Around 18 months ago, Ruby Thibeaux heard the words every employee wants to hear from their boss: “You are ready when your time comes.”

Those words were spoken by Percy Manceaux Jr. , who was the city marshal for Kaplan, to Thibeaux who was his chief deputy at the time. For the last eight years, Thibeaux had been his assistant. Manceaux had two years left of his six-year term, was expected to call it quits and Thibdeaux planned to run for the vacant seat.

Unfortunately, after losing a battle to cancer, Manceaux passed away Thursday night and Thibeaux was promoted to the new Ward 9 city marshal. Manceaux had been the marshal for the last 14 years. Prior to that, his father Percy Sr. was the marshal for close to 30 years.

She was sworn in by Police Jury attorney Paul Moresi III at

Monday night’s police jury meeting.

When she was first hired eight years ago, she started her job by just answering the phone. Eventually she began learning more and more to the point where when Manceaux was out of town, Thibeaux filled in.

“I learned a lot from Percy,” said Thibeaux. “He really wanted me to run for marshal after his term. We talked about me running. But I never thought I would be taking over this early.”

The Police Jury approved raising Thibeaux’s salary to what Manceaux was making. She will be the acting city marshal until a special election in November. Thibeaux said she plans to run for that office.

She said she is comfortable with being the city marshal because, over the last two years, she had been doing many of the things Manceaux was doing. “He was a very good boss and taught me a lot of things. He said I was ready, so I think I am ready. He was preparing me for the upcoming election.”

Unfortunately, her time to shine is now.