The Creole Son

Book excerpt: In 1987, Andre Dupree was elected as a member of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. According to a Louisiana newspaper he was the youngest person ever elected to a major Louisiana political office. As a 23 year old college student he won the election by defeating a college president and the president of a powerful teacher's union. Luck was on Andre's side when a jealous husband attempted to assassinate the college president. Andre had been told to accept his station in life with dignity. Creole kids never had much luck anyway; poor New Orleans neighborhoods were quicksand, no way out. But Andre had determination and tenacity, traits learned on New Orleans streets. Andre's father worked as a maintenance electrician at Tulane University. When Andre graduated from Tulane he delivered the commencement address, his father was in the audience. Andre achieved more than he ever dreamed possible. He helped create programs guaranteeing college availability to qualified Louisiana students. He rewrote the state's Minimum Foundation funding plan for elementary and secondary education, met the Commandant of the Marine Corps in his Pentagon office and ran for congress. Andre also brings about the resignation of the US Speaker of the House. But when it was all said and done, he longed for the many things he thought he wanted to leave behind. Success became an airport layover, not at his destination and not home either, just lost. At the end of the day, Andre fell short in some ways, his political career failed, but it was a wild trip worth remembering. Having entered Louisiana politics while a Political Science student attending the University of New Orleans, winning an obscure New Orleans office, Roy went on to experience the unique flavor of Pelican State politics. As a 21 year old elected member of the Orleans Parish Executive Committee, he exercised parole power covering prostitution, loitering, traffic and many other municipal offences. By 24, Roy was elected, 'Member of Louisiana's State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education' overseeing the state's $2 billion dollar Minimum Foundation Budget for Elementary and Secondary Education and Louisiana's system of Vocational-Technical schools. At 28, Roy was considered a significant challenge to the State's powerful 1ST District Congressman. Married for 25 years, he now enjoys a quiet life in another state. Disguising 9th Ward blue collar family roots behind a thin veneer of polish, success brought breakfast in the Governor's Mansion, private jets, financial security, the honor of being one of the youngest ever elected to a major Louisiana political office and a run for Congress. Every victory was sweet since success was so unexpected. His single advantage was a tenacious back against the wall determination to work harder than any opponent; a valuable trait learned growing up on tough New Orleans streets. An Associate of Arts degree from Delgado College and a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Liberal Arts from Tulane reflect a belief in the power of education to change unfortunate circumstances. Roy has served as President of the Consulting Board for a New Orleans Hospital, President of a Community College Foundation and delivered a commencement address at Tulane University. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree recognizing leadership in public education administration.