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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 61
BY SENATOR ALARIO
COMMENDATIONS. Commends James Edward "Jimmy" Fitzmorris Jr. for a lifetime of
achievement and on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend James E. "Jimmy" Fitzmorris Jr. for his many years of invaluable public2
service to the people of the state of Louisiana and to congratulate him on the3
attainment of an exceptional milestone of ninety years of age.4
WHEREAS, Jimmy Fitzmorris is a favorite son of Louisiana who has dedicated a5
lifetime to public service in state and local government; one of a rare breed of men who does6
many things well, as a public servant, businessman, community leader, activist, husband, and7
father; and8
WHEREAS, he was born in New Orleans on November 15, 1921, to parents, James9
and Romolia Fitzmorris, reared in the neighborhoods of the Irish Channel and Broadmoor,10
and graduated from Jesuit High School in 1939; and11
WHEREAS, his college career at Loyola University was cut short by the call to12
military duty during World War II, when he was drafted into the United States Army; he13
distinguished himself and rose through the ranks from private to major, was honorably14
discharged in 1946, and continued his military service in the United States Army Reserves15
for another twenty years; and16
WHEREAS, Jimmy Fitzmorris is a servant of the people, having begun his public17
service as a New Orleans City Councilman representing District C for twelve years; and18 SR NO. 61
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WHEREAS, in 1972, he won a statewide landslide victory to become the Honorable1
James E. Fitzmorris Jr., Lieutenant Governor of the State of Louisiana, serving as President2
of the Louisiana State Senate, as coordinator of International Trade and Development, as3
chairman of the Board of Commerce and Industry, and as head of the Louisiana Tourist4
Development Commission; and5
WHEREAS, during his two terms as Lieutenant Governor, at which time the state's6
economic development and growth rate was ranked first in the nation, he was instrumental7
in the development of the Louisiana Superdome, the centerpiece of the New Orleans8
Tourism Industry, and fruition of the 1984 World's Fair; and9
WHEREAS, under Governor Treen's administration, he served as Executive10
Assistant for Economic Development and International Affairs; he was again appointed to11
the Commerce and Industry Board and rose nationally as chairman of the National12
Conference of Lieutenant Governors' Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and13
WHEREAS, in 1999, Jimmy Fitzmorris was honored with induction into the14
Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in Winnfield; and15
WHEREAS, his economic expertise and business acumen are linked to his lengthy16
career with Kansas City Southern Railroad, where he ascended through the ranks to become17
vice president; and was named one of the youngest railroad executives in America; and18
WHEREAS, it is this real world experience that has propelled Jimmy Fitzmorris to19
recognize and bolster the tremendous growth potential within the city of New Orleans and20
the state of Louisiana; and21
WHEREAS, with his considerable expertise in the field of commercial ventures, in22
1984, he founded Fitzmorris and Associates, a consultant firm representing a broad clientele23
in real estate development and governmental relations; he is a charter member of First Bank24
& Trust Company and also serves on the board of directors of First Trust Corporation; and25
WHEREAS, his astute business insight garnered recognition from his peers and26
inclusion in many prestigious associations, such as, The Chamber/New Orleans, Downtown27
Development Committee, Allstate/Sugar Bowl, International Business Board of Loyola28
University, A. B. Freeman School of Business of Tulane University, board of directors of29
the World Trade Center, World Trade Club, and the Louisiana Industrial Development30 SR NO. 61
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Executives Association; and1
WHEREAS, many public and nonprofit agencies benefited from his guidance as past2
president of the New Orleans Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, as corporate vice3
president of National Board of Directors for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the4
Friends of City Park, Metropolitan New Orleans Safety Council, Aquarium of the Americas,5
and Fleur-de-Lis Ambassadors of New Orleans; and 6
WHEREAS, as a man of unfaltering faith, he serves as an honorary lifetime member7
of the Knights of Columbus, Charles Carroll Council No. 2926, and the Order of the8
Alhambra, as a Eucharistic minister at St. Pius X Catholic Church, and on the board of9
directors of Mount Carmel Academy, and on the advisory board of the Congregation of10
Sisters of Mount Carmel; and11
WHEREAS, the love of his life was the late Gloria Lopez Fitzmorris, married fifty12
years at the time of her passing in 1995, and together they celebrated a life of devotion to13
each other; their union blessed by the birth of a daughter, Lisa Marie Clement, two14
granddaughters, and a host of close friends and extended family; and15
WHEREAS, Jimmy Fitzmorris sets a solid benchmark for a long life rich with16
experience; he lives life every day to its fullest; he remains active; he savors all that life17
offers; and he serves as a reminder that every day is a gift from God neither to be wasted nor18
squandered, no matter what length of time one is allotted.19
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana20
does hereby commend James E. "Jimmy" Fitzmorris Jr., a political icon, a mover and shaker21
with nearly sixty years of experience in the public arena, for his many achievements, for his22
many contributions to the state of Louisiana, and upon the celebration of his ninetieth23
birthday.24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does25
hereby remember and commend Jimmy Fitzmorris as a former presiding officer of this body.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to27
James E. "Jimmy" Fitzmorris Jr.28 SR NO. 61
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
Alario SR No. 61
Commends James E. "Jimmy" Fitzmorris Jr. for a lifetime of achievement and the occasion
of his ninetieth birthday.