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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 65
BY SENATOR ADLEY
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Charlie Smith, legislative
lobbyist.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the passing of a2
legend and icon in Louisiana legislative politics, Charles L. "Charlie"Smith, lobbyist,3
political consultant, poet, and writer.4
WHEREAS, very few ever reach the status of legend in the world of politics, in5
particular, someone who had never held elective office; however, Charlie Smith was unique;6
he had been a integral part of the State Capitol community for over forty years; he had7
reached that legendary pinnacle and rose far beyond it into the stratosphere of near political8
nirvana; he was without peer in the world of lobbying and persuasion; and9
WHEREAS, Charlie was born on September 9, 1942, in Mobile, Alabama, reared in10
Slidell, attended Southeastern Louisiana University, and later graduated from LSU with a11
degree in journalism where he often voiced opinions at Free Speech Alley, was active in the12
Young Democrats campus organization as its president, and developed a fervor for LSU13
Tiger football; and14
WHEREAS, he began his lobbying career in 1968 with representation for the15
Louisiana Municipal Association and soon after that the Associated General Contractors;16
"old-time" politics were the order of the day dictated by deals confected over cards and17
Kentucky bourbon; and18 SCR NO. 65
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WHEREAS, in the thick of it was Charlie Smith, a master of riding the roller coaster1
of legislative procedure; by 1970, Charlie Smith was Executive Director of the Construction2
Industry Legislative Council; he tackled the monumental labor-management battles of that3
era such as, Right To Work, Workers' Compensation, Unemployment Compensation reform,4
and the repeal of the Prevailing Wage Law; and5
WHEREAS, for nearly two decades Charlie Smith remained well-connected and6
extremely successful, however, he admitted later that his hard-charging lifestyle with7
unlimited bacchanalian excesses had begun to spin out of control; and like Icarus, he had8
flown too close to the sun; and9
WHEREAS, in 1987, Charlie had his moment of clarity, stopped lobbying in the10
midst of all his success, did a complete about face, stepped away from the political scene,11
and became a bohemian and poet in the French Quarter of New Orleans selling poetry in12
Jackson Square; and13
WHEREAS, this was his catharsis for several years; he held up the mirror and peered14
closely at the image; he delved deep within himself, examined every flaw, and came to grips15
with his demons; he wrote compositions and poems, published several books of poetry that16
include, Still Waiting for Last Call, Throw Me Something Mistuh, and Still, Still Waiting for17
Last Call; each tome was a reflective look at both the past and the present; he was once18
arrested for selling poetry without proper municipal authorization, to which he lamented19
with a pun, "There is no poetic license in New Orleans."; and20
WHEREAS, after a seven-year hiatus, Charlie Smith returned to the State Capitol in21
1994, took up the mantle of lobbyist once again, engaged in the process as before, but with22
a well-tempered demeanor and far less bravado; and23
WHEREAS, this time Charlie's life was on a more even keel, steady, assured, ready24
to go to work as an advocate for issues dear to his heart such as, funding for the arts,25
environmental issues, historic preservation, fishing industries, humane societies, parishes,26
and municipalities; and27
WHEREAS, Charlie believed that everyone and everything should have a voice in28
government, a citizen's inalienable right to representation in a democratic society; and he29
often represented those entities without pay, only because it was their right to be heard; this30 SCR NO. 65
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collection of unusual clientele included pets, fish, exotic dancers, museums, historic1
properties, Mike, the LSU Tiger, the LSU Tiger Band, LSU athletes, and the New Orleans2
Saints football team; simply because he thought "it was the right thing to do"; and3
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith changed political attitudes toward funding for the arts,4
to promote its worth as an essential support of the state's economic engine, tourism, to5
elevate the necessity of arts in education, and to find financial support for such worthy6
causes as Louisiana Artworks, the Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans, and the7
conservation of the Grand Opera House in Crowley, and other historic properties; and8
WHEREAS, during his life Charlie Smith traveled freely in the inner circles of seven9
governors, John McKeithen, Edwin Edwards, Dave Treen, Buddy Roemer, Mike Foster,10
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, and Bobby Jindal and befriended many a well-connected11
politico as his comrade-in-arms; and12
WHEREAS, in 2011, Charlie Smith was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall13
of Fame; the only lobbyist to receive such a prestigious honor; and14
WHEREAS, Charlie lived his life without bias, accepting of princes and paupers with15
the same quantity of humanity; he was as akin to the free spirits of the French Quarter as he16
was to the policy-makers at the State Capitol; and17
WHEREAS, Charlie possessed an innate ability to peer into someone's soul, to18
unravel the exterior layer, to see the real person within, to size him up, and to take full19
measure of his mettle and the capacity of his heart; and20
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith, the proud elder statesman of lobbyists, was an ardent21
admirer of the people and institution of the legislative process; he was well known for his22
pleasant disposition and kind heart, his affection for animals, his writing, and his passion for23
Louisiana, her culture, and her people; and24
WHEREAS, he was survived by his wife, Donna LaCava; his siblings, Fred Lee,25
John Patrick, May Helen, and Aaron Smith; his children, Kimberly Glass, Tracy Smith, and26
Cristina Smith; two grandsons and his many, many friends who knew him as a cherished27
commodity, for he was precious in small ways as well as great ones; friends who bade his28
departure with a hero's farewell; and from one acquittance who stated that, 'if Charlie Smith29
did not exist, we would have to invent him'; and30 SCR NO. 65
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WHEREAS, Charlie was born at just the right moment in time and blessed with the1
right temperament to embrace all that Life had to offer, to overcome adversity, to live every2
day to its very fullest extent, and to wring the last drop of mirth, love, and decadence out of3
one lifetime; and4
WHEREAS, whether white knight or poet with feet of clay, Charlie, himself, may5
have distilled much of his existence into the composition, Options, from his book, Still, Still6
Waiting for Last Call,7
Life is just a string of options, of choices we must make, 8
different roads to journey down, directions we can take.9
And there is no perfect choice, no pre-ordained way to go, 10
we can't control our destinies or direct the rivers flow.11
But we know that joy cannot exist without the risk of pain12
for as flowers bloom in sunshine, they would die without the rain.13
Life is filled with "cannots", but they're balanced by the "coulds" 14
and where there's a chance for evil, there must be a chance for good.15
And when we take out options, whichever path we choose, 16
for every chance of winning, there must be a chance to lose.17
So your life is what you make it, you pick the pattern and the style, 18
you can drown in tears and sorrow or light pathways with a smile.19
And you know life won't be easy from the first cry to final breath, 20
but remember the alternative, the other side of Life is Death.21
So if you struggle past the hurdles accept the failures with the fun;22
if at the end, you're smiling, friend, you'll have run your race, and won.23
; and24
WHEREAS, surrounded by loved ones Charlie left this world on March 1, 2012;25
forgiven of past transgressions by personal surrender to his Savior, Jesus Christ, and with26
peace in his heart, he was content to meet his God; he would have liked to stay, but it was27
time to go – it was his "last call"; and with quiet serenity he softly drifted away on a wisp28
of ether into the spiritual firmament to his eternal rest. 29
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby30 SCR NO. 65
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express its sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of the legendary lobbyist,1
Charlie Smith, and celebrates his stalwart dedication to the legislative process.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the3
family of Charlie Smith.4
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
Adley SCR No. 65
Expresses condolences upon the passing of lobbyist, Charlie Smith.