Nat G. Kiefer

Ignatz Gerard Kiefer, known as Nat G. Kiefer (February 26, 1939[1] July 10, 1985) was an attorney from his native New Orleans, Louisiana, who served in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature. He was a state representative from 1968 to 1970, and thereafter until his death in office fifteen years later a state senator.

Ignatz "Nat" Gerard Kiefer
Louisiana State Senator for Orleans Parish
In office
1970  July 10, 1985
Preceded byAngus D. Smith
Succeeded byJon D. Johnson
Louisiana State Representative for
District 26 (Orleans Parish)
In office
1968–1970
Succeeded byJames Sutterfield
Personal details
Born(1939-02-26)February 26, 1939
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
DiedJuly 10, 1985(1985-07-10) (aged 46)
Los Angeles, California
Cause of deathLiver ailment
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Carol Ann Hazard Kiefer
ChildrenNat G. Kiefer, Jr.

Kent Kiefer
Karen Ann Kiefer

Kris Patrick Kiefer
Alma materTulane Law School
ProfessionAttorney at law

Biography

Political career

Kiefer carried a brash style into the state senate as one of Governor Edwin Edwards' floor leaders and champion of Charity Hospital, New Orleans. A skilled legislator, Democrat, Kiefer was instrumental in the construction of the Kiefer-UNO Arena which was named for him following his death in 1985.. Kiefer was also the recipient of applause for securing funding for the revitalization of the New Orleans Port and passing legislation which capped the cost of the Superdome and thus saved the project.

Kiefer was consistently the winner of the prestigious Legislator of the Year Award presented annually by the Alliance for Good Government.

He ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of New Orleans in 1977, finishing third in the jungle primary by 242 votes to Councilman Joseph V. DiRosa, or less than a half a vote per precinct. DiRosa lost the runoff (general election) to Louisiana Court of Appeals Judge Ernest Morial, who became New Orleans' first black mayor.

Family

Kiefer married Carol Ann Hazard (born June 18, 1940); the couple had four children, Nat Gerard Kiefer, Jr., Kent Christopher Kiefer, Karen Anne Kiefer, and Kris Patrick Kiefer.

Death

Kiefer died at the age of forty-six of a liver ailment at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center.[2]

In 1987, the UNO Lakefront Arena was officially renamed the "Senator Nat G. Kiefer University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena".

References

  1. "Nat G. Kiefer". search.ancestry.com. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  2. The New York Times, July 10, 1985 issue
Preceded by
Angus D. "A. D." Smith
Louisiana State Senator for Orleans Parish

Ignatz "Nat" Gerard Kiefer
19701985

Succeeded by
Jon D. Johnson
Preceded by
Prior to single-member districting
Louisiana State Representative for
District 26 (Orleans Parish)

Ignatz "Nat" Gerard Kiefer
19681970

Succeeded by
James Sutterfield
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