“I hope that we can all agree that the law is a profession—not a business—and that the liberal use of courtesy and civility does not undermine one’s effectiveness.”
- Gene W. Lafitte, Class of 1952
Gene W. Lafitte, Sr. (’52)
When the late Gene Lafitte (’52) was named the LSU Law Center’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2010, he was asked about his philosophy and vision of the legal profession. At that point, he had practiced law for more than 50 years.
He stated, “In my view there is no substitute for hard work and for being conscientious about one’s responsibilities—to the client, the court and other lawyers. I hope that we can all agree that the law is a profession—not a business—and that the liberal use of courtesy and civility does not undermine one’s effectiveness.”
His response was a direct reflection of his own career faithfully leading the law firm Liskow and Lewis (now known as Liskow) and serving his state and country.
You could almost say Lafitte was predestined to lead an illustrious career. As a senior at Byrd High School, the Shreveport native was voted “most likely to succeed.” He was also the high school’s champion debater, essay contest winner, and varsity basketball team member. The superlatives he earned demonstrated the comradery he had among his peers, not just his academic and athletic abilities.
After completing his undergraduate degree at LSU, Lafitte became an exceptional student at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He served as an Associate Editor for Louisiana Law Review, and he graduated as a member of The Order of the Coif. After he finished law school, he started at a law firm in Shreveport before moving to New Orleans to join Liskow and Lewis. Lafitte was ready to settle into his career, until he was called for duty in the Judge Advocate General Corps for the U.S. Air Force.
Once he finished his service with the Air Force as a lieutenant, and married the love of his life Jacquelyn Moeller, he headed back to his “second family” Liskow and Lewis. There, he founded their litigation department and served for 20 years as the firm’s president and managing partner before being named chairman.
Lafitte was dedicated to advancing the legal profession as a whole, with one of his most admiral accomplishments being his induction to the prestigious fellowship of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) in 1972. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Energy Litigation from the Institute for Energy Law in 2007. One of his legal “claims to fame,” includes being a member of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary that evaluated the appointments of United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
Gene Lafitte at the 2010 LSU Law Center Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Ceremony. He is pictured on the far left with his wife Jackie standing next to Chancellor Jack Weiss and his wife.
As devoted as Lafitte was to the legal profession, his “first family” was always at the forefront of everything he did. In his 2020 obituary, his wife Jackie was described as his “life-long best friend” and that their 65-year marriage was instrumental to his personal and professional successes. Together, they had three children (who would all go on to pursue legal careers in some fashion) and shared six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Jackie passed away in May 2024.
While he was serious about his responsibilities to his family and career, Lafitte also took time to enjoy life. He enjoyed duck hunting, practicing his guitar and painting portraits and landscapes in his spare time. He was also known for his sense of humor, believing “laughter is the mainspring of life.”
Lafitte’s legacy continues to live on at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, both metaphorically and physically. While he was of counsel at Liskow and Lewis, he established the Gene W. Lafitte Endowed Scholarship to help deserving students at LSU Law into perpetuity. And two years after he passed away, his family endowed a towering live oak outside the LSU Law Library in his honor. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests of LSU Law pass beneath the oak tree every day, admiring its shade and Lafitte’s memory.
About this Scholarship:
Recipients of the scholarship must be current or entering full-time students of the Law Center. It is the Donor’s preference that priority be given to students who demonstrate strong academic performance. Recipients will be selected by the Scholarship Committee of the Law Center or its successor with preference given to recipients based on academic merit. Recipients of this scholarship may retain this scholarship for an additional year(s) provided funds are available and they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
