On Tuesday, May 31, 2011, A.J. Leger died surrounded by his loving wife and daughters at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont. A.J. was co-owner of Don's Seafood and Steakhouse on Interstate-10 for thirty-eight years.
A.J. Leger was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. After graduating from Lafayette High School, A.J. married his high school sweetheart, Patricia, and spent six years in the Marine Corps. A.J.’s career in restaurants began in 1952 when he was 12 years old. He went to work as a busboy at Don’s Seafood and Steakhouse in Lafayette. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, A.J. returned to work at the restaurant, becoming kitchen manager before moving to other Don’s Seafood restaurants in Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, Louisana. In 1968, he moved to Beaumont to start one of the longest running and most successful restaurants in Beaumont, Don’s Seafood and Steakhouse on Interstate-10 with partners Jerry Quebodeaux and Mary Savoie. After his retirement from the restaurant industry, A.J. worked for six years at Kymoco Signs and Graphics.
A.J. was recognized many times by his peers during his career. In 1974, he was selected Outstanding Restaurateur Sabine Area Chapter by the Texas Restaurant Association. He was an active member of the Sabine Area Restaurant Association serving for over forty years. A.J. served as president of SARA in 1979 and was a founding member of The Taste of the Triangle in 1981. He served as its Chairman in 1986 and Honorary Chairman in 1987. In 1991, the Sabine Area Restaurant Association dedicated the Taste of the Triangle to A.J. In 1997, the Texas Restaurant Association selected him for their highest honor, and A.J. was inducted into TRA’s Hall of Honor.
A.J.’s true love was cooking for the community. You could always find him cooking for local fund raisers and charitable organizations such as the YMBL, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, City of Beaumont, Texas Fire Museum, Boys Haven and at the Texas State Capitol for several legislators. He was well known for his gumbo and once said that he had cooked enough gumbo in his life to float a battleship, over 12,000 lobsters for the Chamber and millions of pounds of crawfish. He was an active member and past president of “The Cooks 2 Dozen+” and spent many years working with them to raise funds for Boys Haven and other charitable causes.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Edith Lanclos; sister, Shirley Guillory of Lafayette; and granddaughter, Ashley LaBiche of Beaumont.
He is survived by his loving family, wife, Patricia Guidry Leger; daughters, Rhonda Crabtree and her husband, Guy of Beaumont, Angie LaBiche and her husband, Dohn of Beaumont, Jodie Rutledge and her husband, John of Austin; grandchildren, Kyleigh, Morgan Taylor and Cody Michael Crabtree, Drew LaBiche and Mason Rutledge.
A gathering of his family and friends will begin at 6:00 p.m., Friday, June 3, 2011, with a Christian Vigil at 7:00 p.m., at Broussard’s. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, with burial to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.
The family offers special thanks to the nurses and staff of Harbor Hospice; you made our family feel at home during A.J.’s final days and also to our extended family and friends whose calls, messages, prayers and gifts will help to continue A.J.’s memory in the future.
In remembrance, donations can be made to the “A.J. Leger Memorial Scholarship” at Lamar University. The scholarship will provide opportunities for students who love the restaurant business as A.J. did. Donations should be mailed to Lamar University, P. O. Box 10011, Beaumont, Texas 77710. Indicate that it is for the “A.J. Leger Memorial Scholarship Fund”.
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