LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Mark Lerille, son and the gym manager of Red Lerille’s Health & Racquet Club spoke with News 10 about his father’s impact on the community. 

“I’m little emotionally spent but I tell everybody, the members and the outpour of all the condolences have kept me and the family kept us on a good feeling, he said. “It’s a wonderful thing to have people say those nice things about your dad and the stories that you’ve never heard before and that’s really appreciative.”

Lloyd “Red” Lerille was known for being a bodybuilder and fitness legend. Mark said his father was also a man with compassion, sincerity and gave everything that he could. He said he always showed up to work on time, ready to work and his three favorite things are: “Hello. Goodbye and toilet paper.” 

While many people in the community remember Red, his family at the gym reflected on his legacy. 

“The employees, the members, they’re like family,” said Mark. “They’ve been here since 1963. Still have members that still come today and the other thing is members that have come and gone and also the workers have come and gone over the 63 years.” 

Buddy Lebas, a longtime employee who worked at the gym for 55 years also reflected on Red.

“Red and I kind of started with a small gym trying to help people in Lafayette with their fitness,” Lebas said. “Our major goal throughout the years has been to add life to people’s years and years to their life. His impact on the community, obviously is immense. Our relationships were one of friends rather than an employee. It’s been a long and enjoyable relationship. I’m very sad that it’s ending.” 

He added, “He loved the Lafayette people in the community. He was devoted to their wellness and health and well-being and we’re going to carry on that legacy for him.” 

Steven Dupuis, a longtime gym member said, “It’s funny today I’m walking in with let’s make America healthy again. Red Lerille is the one who made Lafayette healthy again. I’ve been coming here for 54 years. He’s been to my company and helped me grow it. He was one of my mentors, one of my heroes. Just the type of gentleman that we wish everybody in Lafayette could be and we’re going to miss him so very much.” 

Mark said, for his dad, giving back to the community was important. 

“He always said when he got off Texas Airline in 1959, he landed in a piece of heaven in Lafayette, Louisiana and he’s made this his home, even though he’s originally from New Orleans.” said Mark. 

He recalls some favorite moments of his father including him getting up at 1:30 a.m. Another time he described when his dad fired him.

“I was vacuuming upstairs, and I fell asleep, and I left the vacuum on and he’s giving a tour around the place and next thing you know, he sees me laying on the couch. He says, ‘Oh, that’s my worker’, while he’s given a tour.” Mark said. “Next thing you know, he says, ‘I think you’re going to take a day off. You’re fired.’ I said, ‘Okay, Dad. I mean, there’s so many of them.’ Riding with him in airplanes, coming to work, eating with him every day. You can’t beat that.”

Another famous Red saying was: “if you have the time to lean you have time to clean.”

“I’ll miss my dad and my hero. For a man that didn’t talk very much he must talk to somebody because of all the stories,” concluded Mark. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 22, at 10 a.m., in St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Lafayette. Interment will be held in Holy Mary Mother of God Cemetery in Lafayette.

The family requests that visitation be observed on Friday, March 21, from 1-7 p.m. at Martin & Castille’s downtown location, 330 St. Landry Street, Lafayette. There will be no public visitation on Saturday.

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