John A. Berthelot was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has lived in Gonzales, Louisiana since his birth.
He was educated in both the parochial and public schools in Gonzales. He attended St. Thomas Catholic School, Gonzales High School and East Ascension High School. He is a 1969 graduate of East Ascension and upon graduation, he attended and graduated from the New Orleans Barber College in 1970. He also attended the LSU Continuing Education Program in Real Estate and completed this course in 1975.
In 1976 Mr. Berthelot was elected to the Gonzales Town Council and again in 1980 to the Gonzales City Council. While serving on the council he represented the Fire and Recreation Departments. In 1980 he was selected as Mayor Pro-Tempore by the Council due to receiving the highest number of votes in the Alderman election.
In 1984 Mr. Berthelot was elected Mayor of the City of Gonzales and has served the following five terms in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 without opposition. Mr. Berthelot retired in 2008.
Mr. Berthelot has served in the following capacities: Louisiana Municipal Association President 1989-1990, Executive Board Member of the Louisiana Municipal Association, Vice President District F, Vice President at Large, 1st Vice President, Past President Board Member 1990-2008, 2008 Awarded The Prestigous President’s Award by Louisiana Municipal Association, He has served as Chairman and member of the Board of Directors’ of the Southern Municipal Conference. Johnny Berthelot initiated the official twinning of the City of Gonzales and Meylan, France in 1984, 2011-Elected to The House of Representative-District 88, 2012-2020 Appropriations Committee, 2012-2016 House and Governmental Committee, 2012-2020 Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs Committee-Chairman 2016-2020
He is a past / present member of the following: Gonzales Volunteer Fire Department-Life Time Member, Gonzales Rotary Club-President Elect, Gonzales Kiwanis-past, Gonzales Lions Club-past, Gonzales Jaycees Life Time Member, Board Member-St. Elizabeth Hospital, Past Chairman to the Board of Ascension Economic Development Corporation, Board of Directors – American Gateway Bank, Board of Directors-Ascension Fund, Member of River Parish Community College Foundation Board, Member of the Ascension Chamber of Commerce, He was selected as the Gonzales Jaycees Outstanding Young Man in 1984, Louisiana’s Jaycees Outstanding Young Man 1986, Outstanding Young Men of America in 1986, 1998 Man of the Year by the Ascension Chamber of Commerce, Past Member of the Ascension Parish Local Emergency Preparedness Committee, Past Member of the Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission, Past Member of the Louisiana Recreation and Parks Association, Past Member of the National Parks and Recreation Association, Served as President and Coach of the Gonzales Dixie Youth Baseball Program (20 yrs), National Director of the Dixie Youth Baseball Program (25 yrs-Vice President 2010-2012), Past Chairman of the Capital Region Planning Commission, Past Chairman of the Louisiana Gas Authority, Member of the East Ascension High School Booster Club, Member of the St. Amant High School Booster Club, East Ascension Sportman’s League, Ducks Unlimited Sponsor, Member of the Community Opportunities of East Ascension, Knights of Columbus 2657, Parishioner of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America Fund Raiser, United Way Volunteer, Executive Board Member of the Ascension Parish Cancer/Leukemia Society of America, IAAP Executive of the Year 2000, 1996- Member 1st Class Leadership Ascension, Humanitarian Award 1996 -Arthritis Foundation, Past Chairman Louisiana Community Development Authority
Johnny Berthelot is married to the former Paula Chauvin and has three children Shelley, Kelley and Brad and five grandchildren-Peyton, Reid, Lennon Gabe, Grant and Kate