ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 258
BY REPRESENTATIVE TALBOT
A RESOLUTION
To commend Melvin Rodrigue on his election as chairman of the board of directors of the
National Restaurant Association.
WHEREAS, food, it's a thing; and glorious food is a glorious thing; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Rodrigue has devoted his professional career to glorious food;
in 2005, the James Beard Foundation selected Galatoire's as the Most Outstanding
Restaurant in the United States; at the operations helm of Galatoire's at the time was Melvin
Rodrigue; since then, Melvin has been promoted to president of Galatoire's and has overseen
the opening of additional restaurant facilities; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Rodrigue has increased the community impact of Galatoire's,
already a New Orleans legend and landmark, by creating the Galatoire's Foundation, which
has raised over one million dollars for charitable causes by auctioning off tables at the
restaurant for the Fridays preceding Mardi Gras and Christmas; he also coauthored a
cookbook in which he shared recipes for some of Galatorie's classic dishes with those of us
who cannot get one of those tables; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Rodrigue's leadership in the world of glorious food goes way
beyond one restaurant; he has held several positions with the Louisiana Restaurant
Association, including chair of the association, chair of the association's self insurer's fund,
and chair of the association's education foundation, and he continues to serve the association
as a director; and
WHEREAS, Melvin's community service also includes membership on the board of
directors of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center; he was originally
appointed to the board by Governor Jindal and was reappointed by Governor Edwards; he
has served the convention center since 2005, currently as board president, and has become
its staunch advocate at the state legislature; and
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WHEREAS, more recently, Melvin Rodrigue has moved onto a national stage; in
2016 he was elected to the board of directors of the National Restaurant Association; in 2018
he was elected as a trustee for the association's educational foundation, and in 2020 he will
serve as chairman of the association, which represents over one million restaurants and over
$863 billion in revenue; and
WHEREAS, shortly after taking over as chairman of the National Restaurant
Association board of directors on January 1, 2020, he will host the board in New Orleans for
its winter meeting; thereafter he will be traveling the country and visiting federal
government officials as the volunteer spokesperson for an industry that, for Louisiana,
constitutes almost twelve percent of the workforce and over $10.6 billion dollars in revenue.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Melvin Rodrigue on his election as chairman
of the board of directors of the National Restaurant Association; does hereby take this
opportunity to express its deepest gratitude to him for his innumerable contributions to the
preservation, promotion, and advancement of Louisiana's glorious food culture and for his
extensive civic service more generally; and does hereby offer best wishes for a fulfilling and
productive term as chairman of the National Restaurant Association.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Melvin Rodrigue.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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