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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 52
BY SENATOR ALARIO
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Ray A. Liuzza.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the2
death of New Orleans public relations executive, Ray A. Liuzza, to commend his life3
of service to the community, and to note the proud legacy of good works that he4
leaves to the state of Louisiana.5
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of6
the passing of Ray Liuzza, a renowned visionary, tourism industry promoter, real estate7
developer, and former chief executive of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, on8
December 24, 2011, at the age of eighty-three; and9
WHEREAS, he was a favorite son of Louisiana, born in the historic French Quarter10
on April 12, 1928, to parents Ted and Thelma Reboul Liuzza; and11
WHEREAS, he was a quick study and a graduate of St. Aloysius High School and12
Loyola University all before the age of nineteen; and13
WHEREAS, for five decades his business acumen created all manner of commercial14
development and public relations pursuits in advertising and sales promotion that included15
WDSU-TV, the New Orleans Item newspaper, press secretary for United States Senator16
Russell Long of Louisiana, and establishment of his own agency, Ted Liuzza and Associates,17
a partnership with his father; and18 SCR NO. 52
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WHEREAS, the Liuzza Agency handled successful marketing campaigns for parish1
bond issues, political campaigns, trade associations, real estate developers, engineering2
firms, and architects; and3
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza saw tremendous growth potential within the city's4
infrastructure with expansion and improvement of commercial properties; he organized5
Florentine Development, Inc., in 1968, and thus began an odyssey to transform New Orleans6
into an irresistible tourist destination unique to all the world; and7
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza was instrumental in the fruition of monumental commercial8
ventures that showcased the best attributes of the city to attract diverse convention and trade9
show markets; and10
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza was an integral part of the development of the New Orleans11
Exhibition Hall Authority and served as its planning commissioner, chairman of the board,12
and executive vice president; his further diligence led to the funding and completion of the13
Great Hall of the 1984 World's Fair, the precursor to a state-of-the-art, multi-function14
showcase, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; and15
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza had critical input in the formation of the New Orleans16
Tourism Marketing Corporation and promotion of the state's tax-free shopping program to17
attract more tourist spending on durable goods; and18
WHEREAS, in his real estate holdings, Ray Liuzza developed and managed hotel19
properties now known as the DoubleTree By Hilton and the Hotel New Orleans at20
Convention Center, and converted a one hundred year old warehouse space into a luxurious21
condominium development known as the Sugar Plantation; and22
WHEREAS, his professional affiliations included director of the Louisiana23
Hotel-Motel Association, board chairman and president of the New Orleans Hotel-Motel24
Association, a member of the Greater New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission,25
vice chairman of the Aviation Improvement Committee for the Chamber of Commerce, and26
as both secretary and vice president of the World Trade Center; and27
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza focused on the critical need for a trained labor force to28
support and manage the tourism trades; he assisted in the establishment of degree programs29
in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration at the University of New Orleans; and30 SCR NO. 52
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WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza was proud of his Mediterranean ethnicity and of the1
outstanding contributions made to the history of the city by Italian-Americans; he conceived2
the idea of Festa D'Italia, a spring celebration of Italian culture and cuisine; and3
WHEREAS, for his efforts to promote Italian pride and heritage, the Greater4
New Orleans Italian Cultural Society presented him with the Special Achievement Award5
and the government of Italy conferred upon him the distinctive title of Cavalier and also6
presented him with the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy as a distinguished American7
citizen of Italian ancestry; and8
WHEREAS, he received many other accolades during his lengthy career that9
included receipt of a prestigious award for historic preservation from the New Orleans10
Downtown Development District; and11
WHEREAS, his son, Ray T. Liuzza, preceded him in death and he is survived by his12
wife of sixty years, Maurine Bonnecarrere Liuzza, six children, five grandchildren, extended13
family, dear friends, and a host of colleagues in government and business; and14
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza was a man of great strength and foresight, a thoughtful and15
caring individual whose lifetime of contributions leaves an indelible mark on the city of16
New Orleans and its tourism infrastructure; whose hard work effectuated prodigious and17
sustainable economic growth well into the future for the city and state that he loved so well.18
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby19
express its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of New Orleans public20
relations executive and tourism leader, Ray A. Liuzza.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby22
celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of Ray Liuzza, commend the rich legacy that23
he leaves to the benefit of future generations, and acknowledge a life well spent in the24
service of his community, his country, and his state.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his26
widow, Maurine B. Liuzza.27 SCR NO. 52
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
Alario SCR No.
Expresses condolences upon the death of New Orleans business man, Ray A. Liuzza.