Political Quotes

“I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Mr. Henry Smith, Jr. The people of Louisiana lost a giant of a man when Henry A. ``Buster'' Smith, Jr. passed away on Friday, September 9, 2011, at age 82 after a lengthy illness. Born in St. Charles Parish and raised in an area outside of New Orleans known as the River Parishes, Mr. Henry, as we affectionately knew him, was a confident and self-made man who had an optimistic outlook on life that would lift you when you were in his presence. He, and others like him, helped build this Nation. Mr. Henry was a product of the River Parishes whose people draw their strength and sustenance from the Mississippi River, and whose ingenuity and hard work built the incredible industrial complex along the river that fuels so much of our Nation's energy and commerce. He was the guiding force in the development of what became the Magnolia Companies, a multicompany conglomerate in the fields of construction, housing, material sales, real estate, finance, disaster recovery and consulting. He traveled the world in order to help people recover from disasters on six continents, but always returned home to Louisiana and his beloved River Parishes. Mr. Henry assisted with securing the futures for hundreds of families by creating opportunities for meaningful and rewarding work for them to pursue. Mr. Henry was a champion for his community and the surrounding region.…”