Charles, Nancy Valluzzo Honored for Service

St. Joseph Cathedral Parish has honored Charles and Nancy Valluzzo for their significant contributions in enriching the quality of life in Baton Rouge. 

Rev. Paul Counce, cathedral pastor, bestowed the “Cathedral Community Award” upon the Valluzzos in recognition of their outstanding community involvement and philanthropy. Their work, especially on behalf of Catholic high school education and local youth causes are well-known and contribute to a more vibrant Baton Rouge community. 

Business leaders for more than 55 years, the Valluzzos have owned

and operated some 57 sets of “Golden Arches” throughout the area. They owned the McDonald’s at the corner of Hooper and Joor roads in Central and made it a quality restaurant for the Central community.

Ever since moving to Baton Rouge, both Charles and Nancy have chaired and participated in numerous local non-profit and business governing and advisory boards and causes, which they continue to do. 

The couple met and were high-school sweethearts in Michigan and graduated together from Western Michigan University. 

In 1995, Charles received the Golden Deeds Award, Baton Rouge’s highest honor for community service given by the Inter-Civic Council of Greater Baton Rouge and The Advocate.

Also in 1995, the Ronald McDonald Charities organization tap-ped him for its “McTLC Award,” the highest honor bestowed on a McDonald’s owner/operator. 

The Cathedral Community Award was presented to the Valluzzos as part of St. Joseph Cathedral’s “The Cathedral Evening” on May 4.

That event also honored several parish volunteers and Bishop Emeritus Robert W. Muench. Bishop Muench was Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans from 1990 to 1996. He served as Bishop of Covington, Ky., from 1996 to 2001. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II to serve as the fifth bishop of Baton Rouge from March 2002 to June 2018 until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Photo by Troy Kleinpeter, provided by St. Joseph Cathedral.