Barry Berthelot was named the 89th recipient of the Lafayette Civic Cup in 2021, recognizing a lifetime of leadership, service, and commitment to making Acadiana a better place to live and work. Through his distinguished military and business careers, as well as decades of civic involvement, Barry has exemplified the spirit of community stewardship that the Civic Cup seeks to honor.
A native of New Orleans, Barry arrived in Lafayette in 1967 to attend the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While pursuing a degree in economics, he participated in ROTC and became involved in campus life through Sigma Nu fraternity. What began as a college destination soon became home, laying the foundation for a lifelong commitment to the Lafayette community.
After graduation, Barry served his country as a captain and fighter pilot in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Following five years of military service, he returned to Lafayette, drawn by the welcoming nature of the community and its strong tradition of civic engagement. It was here that he would build both a successful professional career and a legacy of service.
Barry’s career in banking and business leadership spanned several decades and included some of the region’s most influential institutions. He served as President of First National Bank of Lafayette, Acadiana Market President for JP Morgan Chase, and Executive Vice President and Director of Organizational Development for IBERIABANK. Later, he founded Family Business Advisors, LLC, where he has helped family-owned businesses navigate the complex challenges of leadership succession and ownership transitions.
While his professional accomplishments are significant, Barry’s impact on the community extends far beyond the workplace. For more than forty years, he has devoted countless hours to organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in Acadiana. His leadership has included service as President of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, Chairman of United Way of Acadiana, Chairman of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, and Founding Board Member and Chairman of the Community Foundation of Acadiana.
One of the causes closest to Barry’s heart has been the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Alongside his wife, Becky, he helped raise more than $1 million in support of leukemia research and patient services in honor of their son’s battle with the disease. His commitment to service has also been reflected in his volunteer work at Holy Cross Catholic Church, where he has served as a sacristan, eucharistic minister, and member of the men’s choir. Throughout the years, he has also contributed his time and expertise to numerous other organizations, including the Kiwanis Club, Downtown Development Authority, and the St. Thomas More Foundation.
For Barry, community involvement has never been about recognition. Instead, it has been rooted in a belief that helping others strengthens both the individual and the community as a whole. Reflecting on his years of volunteer service, he once remarked, “Helping people, making the community a better place for everybody to live, and helping those less fortunate—whether they’re poor, sick, or unemployed—has always been important. You think about people giving, and you do give a lot. But you receive a lot back.”
Today, Barry enjoys spending more time with his family and church community. He and Becky have been married for more than three decades and are the proud parents of five sons and grandparents to eleven grandchildren. Though his pace of life has slowed, his influence continues to be felt across Acadiana through the organizations he helped lead, the people he mentored, and the countless lives touched by his generosity and dedication.
The Lafayette Civic Cup honors individuals whose contributions have strengthened the community through sustained civic leadership and service. Barry Berthelot’s life and work embody those ideals, leaving a legacy that will continue to benefit Lafayette for generations to come.
