Harold Benn Judell

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JUDELL Harold Benn Judell passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2011, at his daughter's home in Atlanta, at age 95. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to his father, Philip Judell, and his mother, Lena Krause. Husband of the late Celeste Seymour Judell. Preceded in death by his brother, Stanley Judell. Survived by his daughter Denise Provosty (husband Van), grandchildren Jordan Scott Provosty of Atlanta, Joshua VanHoozer Provosty (wife Mary Elizabeth Kearney) of New Orleans, Justin Foxhall Provosty of New Orleans, and Zachary VanRonzelen Provosty (wife Kathleen Louise Shrader) of Atlanta, and great-grandchildren. Also survived by his brother Robert Judell and nieces and nephews. Mr. Judell graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1938 where he received his J.D. and Tulane University where he received his Civil law degree in 1950. He was employed by the FBI from 1939 to 1944 and served as a special agent and an administrative assistant to its former director, John Edgar Hoover. He was one of the earliest agents assigned to the FBI's Special Intelligence Service (SIS) established to handle the counterespionage activities of the Bureau in Latin America. While in the SIS he served as Legal Attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Peru. Afterwards, he joined the Navy during World War II and wound up in the European theatre as skipper of a landing craft tank. After the war, he became involved in the Institute of Inter-American Affairs in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and San Salvador. Mr. Judell joined the firm now known as Foley & Judell, L.L.P., in 1950, and dedicated his life as a municipal bond lawyer. He was president of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, a 3,000-member organization of lawyers practicing bond law, from 1984-1985. As bond counsel, Mr. Judell created legislation for and handled the bonds to finance most of the major projects in New Orleans and the State, including the Superdome, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the twin spanning of the Mississippi River Bridge, the New Orleans Convention Center, the Tulane Medical Center, the expansion of Ochsner Foundation Hospital, and other large hospitals, industrial development and pollution control projects. He was a member of the State Central Committee in the early 1950s and Parish Executive Committee (Orleans) of the Republican Party of Louisiana. He also served as general counsel to the Republican Party for the Republican State Central Committee and as acting Republican National Committeeman for the State of Louisiana for a brief period of time. Mr. Judell was an avid tennis player and was a State indoor doubles champion in his age bracket. He traveled all over the world playing competitive team tennis against clubs in numerous countries. He served as Honorary Consul of Peru for several years and was active in civic and governmental affairs. He was Vice President of the International House, a member of the City's Blue Ribbon Committee on Mardi Gras, a member of several State compensation commissions, was a founding member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Summer Pops Club, was a member of the New Orleans Country Club, the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club and the Rex Organization for many years, and served on fund raising committees of numerous cultural organizations in the City. He and his wife served as co-chairs of the Producers' Circle of WYES-TV for 1998-99. He was a member of the Tulane University Business School Council, a trustee of St. Patrick's Church, and a trustee of the YMCA. In the business sector he was a director of Sizeler Property Investors, Inc. and a trustee of EastGroup Properties, both of which were publicly-held real estate investment trusts, and for many years was one of the owners of the Dauphine Orleans Hotel. He was also the managing partner of the Robert Oil Company. Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass to be celebrated at St. Patrick's