Former Lafayette City Marshal Earl “Nickey” Picard and his wife, Cecille, celebrated 70 years of marriage Wednesday by renewing their wedding vows. 

The couple in their teens at the time married on April 3, 1949, and said ” I do” again April 3, 2019 in the presence of family and friends at St. Genevieve Catholic Church.  

Picard, a life-long resident of Lafayette,  began his law enforcement career in 1953 when he joined the Louisiana State Police as a Trooper, later attaining the rank of Sergeant.

He served as Chief Investigator for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, was the first Coordinator-Investigator for the Office of the District Attorney, served as the Lafayette Juvenile Detention Home Administrator and was the first Lafayette City Court Administrator.

On June 1, 1984, Picard was appointed by the Lafayette Parish Council to the office of City Marshal. He is the first City Marshal to be elected to 5 consecutive terms in office and began his fifth term on January 1, 2009.

The ceremony in the church was followed by a lunch reception in Downtown Lafayette, also attended by friends and family members.