Eddie Rispone Will Make a Great Governor

Very few Louisiana governors have been elected from Baton Rouge. Only one governor in living memory had his roots here, and most of our residents don’t even know it. Dave Treen was raised in North Baton Rouge and attended Istrouma Elementary School. His mother taught at Istrouma High School before the family moved to Jefferson Parish in the 1930’s. Gov. Treen loved to brag about his Istrouma roots.

Now, for the first time since then, Baton Rouge has a native son running for governor.  In many ways, he epitomizes all that is good about our community.

Eddie Rispone’s grandfather arrived at Ellis Island from Sicily on Sept. 12, 1912.  His name was Joe Rispone. In Sicily, if a young woman couldn’t afford a baby, the child was left in a basket on the doorstep of a midwife. That’s where Joe was found. He was covered with a cloth. When the midwife pulled it back, the baby threw open his arms! “Risponde!” the midwife exclaimed, meaning he responds. And that’s how Joe Rispone got his name! Everyone in the world named Rispone is descended from Eddie’s grandfather.

Eddie’s father Sam Rispone and his mother, the former Rosalie Gulino, moved to Baton Rouge from Amite in early 1940 to seek work at the plants. They settled near Monte Sano Bayou. Sam worked construction for Kaiser Aluminum and then went to work for Standard Oil. He was drafted and fought in World War II. 

They built a house on Hollywood Street at the corner of St. Dorothy not far from the church. Eddie’s dad rode his bicycle to Standard Oil.

The Rispone’s raised their seven children in that house. The oldest was Sammy. At one point, there were six Rispone children plus their parents living in that house of 1,000 square feet. 

The Rispone’s were blue collar and hard-working. Eddie went to Redemptorist High School. At age 15, he worked construction with his older brother Sammy. At Redemptorist, he was an outstanding football player, earning All-State honors.

As a young man, his faith was growing and he became a committed Christian. He graduated from LSU in construction technology.

In 1989, Eddie and his brother Jerry founded ISC Constructors. They found a niche, and their business grew to become phenominally successful — one of the top companies like theirs in the country. Today, he employs more than 3,000 families.  Along the way, he was recognized as one of the outstanding contractors in our state and nation, even serving as national chairman of Associated Builders & Contractors.

His beloved wife Phyllis passed away after they were married 35 years. He and his wife Linda, who lost her husband, have been married 13 years. Between the two of them, they have seven children and 24 grandchildren.

Eddie’s great interests have been job creation and opening educational opportunities for everyone. It’s not a theory for him or a political talking point. He’s actually done it.

Of course, he’s not a politician. He’s a businessman, a believer, and a family man. And he has compassion for people, because he’s been there, like most of us. He has the proven ability to do everything a great govenor must do. We think he’s exactly what Louisiana needs!

Right now, he’s very close to making the runoff for governor. He just needs a little help from the people he grew up with here in Baton Rouge. If we come together for him, we can push him into the runoff. If he makes it that far, he’s a winner for sure!

With Eddie in the Governor’s Mansion, Louisiana’s prospects for the future will be very bright indeed!

Twitter Digg Delicious Stumbleupon Technorati Facebook Email

Comments are closed.