Paul Lauzier, Jr.

Paul Lauzier was born in 1919. His parents were French immigrants who operated a sheep business in the lower Yakima Valley. His family came to Grant County when they moved their lambing camp to a site near Ephrata.

Mr. Lauzier was introduced to the family sheep business at an early age. As a boy he spent many summers accompanying sheep herders. They trailed sheep from the lambing camps in Grant County across the Columbia River and into high country pastures in the Glacier Peak and Pasayten wilderness areas. Mr. Lauzier often commented that, as a boy, he hated being in the mountains all summer while his friends were back home enjoying the company of the young ladies. However, as years passed he developed an incredible work ethic and a love for the mountains.

Mr. Lauzier served as a member of the United States Army Medical Corps during World War II. He sent most of his military pay to his parents who used the money to continue acquiring land in Grant County, often times at tax foreclosure sales.

When Mr. Lauzier’s father died in the late 1940’s, he assumed responsibility for the family sheep business. After he acquired the business, he gradually shifted from sheep to a cattle operation.

In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Mr. Lauzier began to develop some of the Grant County land that he had acquired. He cleared brush, leveled ground, and installed center pivot irrigation systems so that land could be used for irrigated farming.

Mr. Lauzier was well known for his industry as well as his frugal lifestyle. Although he lived modestly, Mr. Lauzier regularly traveled abroad including many trips to France to visit friends and family.

Mr. Lauzier hosted an early morning coffee group at his home on Dodson Road.  His friends and neighbors often joked about the accuracy of his daily weather forecasts as well as his frugal lifestyle.

Mr. Lauzier was a very private person, although he loved to visit. He lived alone and never married, but loved to dance with the ladies. He acquired great wealth but lived a simple lifestyle. He never went beyond high school. However, he was dedicated to higher education.

Mr. Lauzier lost his battle with prostate cancer in October, 1995. He supported a number of religious, educational and charitable causes during his life. To that end, Mr. Lauzier developed an estate plan designed to continue a legacy of charitable giving. Half of the net income from the assets of his estate is distributed through the Paul Lauzier Scholarship Foundation for college scholarships to Grant County students. The other half of the net income is distributed through the Paul Lauzier Charitable Foundation in the form of grants for community and youth development, public health and safety, education and agriculture. Since 1997, the Paul Lauzier Scholarship Foundation has awarded over 2660 scholarships totaling more than $5.5 million dollars. The Paul Lauzier Charitable Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $5.3 million dollars.

http://www.lauzier.org/