By Marilyn B. Colton, Contributing Writer

 

Today, April 2, 1992, has special meaning for Wilson J. Cedars of Natchitoches.  It is his wedding anniversary and also the date he began operating Cedars Body Shop at 1307 Washington Street. 

 

His marriage to the former Amarylis (Rill) Stacy in 1948 has produced 10 children – five sons and five daughters – and there are more than twice that many grandchildren.  Most of his sons have worked at one time or another in the business, and two are still employed there. 

 

Family-oriented, the business began on a shoestring but has outlasted many firms.  In fact, some companies fold in the first two years and many are closed within five or 10 years.  So Cedars feels proud that his shop has been at its presentation location for 40 years.  

 

The metal and cement block structure housing Cedars Body Shop is a far cry from the wooden building Cedars moved into in 1952.  That one had been a roller skating rink operated by his brother, the late Rufus Cedars, and Lee Baines.  When the Cedars-Banes operation experienced hard times, Wilson Cedars purchased the property and ran the rink himself as a side-line until he decided to use the building for his shop.

 

Emile Ackel, a mechanic for Pat Dwyer’s business where Cedars did paint and body work, went to work for Cedars after Dwyer closed.  The company was the first body shop in Natchitoches independent of a car dealer. 

 

Cedars had the support of two local businessmen, Arlin Bice and Tony Salim, who each offered to have a car or a pickup truck painted so Cedars could pay the first two months’ rent on the building in which the shop first operated.

 

Shortly after the move to Washington Street, Rufus and Raymond Cedars were employed by their brother and Polete Kerry also joined the group. Raymond recently retired after more than 30 years of service with the shop. 

 

Shortly after opening his shop, Cedars had the foresight to purchase a small wrecker as an additional service to the public.  Through the years, he’s operated up to a fleet of six wreckers.  And they’ve been used for every type wreck or emergency imaginable.  One even pulled a cow out of a boggy pasture off St. Maurice Lane. 

 

With the 1990 purchase of a 45-ton Kenworth, which took the place of two Mack wreckers, today there are four vehicles of various sizes that can be called upon to handle accidents involving cars, trucks, buses, trains, etc.

 

The KW is nicknamed “Roy’s Toy,” and is really the favorite of Roy Cedars, who’s been working with his dad since he returned from service with the Army in the Korean War. He recently completed eight hours of training in a safety course involving hazardous materials.  Only a few men in the central Louisiana area were qualified after taking the course that is required by the Transportation and Environmental Safety Section of the Louisiana State Police.

 

Stacy Cedars is also a member of his dad’s staff.  Other members of the family who have worked with them are Jiggs (Wilson Jr.), Winston and Kerry Gene.  The latter currently operates his own body shop business.

 

Jiggs designed the present-day shop building, and all the boys helped erect it with the assistance of their brothers-in-law and an uncle or two.  

 

Their sisters – Lou, Meme, Sonia Kay, Joy and Camille – have also helped in various ways and their mother keeps the books in order.

 

Wilson says he’s proud of his accomplishments but credits his family, God and good friends with helping him realize his goals.  Although he experienced several strokes a few years ago, he’s still putting in a regular work day and doesn’t plan to retire in the near future.

 

A native of Gorum, Wilson spent World War II in the South Pacific. Following his discharge, he began working in Natchitoches and continues to make his home here.  He served as a volunteer fireman for the Natchitoches Fire Department for 14 years.

 

He holds membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4858 in Many and Natchitoches Moose Lodge 2252 and is a former member of the American Legion Post 10 and Natchitoches Elks. 

 

For many years Cedars operated bingo games at the Elks, Legion and Natchitoches VFW.  Through the years, he’s also helped local schools and churches in addition to doing many charitable works and helping untold numbers of area residents.

 

It’s fitting that Wilson Cedars be congratulated today for his accomplishments.