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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 52
BY SENATOR ALARIO
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of New Orleans public relations executive, Ray A. Liuzza, to commend his life
of service to the community, and to note the proud legacy of good works that he
leaves to the state of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of
the passing of Ray Liuzza, a renowned visionary, tourism industry promoter, real estate
developer, and former chief executive of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, on
December 24, 2011, at the age of eighty-three; and
WHEREAS, he was a favorite son of Louisiana, born in the historic French Quarter
on April 12, 1928, to parents Ted and Thelma Reboul Liuzza; and
WHEREAS, he was a quick study and a graduate of St. Aloysius High School and
Loyola University all before the age of nineteen; and
WHEREAS, for five decades his business acumen created all manner of commercial
development and public relations pursuits in advertising and sales promotion that included
WDSU-TV, the New Orleans Item newspaper, press secretary for United States Senator
Russell Long of Louisiana, and establishment of his own agency, Ted Liuzza and Associates,
a partnership with his father; and
WHEREAS, the Liuzza Agency handled successful marketing campaigns for parish
bond issues, political campaigns, trade associations, real estate developers, engineering
firms, and architects; and
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza saw tremendous growth potential within the city's
infrastructure with expansion and improvement of commercial properties; he organized
Florentine Development, Inc., in 1968, and thus began an odyssey to transform New Orleans
into an irresistible tourist destination unique to all the world; and
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza was instrumental in the fruition of monumental commercial
ventures that showcased the best attributes of the city to attract diverse convention and trade
show markets; and SCR NO. 52 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza was an integral part of the development of the New Orleans
Exhibition Hall Authority and served as its planning commissioner, chairman of the board,
and executive vice president; his further diligence led to the funding and completion of the
Great Hall of the 1984 World's Fair, the precursor to a state-of-the-art, multi-function
showcase, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; and
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza had critical input in the formation of the New Orleans
Tourism Marketing Corporation and promotion of the state's tax-free shopping program to
attract more tourist spending on durable goods; and
WHEREAS, in his real estate holdings, Ray Liuzza developed and managed hotel
properties now known as the DoubleTree By Hilton and the Hotel New Orleans at
Convention Center, and converted a one hundred year old warehouse space into a luxurious
condominium development known as the Sugar Plantation; and
WHEREAS, his professional affiliations included director of the Louisiana
Hotel-Motel Association, board chairman and president of the New Orleans Hotel-Motel
Association, a member of the Greater New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission,
vice chairman of the Aviation Improvement Committee for the Chamber of Commerce, and
as both secretary and vice president of the World Trade Center; and
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza focused on the critical need for a trained labor force to
support and manage the tourism trades; he assisted in the establishment of degree programs
in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration at the University of New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza was proud of his Mediterranean ethnicity and of the
outstanding contributions made to the history of the city by Italian-Americans; he conceived
the idea of Festa D'Italia, a spring celebration of Italian culture and cuisine; and
WHEREAS, for his efforts to promote Italian pride and heritage, the Greater
New Orleans Italian Cultural Society presented him with the Special Achievement Award
and the government of Italy conferred upon him the distinctive title of Cavalier and also
presented him with the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy as a distinguished American
citizen of Italian ancestry; and
WHEREAS, he received many other accolades during his lengthy career that
included receipt of a prestigious award for historic preservation from the New Orleans SCR NO. 52 ENROLLED
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Downtown Development District; and
WHEREAS, his son, Ray T. Liuzza, preceded him in death and he is survived by his
wife of sixty years, Maurine Bonnecarrere Liuzza, six children, five grandchildren, extended
family, dear friends, and a host of colleagues in government and business; and
WHEREAS, Ray Liuzza was a man of great strength and foresight, a thoughtful and
caring individual whose lifetime of contributions leaves an indelible mark on the city of
New Orleans and its tourism infrastructure; whose hard work effectuated prodigious and
sustainable economic growth well into the future for the city and state that he loved so well.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of New Orleans public
relations executive and tourism leader, Ray A. Liuzza.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of Ray Liuzza, commend the rich legacy that
he leaves to the benefit of future generations, and acknowledge a life well spent in the
service of his community, his country, and his state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
widow, Maurine B. Liuzza.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES