchell added.
Mitchell said Lafayette and St. Landry sometimes shared a competitive battle for economic projects, but Rodier could always put that aside if there was a chance to mentor and advise others.
SLED operations director Janece Riser said that during his rounds of treatments at MD Anderson, Rodier always took time to worry about others.
“He is someone I will always remember for his positivity, proactiveness and his faith,: said Riser.
Lena Charles, chairperson for the Opelousas Downtown Development District, said that in his job with SLED, Rodier established a lasting economic platform.
“He has a place and he put a stamp on my heart, as he moved us forward with his forward thinking,” said Charles..
Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor complimented Rodier for creating an economic dashboard for the city and parish.
“We are where we are now because of what he has done during the last 13 years. His heart was in that job for 13 years and (Rodier) continued to push and push us and create excitement about the growth of economic development,” Alsandor said.
