It was in 2018 that I picked up a copy of "The Woman in the Window" by A. J. Finn, for a long flight to the West Coast. Unable to put the recently released thriller down, I was enthralled. It was the title though that initially caught my eye. Once upon a time, I knew not a woman but a man in the window -- Mr. Varnado Fussell. In fact, that's what, as a little girl, I called him -- the man in the window.
Growing up an only child in Franklinton in the 1960s and 1970s, I spent an inordinate amount of time with my mother and father. Perhaps it was because they were on up in years when I was born. For whatever reason, I seemed to always be along. And one of the places we frequented was the Fashion Shop, not only to shop but to visit. Owned by my mother's dear friends - Jean Magee Warren, Clarice Magee Richardson, and Maudine Magee Stringer Knight - it was our primary port of call.
And right next door in the Central Louisiana Electric Company "CLECO" office, on Washington Street, was the man in the window. For the longest time he stood so still that I didn't realize he was real. After all, The Fashion Shop had mannequins in the window. So, one fine day, I inquired of my mother. And it was then that she introduced me to Mr. Varnado Fussell (1914-1998) -- the well-known utility company manager, who over decades of service had advanced to this position from service provider. He was the man in the window. By the time I was born in 1964, he had been the utility company manager for thirteen years, having been promoted in 1951 when R. W. Shaw, who occupied the role, passed away. Mr. Varnado did not retire until July of 1984, after 45 years of service in the utility business. A significant career.
Born to Leander and Eldora Sharp Fussell in July of 1914 in Blond in St. Tammany Parish, Varnado Fussell began working part-time in 1939 for Louisiana Public Utilities at their ice house in Covington, for a wage of 30 cents an hour. He married Velma Blackwell (1919-2010), the daughter of John and Florence Blackwell, around that time. She was a Registered Nurse. The couple moved to Franklinton in 1942 when Varnado took Earl Martin's position as service man. Martin had signed up for service with the Seabees in the U. S. Navy during World War II.
Fussell was quoted by Don Ferguson, in an article he wrote for "The Era-Leader" in January of 1981 (my source for this column), "At that time, there were 600 customers in the Franklinton, Enon and Mt. Hermon areas. The average electricity bill was for 80 kilowatt-hours (KWH) per month. About all people had were some drop lights inside their homes and an electric water pump."
The main purpose of electricity back then was to pump water. Noting that in 1981 consumption was up to 2,000 KWH per home each month, Ferguson continued to quote Fussell, "We went from water pumps to refrigerators, from screen doors and window fans to air conditioning. He reflected, "Things certainly have changed." And also from then to now.
After the merger of Louisiana Public Utilities with Gulf Public Service, Fussell continued toiling as a service man until 1951, when he was promoted to manager. He continued in this role, over the decades, transitioning in it to CLECO when Gulf Public Service merged with the company.
Humbly describing his career during the interview with Don Ferguson, Mr. Varnado said, "I've seen some hard times, laughter, tears, disappointments, and tragedies while working for CLECO." He continued, "I'm just thankful to my God for having such fine employees to work with, and for being blessed with a good job all these years. The people I work with have made the job worthwhile." And that is the gentleman, I remember, in the window.
Mr. Varnado's kindness and humility served him, and us, well outside his profession -- in local politics. Engaged with the community, he made notable contributions to Franklinton and Washington Parish. He served on the Franklinton Town Council in 1953 under Mayor Mouton Bickham and, reelected in 1958, again under Mayor Haley Carter. In 1964, Mr. Varnado took his knowledge and talent to the Washington Parish Police Jury where he represented Ward Three, serving with Michael Crain (my first cousin once removed), for four years. Then, following redistricting when Ward One and Three merged to become District One, Mr. Varnado was elected to represent District One on the Police Jury, a position he held until 1980 for a total 16 years of service.
Mr. Varnado served as president of the Police Jury for four years and as vice-president for twelve. The advocate for a new parish jail, he finally got his wish when parish residents passed the tax of which he had long been a proponent. And Mr. Varnado also served as Mayor of Franklinton from November 1987 to the end of December 1988.
Upon retirement from CLECO, in his own words: "I want to pay my respects to the customers I've worked with for the last 40-odd years. Some of the finest people in our country are in the Franklinton area, which includes Enon and Mt. Hermon. I want to thank them for their cooperation and understanding." I noticed a trend, both politically and professionally. Mr. Varnado, always humble, gave the credit to the people, both those he represented and those he worked with.
Varnado Fussell and his wife Velma, who worked at the Washington Parish Health Unit for twenty-seven years and was an avid golfer at the Franklinton Country Club, lived in a lovely home in East Acres. There, they raised their two children: son Larry Fussell, married to Marsha, and daughter Sharon Dempsey, my friend and Delta Delta Delta sister. The couple had grandchildren Paige Fussell, Amy Fussell Roberts (Paul), and Leigh Anne Dempsey. They also had great-grandchildren Blake Fussell and Parker Roberts and step-great-grandchildren Kalli Roberts, Anna Roberts, and Walton Roberts.
Anyone acquainted with Varnado Fussell knew that he was a prince of a fellow. But to me, he will always be the man in the window.
