Book publisher

NEW ORLEANS – Services for Pelican Publishing Co. president and publisher Dr. Milburn Calhoun will be Thursday in Choudrant. He died Jan. 7 at age 81.

He retired as a physician before before he and his family purchased Pelican Publishing in 1970. The firm grew into the largest independent trade book publisher in the South.

In 1998, Calhoun funded the Mary and Darrell Calhoun Recreational Center at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe, and in 1999, he endowed the $1 million Mary E. and Darrell L. Calhoun Chair in Pharmacology at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He and his wife established the Milburn and Nancy Calhoun Foundation in 2009 to support religious and educational activities.

Arrangements are by Kilpatrick, West Monroe.

Former PAR chief

BATON ROUGE – Services for former Public Affairs Research Council president Art Thiel will be Thursday. He died Jan. 7 at age 91.

A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he worked for PAR 25 years, the last 10 as president. He also worked for the LSU School of Business and chaired Gov. Buddy Roemer’s Talent Search committee.

Survivors include two sons and a daughter.

Long-time city attorney

NATCHITOCHES – Services for long-time city attorney Daniel "Tom" Murchison will be Wednesday. He died Saturday.

He was Natchitoches city attorney for more than 30 years. He graduated first in his Tulane Law School class and was editor of the Law Review.

Survivors include his wife Vicki and three sons.

Principal, coach

PLAQUEMINE – Services for retired principal and coach Frank Ferachi will be Wednesday. He died Jan. 6 at age 84.

A decorated U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he was recreation director for the City of Plaquemine for 25 years and a lifetime member of the LHSAA.

Survivors include his wife Catherine, a son and a daughter.

Arrangements are by Wilbert, Plaquemine.

Former sheriff

DONALDSONVILLE – Services for former sheriff Murray Landry, Jr. will be Wednesday. He died Jan. 8 at age 87.

He was a decorated U.S. Army aviation veteran of World War II was as Assumption Parish sheriff for 16 years.

Survivors include his wife Joy, two daughters, a stepson and a stepdaughter.

Arrangements are by Ourso.

SLU humanities dean

HAMMOND – Services for dean emeritus of the Southeastern Louisiana University College of Humanities James Wilcox were Jan. 3. He died Jan. 2 at age 95.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a professional hornist. While head of the music department at SLU the music annex and recital hall projects were completed.

Survivors include his wife Marie and five children.