Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 104
BY SENATOR CROWE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Charles Hilbert Reppel Sr., a commissioner on the board of the St. Bernard
Port, Harbor and Terminal District.
WHEREAS, Charles Reppel was born in New Orleans and died on Thursday,
November 15, 2012, at the age of eighty; and
WHEREAS, Reppel was a veteran of the United States Navy and served his country
during the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, following his service to his country, Charles Reppel married Sylvia
Merwin Reppel and the couple raised eight children; and
WHEREAS, he began his employment with Smith & Johnson Shipping Company
in 1954, working his way up to purchasing agent, assistant traffic manager, and assistant
operations manager; and
WHEREAS, in 1975 Reppel left Smith & Johnson and Louisiana to accept a new
position with West India Shipping in West Palm Beach, Florida, as project manager; and
WHEREAS, his position with West India involved traveling to Caribbean ports,
South America, Central America, Mexico, Panama Canal Zone, and throughout the United
States; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, Reppel returned to Louisiana to accept a position with the St.
Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District, which was established by the legislature in
1960, as operations manager, where he represented the St. Bernard Port at the Ports
Association of Louisiana (PAL) meetings, among other duties; and
WHEREAS, in 2000 he retired from the district, but he continued to attend PAL
meetings and in 2007 he was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the district and
was serving in that capacity at the time of his death; and SR NO. 104 ENROLLED
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, Reppel was a well known resident of St. Bernard Parish, where he was
active in many community and civic organizations; and
WHEREAS, he was a member of the Louisiana River Pilots Association and the
Plimsoll Club and a longtime coach of many successful baseball and basketball teams; and
WHEREAS, as past president and board member of the St. Bernard Port, Harbor and
Terminal District, Charles Reppel gave extensively of his time and talents to support this
essential economic driver for St. Bernard Parish; and
WHEREAS, Charles Reppel continued his service to the people of St. Bernard upon
his selection as director of the St. Bernard Recreation department in 2001, where he
remained through 2004.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express sincere condolences upon the death of Charles Hilbert Reppel Sr., a
commissioner on the board of the St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
widow of Charles Hilbert Reppel Sr., Sylvia Merwin Reppel.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE