Arcadia Mayor Eugene Smith dies

BATON ROUGE — Arcadia Mayor Eugene Smith died Monday after a lung illness that led to other complications. He was 84.

Chris Smith, the mayor's nephew who also serves as the Bienville Parish town's economic development officer, said Smith died surrounded by family at Willis-Knighton Pierremont Health Center in Shreveport.

Word of Smith's death spread throughout the Legislature in the Capitol here Monday.

"Everyone in the state is in shock," said state Rep. Patrick Jefferson, D-Arcadia. "Everybody knew Eugene Smith."

Smith hired Jefferson as the town's first black attorney when Jefferson fled New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina back to Arcadia.

"He had the kind of personality that made you think he'll be around forever," Jefferson said. "He mastered the art of being a public service. His death leaves a huge void."

Gov. John Bel Edwards also offered condolences.

"Mayor Smith was an exceptional leader who proudly served all of the people of Arcadia and the neighboring communities with compassion and a true concern for improving their lives,” Edwards said in a statement. "Donna and I send our condolences to Billie, his wife of 64 years. Together, they were a formidable team.

"Eugene not only served as mayor for 16 years, but he was also part of the executive board of the Louisiana Municipal Association. He worked hard every day to make Arcadia and other Louisiana communities economically viable, great places to live, work and raise families."

 Chris Smith said his uncle has been battling a lung illness that got progressively worse and led to other health issues.

"He just wasn't able to shake it," Smith said.

Smith said of his uncle: "If you ever met him, you'd never forget him. He has that kind of personality."

Smith said Billie Smith, the mayor's wife for more than 60 years, was by his bedside throughout the mayor's illness.

"We're all here together," said Chris Smith, whose late father, Ray Dean Smith, was also mayor of the town from 1976 to 1994.

Arrangements are incomplete, but Chris Smith said his uncle's funeral will be held at the Arcadia Events Center that the mayor secured funding to build.

Sen. Ryan Gatti, R-Bossier City, who represents Arcadia, called Smith "a great man who loved his family and those he served" and asked for a moment of silence in the Senate chamber Monday.

Chris Smith said he will also ask for a moment of silence during the seventh inning stretch of Louisiana Tech University's baseball game against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Tuesday night.

Tech is celebrating "Arcadia Day" at Tuesday's game.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1