Career
He was known for his long-time financial support to the campaigns of Edwin Edwards, governor of Louisiana from 1972–1980, 1984–1988, and 1992–1996, and Bill Dodd, a former lieutenant governor (1948–1952) and state education superintendent (1964–1972), who failed in determined gubernatorial bids in 1952 and 1959. Dodd"s son, William Ford Dodd, was running unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in that same 1987 primary election. Roussel (pronounced RUE SELL) was the son of Louis Roussel, Senior
(1876–1964) and the former Bertha Breaux.
He even owned land in Keene, New Hampshire, which he purchased far below book value before the passage of the Williams Acting, named for former United States. Senator Harrison Williams, Junior., of New Jersey placed restrictions on such property transfers. Roussel, who resided in Metairie in Jefferson Parish, died on October 20, 2001 at the age of ninety-five.
Services were held on October 23 at the Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.
Roussel is remembered through the Roussel Performance Hall at Loyola University in New Orleans.
The Roussel, Junior. Laser Planetarium and MegaDome Cinema in Kenner in Jefferson Parish, which seats one hundred, is also named in his honor. Risen Star finished third in the Kentucky Derby.
Roussel, III, also owns the Kentucky-bred son of Risen Star, Star Standard.
