SLS 20RS-178 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 3
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the passing of Shreveport philanthropist
and art advocate, Ollie Delton Harrison Jr.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the passing of
3 Shreveport philanthropist and art advocate, Ollie Delton Harrison Jr. and to celebrate
4 his life and his legacy of good works and community service.
5 WHEREAS, art patron Delton Harrison was a true southern gentleman and a vibrant
6 individual; he possessed a rapier wit and a keen sense of civic duty in the promotion of all
7 manner of artistic pursuits that enriched the public as a whole; and
8 WHEREAS, Delton Harrison was a Renaissance man of exquisite cultural tastes and
9 refinement; he had mastered an infinite number of vocations during his lifetime as
10 philanthropist, world traveler, civic leader, fundraiser, champion of the creative spirit, and
11 a supporter of cultural opportunities for all; and
12 WHEREAS, born in Shreveport on May 22, 1931, into the family of Ollie Delton
13 Harrison Sr. and Jennie Moore Lane; he was an exceptional scholar and a graduate of C. E.
14 Byrd High School, Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and American University in
15 Washington, D.C.; and
16 WHEREAS, during the 1950s, he returned to Shreveport to enter the family business
17 at Harrison Company, a successful confection and tobacco product wholesaler; and
18 WHEREAS, Delton Harrison created art venues whenever possible and founded
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SLS 20RS-178 ORIGINAL
1 many local institutions such as the Shreveport Art Guild, Friends of the Meadows Museum,
2 Red River Revel Arts Festival, and Les Boutiques de Noel; and
3 WHEREAS, he served in the capacity of officer and member of an extensive list of
4 civic organizations that included the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, the Shreveport Little
5 Theatre, the Shreveport Symphony, and the Shreveport Opera company where he sang in the
6 chorus for many years; and
7 WHEREAS, his philanthropy was boundless and the extent of his personal giving
8 may never be fully known because much of it was done anonymously although he received
9 numerous awards and honors throughout his lifetime for his philanthropy; and
10 WHEREAS, some of his recognitions include the Clyde Fant Award from the United
11 Way, Arts Patron of the Year (2000), Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by the North
12 Louisiana Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives, and being named a
13 Louisiana Legend by Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting (2013); and
14 WHEREAS, he promoted higher education and better medical health outcomes with
15 service on the advisory boards of Centenary College, Louisiana State University Shreveport,
16 LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, and the CHRISTUS
17 Schumpert Foundation; he also established an endowed chair for the Master of Liberal Arts
18 Program at LSUS; and he was named an Honorary Alumnus of Centenary College; and
19 WHEREAS, Delton Harrison had a very special place in his heart for the historic
20 preservation of Shreveport landmarks such as the Robinson Film Center, Oakland Cemetery
21 (Preservation Society), and The Strand Theatre; and many local nonprofit agencies
22 benefitted from his guidance and prolific fundraising capabilities; and
23 WHEREAS, he was the lifetime chairman of the Shreveport Branch of the
24 English-Speaking Union and under his tutelage the organization flourished as the largest
25 chapter in the United States; and
26 WHEREAS, the scope of his interests extended far beyond the state of Louisiana; in
27 New York City, Delton served on the boards of the Metropolitan Opera, the National
28 Institute for American Musical Theater, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art; he held a
29 fifty-year membership in the Metropolitan Club; and the American Museum in Bath,
30 England, and the Royal Academy of Arts in London were also beneficiaries of his generosity
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1 and vision; and
2 WHEREAS, perhaps Delton Harrison's most profound characteristic was his innate
3 ability to embrace the universal appeal of music; while serving on the boards of the Dallas
4 Opera Association and the Dallas Grand Opera, he often orchestrated group trips to attend
5 Sunday performances and enriched the experience with the opportunity to perhaps meet such
6 operatic greats of the era, that included soprano Beverly Sills and tenor Placido Domingo;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, Delton was a longtime member of The Shreveport Club and was
9 awarded its Founders Cup (2009); he was also an active member of the Cotillion Club and
10 reigned as Rex VI; and
11 WHEREAS, as a man of unfaltering faith, Delton attended St. Mark Episcopal
12 Church and served as a choir member and usher; and
13 WHEREAS, he was beloved by family and copious numbers of friends throughout
14 the world and was famous for hosting festive occasions in his home, which were always
15 filled with beautiful art, savory cuisine, and lively conversation; and
16 WHEREAS, he is survived by his sister Adelaide (Shelby Smith); his nieces and
17 nephews, Harrison Smith (Cissie), Jennie Lane Easterwood of Shreveport and Shelby Smith
18 Jr. of Santa Fe, New Mexico; his great-nieces and great-nephews, Delton Smith (Caroline)
19 of Shreveport, Randolph Smith of Shreveport, Edward Smith of Shreveport, Shelby
20 Easterwood of Shreveport, and Mary Katherine Easterwood of Shreveport and a host of
21 extended family and many close friends; and
22 WHEREAS, Delton Harrison was an altruist of the highest order who has left an
23 indelible mark on the rich cultural atmosphere of Shreveport and the Ark-La-Tex region; he
24 readily performed his civic duty whenever and wherever possible and his support of artistic
25 opportunity for the community has been an immeasurable gift to all of Northwestern
26 Louisiana.
27 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
28 express condolences to the family and friends of the late Ollie Delton Harrison Jr., art patron,
29 civic leader, and philanthropist, and does hereby recognize that his life was well-spent in
30 service of his community, his family, and his God.
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1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
2 sister, Mrs. Adelaide Smith.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 3 Original 2020 Regular Session Peacock
Expresses condolences upon the death of Delton Harrison Jr. of Shreveport.
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