Maurice Katz, insurance broker and fan of politics, dies at 76
Times Picayune 02-03-2010


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Maurice Katz, a longtime habitue of steakhouses and Louisiana politics, died Tuesday at his
Metairie home of coronary artery disease. He was 76.

Known as "Hippo," a nickname he bore from his youth, Mr. Katz endeared himself to the
political lives of some of Louisiana's largest characters, including former Gov. Edwin
Edwards and the late Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee. Rare were the days before Hurricane
Katrina struck when Mr. Katz could not be found hobnobbing through lunch or supper at Ruth's
Chris Steakhouse on Broad Street in New Orleans, a magnet for the city's political insiders.

"He's just a wonderful guy," state Sen. Danny Martiny of Kenner said. "I don't know if he had
that much of an effect on any particular race, but he was a guy who was always around."

Mr. Katz was known as a bit of a cut-up. Once, at dinner with a group of friends, he wondered
why he had a green napkin when everyone else was using white ones. He realized far too late
that he spent the night wiping his hands on his wife's dress.

"Always fun, always a good laugh," Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Cynthia Lee-Sheng, Lee's
daughter, said of Mr. Katz as she recalled him telling that story. "I can see how my dad
would be attracted to hanging out with him."

While cherished by his friends, Mr. Katz was not without controversy stemming from his
political acquaintances. An insurance broker by trade, his work with local governments and
public entities brought him close to several scandals in recent years.

In 1999, he was accused in a lawsuit of illegally securing a contract through Edwards to sell
insurance to state employees. The suit was eventually dismissed.

Two years later, he helped secure a contract for a company to invest money for Jefferson
Parish public school employees, a deal that ended with the employees swindled out of $4
million. Three people pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Mr. Katz was not prosecuted.

Mr. Katz also was tangentially connected to the scandal that has wracked former Parish
President Aaron Broussard's administration in recent months. He partnered with former Parish
President Tim Coulon and Broussard's chief administrative officer, Tim Whitmer, to form the
insurance agency THT Group, which, with its sister company, Lagniappe Industries, was sold
insurance to employees with Jefferson Parish, other public entities and parish contractors.

Martiny and Lee-Sheng said Mr. Katz was confident his name would be cleared in the course of
the continuing federal investigation of the Broussard administration.

Those who knew him said Mr. Katz was looking forward to the New Orleans mayoral election
Saturday, a four-year phenomenon dear to his political heart. In fact, his last meal at
Ruth's Chris in the Warehouse District was with mayoral candidate John Georges.

Georges, who went to grammar school with Mr. Katz's sons, said he was honored to have had one
last meal with the political heavyweight.

"He was very much at ease on Monday," Georges said.

Mr. Katz is survived by his wife, Judy Kahn Bloch Katz; four children, Terry Weaver, Billy
Katz, Josh Katz and Lisa Katz; and seven grandchildren. He was buried Wednesday at Metairie
Cemetery.