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