Long-time political figure Maurice "Hippo" Katz died suddenly at his home in Metairie early Tuesday morning.
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Katz, an insurance executive who had clients throughout South Louisiana, has been an important political figure in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish for more than 30 years. He served on the staff of the late Mayor Dutch Morial and was one of Morial's closest friends.
Following the Morial administration, Katz entered the insurance business and was an almost-instant success. He became one of the closest friends of the late Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, as well as former Jefferson Parish President Tim Coulon. It was said that the best, funniest and most enjoyable lunch companions in Louisiana were Sheriff Lee and Hippo Katz. Katz was a major contributor to political candidates. In 1991, he raised more than $100,000 for the campaign of former Gov. Edwin W. Edwards in the race against former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
Several readers have asked me to comment on the passing of Katz, but frankly, I don't have any insider insight on the man. He'd recently been in the news because of his role in the Lagniappe Industries scandal, and I'd venture to say that it probably wasn't his first involvement in an ethically dubious politico/business arrangement, but I don't have anything special to "dish" on him right now. Perhaps the Flaming Liberal will, at a later time. Y'all probably know more than me.
My research of late has been focused on tomato salesmen and also hip hop artists. My attention has been on the Saints and some of the upcoming elections. In other words, I'm in too many different places at once right now. So, feel free to share and spill stuff on "Hippo" Katz in the comments.
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