IN MEMORIAM: Mayor Eugene Smith (1933—2018)
LaMATS Board and staff mourn the loss of Immediate Past President, Arcadia Mayor Eugene Smith, who passed away peacefully this week among family and friends. Mayor Smith was recognized in October, 2017, for his five years of service as LaMATS Board President and received commendation for his outstanding leadership from current Board President, Mayor Carroll Breaux of Springhill and Vice President, Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields.
Mayor Smith’s long, productive administration of LaMATS coincided with the development of several significant new benefit programs, including the inception of LaMATS Purchasing Services (LPS) and new partnerships with Millage Management, GrantStation and Springsted’s SurveyNavigatorTM, among other member services. During the same period, Smith oversaw the growth of the bureau’s Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) collection program to include 200 participating municipalities, processing more than $22M in taxes.
Cliff Palmer, LaMATS Executive Director, expressed the sorrow and gratitude felt by all who knew Mayor Smith. “We are deeply appreciative for the honor of knowing and working with Mayor Smith,” said Palmer. “His many contributions and forward-thinking support of LaMATS will be part of his lasting legacy and benefit to all Louisiana municipalities.”
Above: Mayors Breaux, Smith and Fields, following the October 2017 presentation to Smith of a plaque commemorating his much-appreciated service to LaMATS.
