Louis Roussel, Jr.
| Louis J. Roussel, Jr.
(Louisiana business mogul | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 28, 1906 New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Resided in later years in Metairie in Jefferson Parish |
| Died | October 20, 2001 (aged 95) Resting place: |
| Political Party | Democrat |
| Spouse | Lucy Cocchiarra Roussel |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Louis J. Roussel, Jr. (July 28, 1906 – October 20, 2001), was a powerful businessman and political kingmaker from his native New Orleans, Louisiana. He was known for his long-time financial support to the campaigns of Edwin Edwards, the Louisiana governor from 1972–1980, 1984–1988, and 1992–1996, and Bill Dodd, a former lieutenant governor (1948–1952) and state education superintendent (1964–1972), who failed in determined gubernatorial bids in 1952 and 1959.[1]
Roussel contributed a total of $500,000 to Dodd's campaigns and $600,000 alone to Edwards' failed 1987 race against Buddy Roemer, then a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 4th congressional district.[2] Dodd's son, William Ford Dodd, was running unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in that same 1987 primary election.
Biography
Roussel (pronounced RUE SELL) was the son of Louis Roussel, Sr. (1876–1964) and the former Bertha Breaux. He married the former Lucy Cocchiara (1909-2002), with whom he had two children, Charmaine Roussel Morel (born October 20, 1934) of Metairie and Louis "Louie" Roussel, III (1946-2015), of Kenner. His brother was Ervin Roussel, and his sister was Lillie Roussel Prejean (1911–2007), wife of Oscar J. "Bee" Prejean (1909–1995) of Thibodaux in Lafourche Parish.[3]
Roussel entered the job force in the 1930s as a bus driver in New Orleans but thereafter made a fortune in petroleum and banking.[4] He even owned land in Keene, New Hampshire, which he purchased far below book value before the passage of the Williams Act, named for Democratic former U.S. Senator Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams, Jr. (1919-2001), of New Jersey, placed restrictions on such property transfers.[4]
In his later years, Roussel supported some Republican candidates, as the GOP became more competitive in Louisiana, including the 1990 U.S. Senate hopeful, then state Senator Ben Bagert of New Orleans, who withdrew from the race against David Duke and J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., a contest ultimately won by Johnston, the Democratic nominee, and a former intra-party rival to Edwards in the 1971 gubernatorial runoff contest.
In 1997, Roussel published his autobiography, Friends, Enemies, and Victims: The Autobiography of Louis J. Roussel, Jr.[5]
Death and legacy
Roussel, who resided in Metairie in Jefferson Parish, died on October 20, 2001, at the age of ninety-five. Services were held on October 23 at the Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.[3] At the time of his death, Roussel had four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.[3]
Roussel is remembered through the Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall at Loyola University in New Orleans.[6] The Louis J. Roussel, Jr. Laser Planetarium and MegaDome Cinema in Kenner, which seats one hundred, is also named in his honor.[7]
His namesake son, Louis Roussell, III, an attorney, was the owner along with Ronnie Lamarque of Risen Star, the 1988 winner of the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.[2] Risen Star finished third in the Kentucky Derby. Roussel, III, also owned Star Standard, the Kentucky-bred son of Risen Star.[8]
References
- ↑ Bill Dodd, Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics, Baton Rouge: Claitors Publishing Company, 1991
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Notes. Tulane University. Retrieved on October 31, 2010; no longer on-line.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Obituary of Louis J. Roussel, Jr., The New Orleans Times-Picayune, October 21, 2001.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Schiff's Insurance Observer. insuranceobserver.com (March 2005). Retrieved on December 8, 2019.
- ↑ (1997) Friends, Enemies, and Victims: The Autobiography of Louis J. Roussel, Jr.. Listed only as "Louisiana". Retrieved on December 8, 2019.
- ↑ Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall. travel.aol.com. Retrieved on October 31, 2010; information no longer available.
- ↑ Louis J. Roussel, Jr., Laser Planetarium - Kenner, LA. goby.com. Retrieved on October 31, 2010; no longer on-line.
- ↑ Bob Fortus, "Winning the Triple Crown Like Winning an 'Iron-Man Contest'". New Orleans Times-Picayune (May 24, 2010). Retrieved on October 31, 2010; no longer on-line.