Eugene Wilton Frémaux

Who was Eugene Wilton Frémaux?

Eugene Wilton Frémaux August 24, 1887 - March 14, 1969. was an Alexandria, Louisiana businessman and civic leader who in 1937 became the sole owner of Brown Hide Company. The company did an extensive business in green and salt hides which were shipped to tanners in various parts of the country. In 1942 he joined Alexandria Steam Laundry Company as its Secretary-Treasurer.

Frémaux was born to Léon François Victor Frémaux (1847–1890) and the former Irène Marie Műrr (1851–1924) at Roberts Cove, just north of Rayne, in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. He was the grandson of Léon Joseph Frémaux, a prominent Louisiana engineer and notable 19th-century artist.

On Thursday, September 6, 1911 he married the former Jessie May Bullard. Their first child, Wanda Frémaux, was born on August 5, 1912 at Morse, southwest of Crowley, in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. He moved the family to Alexandria, Louisiana in 1913. Their second child, Wilton Frémaux, was born on July 23, 1914 at 1530 Madison Street in Alexandria.

Frémaux started work when he was seven years of age selling newspapers while attending school. His first real job was in an accounting position with Acadia Iron Works in Crowley, Louisiana where he was employed for two and a half years. He then worked for the Morse Rice Mill and then the White Swan Rice Mill Corporation at Gueydon before moving to Alexandria in 1913. He worked briefly for Schwarzschild & Sulzberger Company of Louisiana, then became associated with L. A. Stafford Wholesale Grocer as an accountant for the Rapides grocery company. He filled the position of accountant and credit man for this company from 1913 until 1927. From 1915-1916 he successfully completed accounting courses from LaSalle Extension University's Department of Higher Accountancy. After his work at L. A. Stafford, he spent a year and a half with the Louisiana Public Utilities Company. In 1946 Louisiana Public Utilities Company eventually merged with Gulf Public Service Inc. In 1951 Gulf Public Service Inc. merged with Central Louisiana Electric Company, Inc., a company now known as CLECO Corporation. Frémaux played an important part in the business life of Alexandria. In 1931 he took over the Brown Hide Company in partnership with L. G. Stafford and became the sole owner in 1937. In 1942 he joined Alexandria Steam Laundry Company as Secretary-Treasurer. It was at this time that his son Wilton, the eventual sole owner of Alexandria Steam Laundry Company, served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Frémaux was also a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, The Elks, and The Knights of Columbus.