Terry W. Gee
Encyclopedia
Terry Wayne Gee, Sr. is an officer of Ecoloclean Industries, Inc., who formerly served three four-year terms as a Republican
member of the Louisiana
state House of Representatives
. Gee represented parts of Jefferson and Orleans parishes from 1980 until he was defeated for a fourth term, effective 1992. He resided in the Algiers
section of New Orleans, when he was a legislator. Early in 2005, Gee was named Ecoloclean's assistant vice president of capital sourcing.
Gee was retained by Ecoloclean because of his "working knowledge of Louisiana government policies and regulations." Company president and CEO Royis Ward said that Gee would have "all necessary support to assist in the growth of our company. His work ethic and experience in a variety of industries will enhance Ecoloclean's management infrastructure while cultivating future opportunities in the marketplace."
Ecoloclean, founded in 2001 in Crystal City
, southwest of San Antonio
, Texas
, engages in the manufacture and sale of machines for the treatment of contaminated water. In 2005, the company was retained by officials in Biloxi
to provide drinking water to Hurricane Katrina
victims and to establish water remediation needed in the aftermath of the storm along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
and field hand in the Mississippi
oil fields. He obtained a bachelor's degree
in personnel management and public relations
from Louisiana Tech University
in Ruston
in Lincoln Parish. He received a master's degree
in business
from Loyola University in New Orleans. Thereafter, as a Loyola faculty member for seven years, he taught various classes in management and behavioral sciences.
When he filed his candidacy papers for state representative in 1979, he listed his employment as Executive Director of Associated Builders and Contractors.
Gee's experience in the oil and gas industry stems from being a managing partner of Resource Consultants, Limited, for nine years. After eleven years as the assistant to the CEO and chairman of the board of Louisiana Power & Light (a subsidiary of Entergy
), he came to LOOP. Gee was the executive director of the Louisiana Offshore Port Authority ("LOOP") from 1996 until 2004. He was appointed by Republican Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
, and left when a Democratic governor, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, took office. Under his leadership, LOOP was developed as America's first and only deep water port which operated under both U.S. and Louisiana licenses. Gee said that LOOP "is a good corporate citizen that employs over 100 people ... and has a tremendous safety and performance record." In 2008, Republican Governor Bobby Jindal
named a former Democratic legislator and Louisiana Public Service Commission
member, Dale Sittig
of Eunice
, as the new LOOP director.
. Still, there were few Republicans in the legislature when Gee served. In Gee's first term, two other Republicans also represented parts of Jefferson Parish, Charles D. Lancaster, Jr.
, and Charles Grisbaum, Jr.
, a former Democrat who had opposed Treen in a 1974 Third District congressional race but had since switched parties and become a Treen friend and ally. Another Gee colleague, Democrat Charles Cusimano
of Jefferson Parish switched parties in 1984.
Gee was a member of the Ways and Means, Commerce, and Labor committees during his House tenure. In 1987, Gee joined nine legislative colleagues in filing suit against Governor Edwin Washington Edwards in a vain bid to halt what the lawmakers saw as runaway state spending, which was adversely affecting both the general fund and dedicated accounts. Gee and his colleagues were joined by several trade association
s and contractors, including the Louisiana Good Roads Association.
Gee was known in the legislature for his sense of humor. He and two colleagues, including Metairie
Republican Quentin D. Dastugue
, introduced a "bill" in 1991 to "regulate the hunting and harvesting of attorneys by any person with a valid state rodent or armadillo hunting license." Some of his legal colleagues did not find his proposed "open hunting season" on lawyers to be particularly amusing. "We thought this was definitely 'good government' legislation, but the lawyers outnumbered us, and we got beat!" Gee said in a conversation with columnist Smiley Anders of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate.
by a fellow Republican. In the jungle primary
held on October 19, Gee had led the balloting with 4,512 votes (45 percent), compared to 3,734 (37 percent) for attorney Stephen J. Windhorst
(born 1957) of Terrytown
and 1,847 (18 percent) for the only Democrat in the race, Cynthia Davidson. In the November 16 general election, Windhorst was the big winner, 7,576 (61 percent) to Gee's 4,845 (39 percent). Windhorst, a son of State Senator
Fritz Windhorst
, who represented parts of Jefferson and Orleans parishes from 1972–1992, later left the legislature to assume a judge
ship.
Gee and his former wife, Wanda Webb Gee, have a son Terry W. "Buzz" Gee, Jr. (born 1960), a construction company owner in Mandeville
, and a daughter, Regina Gee Esbeck (born 1963). Gee is Baptist
.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
state House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
. Gee represented parts of Jefferson and Orleans parishes from 1980 until he was defeated for a fourth term, effective 1992. He resided in the Algiers
Algiers, Louisiana
Algiers is a neighborhood within the city of New Orleans. It is the portion of Orleans Parish on the West Bank of the Mississippi River.Algiers is also known as the 15th Ward, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans.-History:...
section of New Orleans, when he was a legislator. Early in 2005, Gee was named Ecoloclean's assistant vice president of capital sourcing.
Gee was retained by Ecoloclean because of his "working knowledge of Louisiana government policies and regulations." Company president and CEO Royis Ward said that Gee would have "all necessary support to assist in the growth of our company. His work ethic and experience in a variety of industries will enhance Ecoloclean's management infrastructure while cultivating future opportunities in the marketplace."
Ecoloclean, founded in 2001 in Crystal City
Crystal City, Texas
Crystal City is a city in and the county seat of Zavala County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,190 at the 2000 census. The mascot of Crystal City High School is the Javelina....
, southwest of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, engages in the manufacture and sale of machines for the treatment of contaminated water. In 2005, the company was retained by officials in Biloxi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
to provide drinking water to Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
victims and to establish water remediation needed in the aftermath of the storm along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Gee's background
As a young man, Gee worked for a time as a roughneckRoughneck
Roughneck is a slang term for a person whose occupation is hard-manual labour, typically in a dangerous working environment. The term applies across a number of industries, but is most commonly associated with oil rigs...
and field hand in the Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
oil fields. He obtained a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in personnel management and public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
from Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
in Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
in Lincoln Parish. He received a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
from Loyola University in New Orleans. Thereafter, as a Loyola faculty member for seven years, he taught various classes in management and behavioral sciences.
When he filed his candidacy papers for state representative in 1979, he listed his employment as Executive Director of Associated Builders and Contractors.
Gee's experience in the oil and gas industry stems from being a managing partner of Resource Consultants, Limited, for nine years. After eleven years as the assistant to the CEO and chairman of the board of Louisiana Power & Light (a subsidiary of Entergy
Entergy
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. It is headquartered in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:...
), he came to LOOP. Gee was the executive director of the Louisiana Offshore Port Authority ("LOOP") from 1996 until 2004. He was appointed by Republican Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Murphy J. Foster, Jr.
Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr. served as 53rd Governor of Louisiana from January 1996 until January 2004. Foster's father was Murphy J. Foster, Jr., but Mike Foster uses "Jr." even though he is technically Murphy J. Foster, III. Foster is a businessman, landowner, and sportsman in St...
, and left when a Democratic governor, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, took office. Under his leadership, LOOP was developed as America's first and only deep water port which operated under both U.S. and Louisiana licenses. Gee said that LOOP "is a good corporate citizen that employs over 100 people ... and has a tremendous safety and performance record." In 2008, Republican Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
named a former Democratic legislator and Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commission is an independent regulatory agency which manages public utilities and motor carriers in Louisiana. The commission has five elected members chosen in single-member districts for staggered six-year terms...
member, Dale Sittig
Dale Sittig
Clifton Dale Sittig is the director of the Louisiana Offshore Terminal Authority, who previously served from 1995-2008 as a Democratic member of his state’s Public Service Commission and from 1983-1995 as a state representative from Eunice in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana.Sittig graduated...
of Eunice
Eunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
, as the new LOOP director.
Gee's legislative service
In his initial legislative election, Gee benefited from the successful gubernatorial candidacy of then Jefferson Parish resident, David C. TreenDavid C. Treen
David Conner "Dave" Treen, Sr. , was an American attorney and politician from Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – the first Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Louisiana since Reconstruction. He was the first Republican in modern times to have served in the U.S...
. Still, there were few Republicans in the legislature when Gee served. In Gee's first term, two other Republicans also represented parts of Jefferson Parish, Charles D. Lancaster, Jr.
Charles D. Lancaster, Jr.
Charles D. Lancaster, Jr. , is a Metairie attorney who was until January 14, 2008, the then longest-serving Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He represented what has become District 80 in a portion of populous Jefferson Parish for eight nonconsecutive four-year terms...
, and Charles Grisbaum, Jr.
Charles Grisbaum, Jr.
Charles H. Grisbaum, Jr. is the retired chief judge of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the New Orleans suburbs. The court is located in Gretna, the seat of Jefferson Parish...
, a former Democrat who had opposed Treen in a 1974 Third District congressional race but had since switched parties and become a Treen friend and ally. Another Gee colleague, Democrat Charles Cusimano
Charles Cusimano
Charles Vincent Cusimano, II, known as Chuck Cusimano is a Republican politician from Metairie in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana....
of Jefferson Parish switched parties in 1984.
Gee was a member of the Ways and Means, Commerce, and Labor committees during his House tenure. In 1987, Gee joined nine legislative colleagues in filing suit against Governor Edwin Washington Edwards in a vain bid to halt what the lawmakers saw as runaway state spending, which was adversely affecting both the general fund and dedicated accounts. Gee and his colleagues were joined by several trade association
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
s and contractors, including the Louisiana Good Roads Association.
Gee was known in the legislature for his sense of humor. He and two colleagues, including Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
Republican Quentin D. Dastugue
Quentin Dastugue
Quentin D. Dastugue is a founding partner and the chief executive officer of the New Orleans-based real estate firm Property One, Inc., and a former four-term member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. Dastugue was elected as a Democrat to the state House in 1979 and 1983 as the District 82...
, introduced a "bill" in 1991 to "regulate the hunting and harvesting of attorneys by any person with a valid state rodent or armadillo hunting license." Some of his legal colleagues did not find his proposed "open hunting season" on lawyers to be particularly amusing. "We thought this was definitely 'good government' legislation, but the lawyers outnumbered us, and we got beat!" Gee said in a conversation with columnist Smiley Anders of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate.
Defeat in 1991
Gee was unopposed in his last legislative election in District 86 in 1987. In 1991, however, he was unseated in a Louisiana-style general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
by a fellow Republican. In the jungle primary
Jungle primary
A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party. Under this system, the top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the next round, as in a runoff election...
held on October 19, Gee had led the balloting with 4,512 votes (45 percent), compared to 3,734 (37 percent) for attorney Stephen J. Windhorst
Stephen J. Windhorst
Stephen Joseph Windhorst, known as Steve Windhorst , is a state judge of the 24th Judicial District Court in suburban New Orleans, Louisiana, who served as a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Jefferson and Orleans parishes from 1992 to 2000...
(born 1957) of Terrytown
Terrytown, Louisiana
Terrytown is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. It is a suburb within the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 25,430 at the 2000 census...
and 1,847 (18 percent) for the only Democrat in the race, Cynthia Davidson. In the November 16 general election, Windhorst was the big winner, 7,576 (61 percent) to Gee's 4,845 (39 percent). Windhorst, a son of State Senator
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
Fritz Windhorst
Fritz Windhorst
Fritz Heinrich Windhorst is a Gretna, Louisiana, attorney who served from 1972 to 1992 as a member of the Louisiana State Senate from Jefferson and Orleans parishes, originally District 8, and later District 7. Windhorst was a conservative Democrat from 1972 to 1985, when he switched to...
, who represented parts of Jefferson and Orleans parishes from 1972–1992, later left the legislature to assume a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
ship.
Gee and his former wife, Wanda Webb Gee, have a son Terry W. "Buzz" Gee, Jr. (born 1960), a construction company owner in Mandeville
Mandeville, Louisiana
Mandeville is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,421 in 2008. Mandeville is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is across the lake from the city of New Orleans and its southshore suburbs...
, and a daughter, Regina Gee Esbeck (born 1963). Gee is Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
.