Rod West '86 Honored as the 2016 Alumnus of the Year


Rod-West
“It is the beginning of a new day and we can waste it or use it for good.” Rod West ’86

Mr. Roderick “Rod” K. West ’86, a New Orleans native, always wanted to make his mother proud.  On Sunday, March 6, 2016, Rod was honored by the Brother Martin Board of Directors as the 2016 Senator Allen J. Ellender Alumnus of the Year recipient at the New Orleans Marriott.  Presenting Rod’s award was John Devlin, President of Brother Martin and Judge Bob Burns ’62 SA, Chairman of the Board of Directors.  Proudly watching were his wife, Madeline, daughter Simone, and his mother.  In celebration of this prestigious honor, Rod, along with previous recipients of the Ellender Award, attended other events during the weekend, a gentlemen’s breakfast; Mass celebrated in the James B. Branton Chapel by Archbishop Gregory Aymond ’67 CJ, and a cocktail reception. Mr. Devlin described Rod as always being passionate and a model Crusader that we challenge our students to emulate.

Rod was named executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Entergy in 2010. Rod is a member of the Office of the Chief Executive and has responsibility for Entergy’s shared services functions which support the commercial activities of the utility and nuclear operations, and wholesale commodities businesses.

Widely known as a proven hands-on leader, Rod was uniquely involved in the rebuilding of Entergy New Orleans, Inc. and the great American city that it proudly serves. In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina struck and flooded 80 percent of the city, he served as manager of the metro New Orleans region. His responsibilities included the city’s electric infrastructure. After ensuring the safety of his workforce, many of whom lost homes to the storm, Rod and his team went to work overseeing a $250 million reconstruction of the nearly destroyed New Orleans electrical infrastructure.

Before joining Entergy, Rod was a senior attorney in the New Orleans office of Vial, Hamilton, Koch & Knox, L.L.P. commercial litigation department. He also spent five years with the New Orleans-based firm of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P. and is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association. His charitable and community work are largely focused on education, healthcare, economic development and the rebuilding of south Louisiana and New Orleans. Rod is a member of the board of directors of First Bank and Trust, First Trust, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Edison Electric Institute.

In 2000, Rod was appointed for a six-year term by former Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster to the Louisiana State University System Board of Supervisors. In 2006, he was reappointed to another term by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and named board chairman through the 2006 and 2007 academic year. In May 2009, he was named to the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees. Rod is a member of both the Executive Leadership Council and Sigma Pi Phi fraternity.
An accomplished problem solver, Rod is a constant go to person for civic results in his hometown. In 2010, he led the New Orleans business community in achieving a dedicated source of funding for the redevelopment of New Orleans Recreation Department. He also made the closing arguments to NFL owners on behalf of the city’s bid to host Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.

Rod received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame where he lettered three years as outside linebacker and tight end for Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish’s 1988 National Championship football team. He received his Juris Doctor from the Tulane University School of Law in 1993 and his MBA from Tulane University in 2005. Rod remains close to Brother Martin having served on the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Alumni Board of Directors, guest judge at the Crusader Cook-off, Crimson & Gold Network speaker and he is an annual supporter of the Celebration of the Crest. While at Brother Martin, he was a Golden Crusader and a James B. Branton Award recipient. Rod and his wife Madeline have a daughter, Simone.

Thank you to the members of the extended West family, friends and classmates, and school administrators who were in attendance at the event.

Former Alumnus of the Year Recipients

Recipients of The Senator Allen J. Ellender 1908 Memorial Alumnus of the Year Award: 

2015- Henry L. Eiserloh III, M.D. ’84
2014- Joseph S. Exnicios ’73
2013- Michael J. Kimble ’81
2012-Terence R. Flotte, M.D. ’79
2011-Charles P. Stall ’76
2010- David R. Gallo ’77
2009- David M. Glaviano ’73
2008-Brian M. Barkemeyer, M.D. ’79
2007-William E. Engel ’66 SA
2006- David D. Dunlap ’79
2005- David T. Branton ’76
2004- Joseph N. Macaluso, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S. ’71
2003- A.E. “Ed” Holmes ’52 SA
2002- Roland H. Meyer ’45 SA
2001- Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond ’67 CJ
2000- John J. Gelpi, Jr. ’52 SA
1999- Charles P. O’Brien, M.D. Ph.D ’58 SA
1998- Robert C. Clark, Ph.D., J.D. ’62 CJ
1997- G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. ’64 CJ
1996- Gary B. Froeba ’71
1995- Sidney F. Lambert, Jr. ’64 CJ
1994- Judge Terry Q. Alarcon ’66 SA
1993- August R. Gallo, Jr. ’53 SA
1992- Sidney J. Reso ’53 SA
1991- Judge Robert J. Burns ’62 SA
1990- Ronald S. Paulin ’58 CJ
1989- William R. Hogan, Jr. ’37 SA
1988- Thomas F. Ridgley ’51 SA
1987- Larry D. Delpit ’48 SA
1986- Tom Benson ’44 SA
1985- Francis J. Demarest, Jr. ’47 SA
1984- Judge Philip C. Ciaccio ’43 SA
1983- Jerome J. Reso, Jr. ’55 SA
1982- Albert E. Briede III ’40 SA
1981- Herman J. Prager, Jr. ’42 SA
1980- Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. ’49 SA
1979- Buford F. Jones ’43 SA
1978- Joseph A. Gemelli, Jr. ’33 SA
1977- Elmo J. Cerise, M.D. ’37 SA
1976Bishop Stanley J. Ott, S.T.D. ’44 SA
1975-Thomas M. Gilmore ’40 SA

1974- Monsignor Henry C. Bezou ’29 SA
1973- Gregory R. Choppin, Ph.D. ’44 SA
1972- George F. Reinecke, Ph.D. ’40 SA

 

Brother Martin Alumnus of Year 2016 from VidSpec on Vimeo.