After 40 years of dedicated service at Acadian, former Vice President of Operations Clay Henry continues to stay busy, this time involving beekeeping and working with nonprofit organizations.
He started at Acadian in 1979 and spent his career overseeing ground operations across Louisiana, managing the communication centers, and providing operational oversight company-wide.
Even now, he’s still part of the Acadian family, serving on nonprofit boards, staying close to the Zuschlag family, and continuing the legacy of giving back. “Richard was like family to me,” he said. ”One of my last conversations with him was about my next chapter, working with bees and helping kids. He gave me his blessing, and I do it in his memory.”
Today, his passion lies in beekeeping, a hobby he had never thought of before retiring. Fellow Acadian team member, Lonnie Hotard, is Clay’s mentor and friend, and is also a beekeeper. Clay was fascinated by Lonnie’s beekeeping, and now he has 10 hives of his own in Breaux Bridge and at Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chuck Burnell’s home. While Burnell shares the space, Clay says he’s more focused on eating all the honey than helping with the bees.
This hobby became especially meaningful to him since he involved his five-year-old granddaughter, Caroline. She has her own bee suit, and together they’ve created “Caroline’s Honey,” which they bottle and give away to friends, family and her teachers.
He also goes to local schools and brings a safe observation hive, along with bee-themed handouts and activities for students. Starting next year, he plans to expand the experience through a partnership with St. Bernard Catholic School and the local 4-H program, offering field trips for older students.
In addition to his beekeeping, he serves on the board of the St. Bernard School Foundation and remains active in the community.
Although retired, he says, “I’m busier now than I was when I was working. But I’m loving every minute of it.”
