Two of the seven Dimas siblings of Creole, recently celebrated 50 years of service.

On Dec. 31, 2023, Gary has seen 50 years of working in the “Courthouse”. He began working for Cameron Abstract, one of the two abstract companies, both located in the Clerk of Court’s office.

After three years, he moved to the Cameron Parish Assessor’s office and is still there today. He was the first to attend classes and become a Certified Deputy Assessor and worked as Chief Deputy until his retirement in 2008. This is the year Hurricane Ike hit and he was asked to stay and help after its aftermath, as he had just finished the re-assessment process after Rita.

He has not left and works 800 hours each year, as required by law. He has seen seven Assessors since his stint with the office.

Gary said, “I am blessed and love working with property matters and the people of the Parish I love.” Younger brother, Joey, celebrated his 50 year career with Petroleum Helicopters (PHI) in June of 2023.

Joey has always been mechanically inclined and, as a child, constantly saw and heard the helicopters fly over the marshes and beaches of Creole. Immediately out of high school, he signed on with PHI, washing helicopters and would stay afterwards to help out the mechanics.

He continued working and enlisted in trade school and became a certified mechanic. Joey has worked on all the Gulf Coast bases from Venice to Port O’Connor, along with working on five or six offshore platforms; also working in Colorado.

Last year, Joey was nominated for the “Salute to Excellence Award”; an international award for the Helicopter Association.

Joey said, “Looking back over the last 50 years…l feel truly blessed…I’m still living out my boyhood dream.”