Mayor, council honors Percy for service as city attorney

Mayor Barney Arceneaux and the Gonzales City Council members recognized and honored recently retired City Attorney Ryland Percy by proclaiming March 16 as “Ryland Percy Day.” The mayor and council took a moment during its March 16 meeting at City Hall.

Percy held the position of Gonzales City Attorney from 1990 until his retirement in early February of this year, and has been Senior Managing Partner of the law firm Percy, Stromberg, Bush and Lanoux since 1977.

Upon leaving active military service in the United States Navy, where he held the rank of Rear Admiral, acting as Commander of the Logistics Task Force Atlantic, Commander for the Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force and Director of the Joint Reserve Forces, Defense Logistics Agency, Percy attended law school at Louisiana State University where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 1976 and was a contributing member of the Louisiana Law Review.

“I have known Ryland for many years,” Mayor Arceneaux said, “on both a professional and a personal level. In fact, I believe I was one of his first clients. I am sorry to see him go, but have such fond memories of working with him, and know that our new City Attorney Erin Wiley Lanoux, also with Percy, Stromberg, Bush and Lanoux, will also do a fine job.”

Council members reminisced about time spent working with Percy, calling him professional, dedicated, intelligent and a source of great knowledge. Each had a story to tell of a time Percy had led them through the understanding of legal matters, all claiming he had assisted in the betterment of them all of council members.

“I truly love this town,” Percy said. “It has been my honor and my privilege to work with all of you and council members before you. I love Gonzales and am happy to have served my time in a city I love.”