BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS:

THE ILLUSTRIOUS LIFE AND LEGACY

OF “NICKEL POLITICIAN” ANGELO ROPPOLO

By: Judge Scott Crichton

A self-described “nickel politician”, Angelo Roppolo would remind us that he was merely “running for the city limits”.

If we had a nickel for every time we heard this curious, intriguing, and mildly humorous statement which he so generously peppered with humility, we’d be rich.

The fact is, we all knew that he was so much more. To hundreds who ran for political office, he was an advisor and strategist; to thousands of us, a devoted and loyal friend; to some, like me, a father figure and mentor. I will talk more about that but I first want to address God and family, which Angelo deemed paramount.

Angelo knew the Lord and knew God’s word. A Catholic all of his life, Angelo, along with Don Miller, Judge Charles “Corky” Marvin, Diana Pratt Wyatt and others, were inaugural founding members of the Shreveport Red Mass Society. He understood the connection of faith in God and the rule of the law, and he therefore believed that lawyers, judges and law enforcement needed God’s blessing and guidance each year in the administration of justice.

Accordingly, he promoted and never missed a single Red Mass service at the magnificent Holy Trinity Catholic Church. We were especially blessed that Angelo lived long enough to worship with us at the 20th Red Mass Anniversary this past May 4, 2012.

Next to God, family was most important. Angelo was married to Pinkey for 56 years, until her death in 1996. He adored his children, Rickey and Joan, and his grandchildren. During the latter decade of his life, Angelo was blessed with Jackie, to whom he was married.

He also had an extended family and it was not unusual for Angelo to tell his top 100 friends that each one was like family. Angelo would call me “son” but would occasionally - and somewhat randomly - “disown” me. Fortunately, after a suitable period of redemption and atonement, he’d take me back – affectionately dubbing me as a “problem child”.

These relationships were extremely important to Angelo and sometimes revolved around political campaigns. 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 and another of which in 1994 involved the election of the first woman to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal.

Angelo’s office at 425 Crocket in Shreveport, La. served as headquarters for some campaign meetings - the walls of his main office abundantly and stunningly adorned with push cards spanning a half century.

Even during intervals between campaigns, political discourse abounded at the “mission control” Crocket Street hub, and it was always about worthy candidates and good government. You see, for seven decades Angelo passionately championed the City of Shreveport and he knew that maintaining a good city was an objective tied to electing worthy leaders.

He loved talking politics so much that a few days before his death, and as he lay in his bed at Grace Home, he continued to discuss my life. When I attempted to steer the conversation back to him, Angelo reminded me that he was, as always, in charge of the conversation.

When, on his terms, he deemed the subject exhausted, he cautioned “whatever you choose to do, make certain your wife approves”. While on the subject of wives he reminded me: “you married up; your wife has really made something of you!” (He’s right about that!).

Besides serving as the business site for the A&A Servicenter (his clever spelling) and A & A Roppolo’s Bail Bonding Service, Inc., the Crocket Street venue 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.

Angelo’s affinity and support of law enforcement was evident on a daily basis. He was the host, and in charge. Like bees to honey, his friends were drawn to the good lunch (usually fried catfish and ribs) and, more particularly, to the excellent fellowship. If you were not to be present and accounted for, you would get a phone call and better have a good reason for your absence.

There are many Angelo stories but I want to share one with you that I will never forget. In the mid-1990s, Ted Riser was elected Webster Parish Sheriff and I was invited to administer his oath of office. There was a change in regimes, and the incumbent wouldn’t step down until the date and time set forth by law, midnight on July 1, 1996.

I suggested that the swearing-in be scheduled at a reasonable and comfortable time, 10:00 a.m. on July 1; however, Angelo insisted that he and I had to swear in the new sheriff at exactly midnight. Accordingly, at about 11:00 p.m. on the hot summer night of June 31, Angelo and I set out on our midnight journey to Webster Parish. With Angelo at attention and enthusiastically at my side, I swore in the new sheriff and his chief deputy. But it didn’t end there.

In his legal capacity as keeper of the local jail and as his first order of business, the new sheriff announced his intention to immediately terminate the services of the warden of what was referred to in Minden as the Pea Farm. Especially in light of the fact that I was a fairly new judge at the time, I wasn’t so sure that I needed to witness this event.

But Angelo wouldn’t have it any other way. So, off we went, down the Pea Farm Road (that is, the newly sworn sheriff, his new chief deputy, Angelo and me) to attend the first official act of the new sheriff. Angelo and I got back to Shreveport about 4:00 a.m. It was a big night and, as you might imagine, one that he talked about for years afterwards.

That Angelo was unique and totally one of a kind, that he achieved iconic and legendary status, is an established fact – as we say in the court business – proven beyond a reasonable doubt. I’m not sure that I know, or even collectively that we know, what it really means to lose Angelo - this self-described “nickel politician running for the city limits”.

Reflecting on his life a few days ago, he said to me, “during my life I’ve helped a lot of people”. As long term friend and confidant Charlie Davis so precisely and eloquently said “Every single morning that Angelo woke up the question for him was ‘who am I going to help today?’”.

The multitude of people that this remarkable and engaging man helped in almost a century is far too great to name or count. So, it’s about God, family, relationships, good government and helping people: that’s the legacy of Angelo Roppolo.

Consistent with his business background and entrepreneurial spirit, he was also a founding member of the South Shreveport Business Association and in the same year received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, of which he was extremely proud.

In the last few weeks he received a quartet of accolades: a concurrent resolution unanimously passed by the Louisiana Legislature, a proclamation by the City of Shreveport, a tribute in the Congressional Record of the U.S. Senate- 112th Congress, and selection into the prestigious Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.

For those of us who knew and loved this man, the seemingly endless parade of friends saying good-bye at Grace Home was really not unexpected nor were the hundreds of phone calls from various leaders: congressmen, governors, mayors, including the mayor of New Orleans, Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice, and even a former United States President (who called Grace Home twice).

Finally, when he shook my hand a few days ago, looked me square in the eyes and said, “Bye, son”, with the last request that I say a prayer at his grave site, I felt this impending vast and profound loss - for me, for us and for this community.

His exemplary 92 years of God, family and relationships and helping people teaches us much about what’s important in life. Not only did he teach us how to live but he also taught us how to die – despite the pain, never really complaining, never losing his sense of humor and departing this life with grace and dignity.

This self-described “nickel politician” is now far beyond the city limits of Shreveport. Through faith we should find comfort knowing that this unique, extraordinary and legendary man is in the hands of God.

And the people said, “Amen”.