Angelo Roppolo
| Angelo Roppolo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
June 29, 1920 Algiers section, New Orleans Louisiana, USA |
| Died |
July 2, 2012 (aged 92) Shreveport, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Forest Park West Cemetery in Shreveport |
| Occupation |
Bail bondsman Political consultant |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Spouse(s) |
(1) Pinkey Matthews Roppolo (died 1996) |
| Children |
Joan R. Moorehead |
Angelo Roppolo (June 29, 1920 - July 2, 2012) was a bail bondsman and political consultant in Shreveport, Louisiana, who advised governors, judges, state and national legislators, and many local officials as well.
Background
Roppolo was born to an Italian-American couple, Carlo and Johanna Roppolo, Sr., in the Algiers section of New Orleans. He subsequently relocated to Shreveport with his family at a young age. From his first marriage to the late Pinkey Matthews Roppolo, he had a daughter, Joan Roppolo Morehead, and a son, Rickey Roppolo. From his second marriage to the former Jackie Davis, he had a stepson, Steve Davis, and a stepdaughter, Connie Vanderventer. He had three grandchildren.[1]
Political life
Roppolo humorously called himself a "nickel politician" who was "running for the city limits". His friend, Judge Scott Crichton of Shreveport, describes him, accordingly:
Besides being an accomplished and successful businessman, he was also an astute and savvy political consultant. It was in his DNA, and he relished nothing more than a spirited campaign into which he poured his heart and soul. He lived it, loved it and was incredibly good at it. Over his time, he consulted and led well over a hundred successful political campaigns one of which in 1978 involved the election of the first African American, Paul Lynch, to Caddo District Court ...
His office at 425 Crocket in Shreveport served as headquarters for some campaign meetings - the walls of his main office abundantly and stunningly adorned with push cards spanning a half century. ... [He] always had a pot of coffee on the stove for the dozen or so friends to stop by, check in, and discuss the hot topics of the day. On many Fridays there were large lunch gatherings, sometimes as many as a hundred people – businessmen, elected officials including sheriffs, district attorneys, FBI agents, judges, clerks of court, tax assessors, marshals, and dozens of police officers.[2]
An active Roman Catholic, Roppolo was with Judge Charles A. Marvin and Shreveport attorney Don Miller (1934-2009) one of the founding members of the Shreveport Red Mass Society, which holds an annual service for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement personnel to highlight the connection between faith in God and the rule of law. The Red Mass is held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in downtown Shreveport.[2]
Roppolo spent his last days in hospice care at the Promise Home in Shreveport, where he died three days past his 92nd birthday. Services were held at St. John Berchmans Cathedral in Shreveport. Interment followed at Forest Park West in Shreveport.[1]
Among his final visitors were Judge Scott Crichton, Governors Edwin W. Edwards and Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, State Senator Barrow Peacock, U.S. Representative John C. Fleming of Louisiana's 4th congressional district, and former Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway.[3]
Legacy
For his early advocacy of civil rights, Roppolo on January 11, 2010, received the Martin Luther King, Jr., Award at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Plain Dealing in northern Bossier Parish.[4]
In 2013, Roppolo was posthumously inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield. Just prior to his death, Roppolo learned that he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. On June 12, 2012, three weeks before Roppolo's death and seven months before his actual induction into the Hall of Fame, the Shreveport City Council passed a resolution congratulating him on this achievement.[5]
References
- 1 2 "Angelo Roppolo". Shreveport Times. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- 1 2 "Beyond the City Limits: The Illustrious Life and Legacy of "Nickel Politician" Angelo Roppolo, July 9, 2012". judgescottcrichton.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Prominent Louisiana politico Angelo Ropollo dies, July 5, 2012". Bail Bonds. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Political Consultant, Shreveport's Angelo Roppolo Received a MLK Jr. Community Service Award Jan 11, January 15, 2010". shreveport.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Council Proceedings of the City of Shreveport, June 12, 2012". shreveportla.gov. Retrieved November 2, 2013.