[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S9621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BLONDIE LABOUISSE, 1915-1998

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I note with sadness the passing 
of a leading citizen of my hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana. Carolyn 
Gay Labouisse, a community leader and civic activist for many decades, 
died this past weekend at the age of 83. She was the daughter of Edward 
James Gay, a Senator from Louisiana from 1918 until 1921.
  Known to everyone as ``Blondie,'' she was the classic Southern woman 
who, when she saw something lacking in the community, would immediately 
step forward, roll up her sleeves, and set about making things right. 
For example, when she saw that New Orleans had an inadequate, out-of-
date library facility, she immediately began to spearhead efforts to 
build a new, modern Main Library. She also worked to develop and expand 
public affairs programming at our local public television station 
(WYES). She was an active participant in several task force committees 
dealing with education in New Orleans.
  Blondie was dedicated to progressive politics. In the 1940's and 
1950's, she was part of a circle of young people in New Orleans who 
fought hard to eliminate corruption from politics and to make state and 
local government more responsive to the needs of its citizens. She 
campaigned to elect reform candidates as governor of Louisiana and 
mayor of New Orleans. She was one of the founding members of the 
Independent Women's Organization, which is a leading reform 
organization in New Orleans.
  She received the 1991 Times-Picayune Loving Cup, the single most 
prestigious award given annually in New Orleans for community service. 
The selection committee, in recommending her, noted that ``few show 
more care and compassion for community and fellow man.''
  I extend my sympathies to her family. Blondie Labouisse meant a great 
deal to the people of New Orleans. She will be missed.

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