Henry Mentz
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Judge Henry A. Mentz, Jr. (1920-2005) was appointed to be a Federal District Judge as a Republican by President Reagan in 1982 and later received unanimous Senate approval. He served on the Federal Bench (Eastern District of Louisiana) for almost 20 years before taking Senior Status.
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[edit] Early life
Judge Mentz was born in New Orleans in 1920 but lived in Hammond, Louisiana from 1928 until 1982. He was awarded a scholarship to Tulane University at the age of 16 and later graduated with distinction from Tulane University and LSU Law School as a member of the law review. During college he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played clarinet in the Tulane University Band 1937-41 and remained a jazz-o-phile for the rest of his life.
He graduated from LSU Law in 1943 and immediately enlisted as a private in the Army, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and in central Germany as an Alpha Bravo weapons specialist, was promoted to Sergeant, and served his country until honorable discharge in late 1945. He was awarded two Battle Stars and the Bronze Star . He served in the JAG Corps after the war had been won. His battalion and company liberated vital strategic sectors and several concentration camps during World War II. Upon return from Europe after the war, he served Louisiana as Special Counsel to the Democratic Party-controlled state senate at the request of Governor Earl Long.
[edit] Judicial recognition and scholarly work
As a Senior Judge, he served as a Visiting Federal Judge in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. Mentz received national recognition for his oversight of the Shell Norco Explosion case. As a jurist, Judge Mentz wrote, published, and edited several hundred legal opinions and articles. As an academic and scholar, he edited and published research on the Bible in his book The Combined Gospels, which was published in 1975.
[edit] Service to the community
Judge Mentz devoted substantial efforts over his life to legal, academic, government, charity, and community service. He was active in the South Louisiana community for the last 50 years as a board member of the Salvation Army in New Orleans; served two-terms as President of the Louisiana Civil Service League; served as President of The Multi Parish Bar Association on the Northshore; was active in providing legal assistance to minorities; created and chaired indigent pro-bono organizations in Louisiana; served as a board member of Southeastern Louisiana University; served Loyola University New Orleans in various capacities and designated a large scholarship fund for Loyola Law School; and also served on several boards and committees for Tulane University. Mentz also served on the Executive Committee of the Council for a Better Louisiana and served two terms on the board of directors of WYES, a New Orleans public television station.
Judge Mentz was active in forestation and tree farming for 40 years and was elected to serve his church in several capacities. Mentz was president of the Louisiana Council for Music and the Performing Arts, 1995-96, and recipient of the AMVETS Distinguished Services Award, 1950.
[edit] Other distinctions and awards
- Distinguished Service Award - American E-Commerce Association 2002-2005
- Honorary Chairman Award - the Institute of Certified E-Commerce Consultants Worldwide 2002-2005
- Honorary Professor - American Academy of Financial Management 2002-2004
- Keynote speaker for multiple conferences, conventions, and convocations.
- During his lifetime, Judge Mentz held various faculty recognition and appointments at law schools and other graduate training academies.
[edit] Memberships
Member of the Episcopal Church, Scottish Rite Masons and other Masonic associations for over 50 years; member of the Red Cross of Constantine; member of the Boston Club.
