THE MAN WHO WON'T WEAR PANTS

I'd like to share a Katrina story... a story about a little town, it's surrounding community, and the people struggling against a challenge that may not end for another decade....a story about the man who will not wear pants...




This is Eddie Favre, cousin to Brett Favre of Green Bay Packer fame, crusty yet sincere character, newlywed, Mayor of Bay St Louis, MS, and the infamous "man who refuses to wear pants". When President Bush first came to our area to survey the Katrina damage...Eddie had on the only thing he owned. Months later, President Bush spoke at St Stanislaus College Prep in January 2006, many people were aghast that the Mayor of Bay St Louis, Eddie Favre was in shorts again. President Bush even commented in his speech that day: " I arrive here at this important school and he's got short pants on. Eddie, I like a man who sticks to his guns." Eddie has attended numerous Senate Hearings, a White House Gala, and his own wedding 8 months ago....dressed in shorts.

You see, Eddie, like all most everyone else is his little town and the surrounding county, lost everything but the clothes on his back when Katrina hit. In Eddie's case, he had on flip flops, a t-shirt, and shorts. The town itself and all it's infrastructure was completely gone. And like so many of the heroes here, Eddie and the local police, firemen, and townspeople spent the next days and weeks searching, seeking out, and rescuing all of the trapped and stranded souls that could not help themselves. There was no Coast Guard here, no Fema, no Red Cross, no National Guard for at least 2 weeks. Volunteers would come eventually, along with all the other help but in the initial aftermath, it was just us. We were cut off from the world. We heard and saw the helicopters overheard constantly but they didn't land or drop anything. It was just us. Helping ourselves and each other.

So Eddie decided that he needed to send a message. When President Bush made his initial visit to Bay St Louis, many local and state officials offered to give Eddie pants and better clothes for the photo op. But Eddie refused. He felt that it would send the message that everything was OK and it was certainly not OK. It was far, far from normal. So Eddie vowed to his people, to all of us, that he would continue to wear shorts until things were back to normal. He became a symbol of the continuing desperate needs of a community, a symbol to all of us to stay courageous and dedicated to our goals and this beautiful area we love.

We have come a long way, but there is still such much to do. It is estimated that the entire Coast won't be whole again until another 15 years. We give our undying thanks to the thousands of volunteers that have come from all over our country and world. You have given us your time and money.

These volunteers are still here, still giving and still sacrificing their own jobs, families, and lives. We will never forget what you have done for us and are still doing.

And Eddie stills wears shorts.

You can read about Eddie and my beloved Gulf Coast here: http://www.smliving.net/