HLS 15RS-4705 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 220
BY REPRESENTATIVE FOIL
COMMENDATIONS: Commends George Lee Griffin, Sr., upon his retirement as president
and chief executive officer of the LSU Foundation and for 55 years of civic activism,
public service, and philanthropy in the state
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend George Lee Griffin, Sr., upon his retirement as president and chief executive
3 officer of the LSU Foundation and for his fifty-five years of civic activism, public
4 service, and philanthropy in the state of Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, George Lee Griffin, Sr., was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on
6September 19, 1938, to Dale and Catherine Griffin; he is the sibling of A.D.; and
7 WHEREAS, the family settled in Dallas, Texas, where Lee excelled in athletics at
8Highland Park High School, and he earned a diving scholarship to the University of Texas;
9and
10 WHEREAS, he received a degree in economics from the University of Texas; and
11 WHEREAS, while attending graduate school at LSU, he met the love of his life,
12Elizabeth "Barrie" Lobdell, whom he married shortly after earning a masters degree in
13economics and finance; and
14 WHEREAS, Mr. Griffin began to work as a management trainee at Louisiana
15National Bank and became president of the bank at the age of forty; and
16 WHEREAS, under his leadership, Louisiana National Bank was a pioneer in banking
17with innovations such as drive-through tellers, issuing credit cards, and multi-parish
18banking; and
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HR NO. 220
1 WHEREAS, he later became president, chief executive officer, and chairman of
2Premier Bank; he retired as president and chief executive officer of Bank One, Louisiana,
3which is now known as Chase; and
4 WHEREAS, while serving as a bank president and in his retirement, Mr. Griffin
5served on numerous civic and nonprofit boards; and
6 WHEREAS, governors Foster, Blanco, and Jindal each appointed him to the
7Louisiana State Civil Service Commission, and he was selected to chair the SECURE
8Commission; and
9 WHEREAS, in recognition of his civic activism and philanthropy, Mr. Griffin has
10received numerous awards and honors, including the LSU Alumni Association Hall of
11Distinction, the E.J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction, Greater Baton Rouge
12Business Report and Junior Achievement Hall of Fame's 1996 Businessperson of the Year,
13the National Conference of Christians and Jews' Brotherhood Award, and the Golden Deeds
14Award granted by the Inter-Civic Council and The Advocate; and
15 WHEREAS, he became a member of the LSU Foundation Board of Directors in 1981
16and is the longest serving active member of the board, for which he served as president from
171989-1990; and
18 WHEREAS, in July of 2011, upon the request of the board, Mr. Griffin succeeded
19retiring LSU Foundation president and chief executive officer Major General William
20Bowdon in an interim role; in the following month, the board asked him to stay for an
21indefinite period; and
22 WHEREAS, upon the retirement of Mr. Griffin, Stephen Moret was selected to
23succeed him; and
24 WHEREAS, Mr. Griffin is a man of strong faith and an active member of St. James
25Episcopal Church, where he currently serves as the senior warden; and
26 WHEREAS, he is the loving husband of Barrie, and the proud father of Lee, Jr., Bill,
27and Beth; the grandfather of Allison, Anna Katherine, Lauren, Griffin, Madeline, Jack,
28Michael, and Andrew; and the great-grandfather of Aubrey and Lydia; and
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HR NO. 220
1 WHEREAS, he looks forward to spending more time with his family, traveling,
2watching his grandchildren's sporting events, witnessing more high school and college
3graduations, and duck hunting.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
5Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend George Lee Griffin, Sr., upon his retirement
6as president and chief executive officer of the LSU Foundation and does hereby commend
7him for his fifty-five years of civic activism, public service, and philanthropy in the state of
8Louisiana.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
10to George Lee Griffin, Sr.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 220 Original 2015 Regular Session Foil
Commends George Lee Griffin, Sr., upon his retirement as president and CEO of the LSU
Foundation and for his 55 years of civic activism, public service, and philanthropy in the
state of La.
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