A Mayors Challenge
by J. B. Blocker
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| Plano City Council |
“When I turned 18, becoming a U.S. Citizen was a long-awaited and proud moment.
In my mind, heart, and soul, I was already an American. I added the surname of
my maternal grandfather for my middle name.
He was known as a great scholar in Haiti and had died before I was born.
My name is Harry Agnant
LaRosiliere, and my whole life’s journey has been preparing me for this moment.
I didn’t know this moment would occur in Plano Texas, but I always found
fulfillment by serving. I am committed to Plano.”
New York, New York
At the age of 27, Harry LaRosiliere was
excited about the newest initiative of New York’s first African/American mayor
David Dinkins who served from 1990 to 1993.
As part of the new mayor’s initiatives, Mayor Dinkins made a public
request for local citizens to become active in tutoring students in the New
York school systems. This program helped
to give tens of thousands of students the opportunity to get off the streets
and complete their high school requirements.
By now Harry had found success in his own
photo shop studio named Apple Studios. He was ready to give back to his community.
There was a need for math tutors for high school seniors attending night school
in order to graduate. Harry was certain he could relate well with the young students and that he could help them relate to the math they would need in their future.
There was a level of
skepticism from students who assumed that the volunteer tutors in the classroom
were there for a paycheck or college credit.
They soon warmed up to Harry when they realized he had no personal gain
for offering his time.
When Harry met with the person who approved
school assignments he expressed interest in tutoring at George Washington High
School in Washington Heights. “Oh, you don’t want to teach there, replied the
administrator. That is not the best part of town and the children there are
some of the hardest to teach.”
“I
know, Harry replied, that is MY neighborhood.”
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| Harry with his sister and cousin in Harlem |
Harry was amused. He grew up in Harlem just a few blocks from Washington Heights. His family had moved near 125th soon
after they emigrated from Haiti to capture the American dream of education and
upward mobility. First, his grandmother
found a job as a ‘domestic’ and moved to New York’s Haitian community in the
upper west side of Manhattan. Soon after, Harry’s father arrived and sent for
his wife Gisele and their two children, five-year-old Marthe and an almost
four-year-old Harry. America was their land of opportunity.
Harry’s father Brice often worked two jobs.
He worked at a factory and drove taxis on the weekends. His mother cleaned
offices for 26 years working from 5pm to 11pm virtually every day of her life.
She still lives in the same apartment. That apartment is just a block away from
the famous Cotton Club and a 10-minute walk from the Apollo Theater.
In his boyhood world, street games like Kick
the Can, stickball, and skellies (look it up) were common. Open fire hydrants
were the neighborhood swimming pools in the heat of the summer.
A Catholic School Boy
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| First Communion |
The LaRosiliere family clung to their family
values and faith in hard work and education. The education of their children
was the driving force of the LaRosiliere family. From first grade through
eighth grade, their children attended the neighborhood Catholic school, Corpus
Christi. After grade school, Harry
continued his education at Cardinal Hayes High School located in the shadows of
Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. While in
school, Harry discovered his love for numbers, a passion that eventually led
him to his long-time career as a respected and successful financial
planner. His sister, Marthe, is a
successful attorney who attended Stanford and lives in the Washington, DC area.
Working for that American Dream
While the common dialect in his family was
Creole (a blend of French and African languages), Harry and his sister both
speak with voices devoid of regionalism. “I don’t have a New York accent but I
still have a soft spot for my mom’s Caribbean spiced food and her fried
plantains.”
As a teenager, Harry held various part-time
and summer jobs including working as a foot courier in midtown Manhattan and as
an assistant manager for Fotomat (a chain of photo development stores). When he was 18, Harry went to work at Macy’s
where he remembers experiencing overt racism for the first time. The management was surprised by his perfect
score on the employee arithmetic test but still would not allow the young man
who came to work wearing polished shoes and a necktie to be a cashier or work
on the retail floor. Most African/Americans and Hispanics seemed to only work
in the stock room or kitchen.
Watching family members struggle with
gambling, Harry never supported nor indulged in any forms of gambling.
Ironically, and out of character, Harry bought a $5 lotto ticket while working
at Macy’s. Harry had 5 of the 6 numbers. He thought he was rich and wondered
what color car he would buy! Unfortunately, that particular drawing had
multiple winners and his share was only $550!
Making the most of this windfall, he bought
camera equipment and began to work as a baby photographer at a company called
TruColor. He held that position while attending college. He graduated in 1985
with a Bachelor of Science in Geology and one year into his graduate studies he
and a friend started their own company Apple Studios.
A few years later, Mayor
Dinkins’ call for civil service inspired Harry to get involved and give
back.
Harry recalls, “When I showed up to tutor
math, it took a while for these tough inner city kids to warm up to me. They
were defensive and untrusting. But I knew I had something to offer them if they
were willing to let me help. I believed in the opportunities that education
would provide them. I took this very seriously and finally won them over.
I knew I could make a difference and it was so rewarding when they accepted me
and began to first trust and then begin to learn.”
“That experience awakened me to the fact that
community service was part of my calling in life. The reason I was put on this
Earth is to help people. As a result, I have chosen that path both
professionally and personally.”
A Giving Heart
Marthe speaks of her little brother with the
same joyful voice and spirit you see and hear when you are with Harry. “Harry
has always been helpful and optimistic. He was a favorite of our grandmothers,
aunts, and everyone else in the neighborhood. He never seemed to see people by
race or social position but instead, he has a way of finding common ground. And
he always had that happy, honest smile unless he was thinking. He has a very
serious look that means he is contemplating something. He is a deep thinker who
has always been interested in how he can help others. Community service is
instinctive to my brother.”
Dressed
for Success
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| Harry at 4, Dressed for Success |
“I’ve always been very conscientious about
first impressions and looking like a professional. While other kids at Catholic
school would complain about having to wear a coat and tie, I rather enjoyed it.
I have been wearing a tie since 3rd grade. As I grew up and applied for jobs, I could
see how looking clean and put together gave me an edge. I would not say that
clothes necessarily make the man, but there is a certain confidence level that an appropriate dress and a tidy appearance give. You have to earn respect, but it
sure helps if you can get in the door first.”
When you meet Harry, the first thing you will
notice is a warm and joyful smile. It’s an honest smile and he follows it up
with sincere interest. As his sister recalls, “Harry actually listens to
people. He respects opinions and is interested in how people think and why.
That’s a terrific trait.”
You’ll also find that Harry is genuine,
courteous, and respectful. As you get to know him, you will see Harry has a
deep drive to be successful at his endeavors.
Three years in Texas
Tracy Clark became Harry’s best friend. When
she moved to Michigan where she earned an MBA in Marketing, they stayed
connected. In 1992, Tracy moved to DFW to work in the marketing department at
Frito Lay where she would eventually become a Vice President. In 1994, Harry
drove to Texas to join her. “I drove 8 hours to North Carolina then I drove the
last 18 hours to Texas straight through. My plan was to get our family started
and then bring us back to New York in three years.”
Plans change! Harry laid out his parachute to
life. “I wrote down my plan. I wanted a
career that would help others, to be paid for my abilities and effort, to be in
a professional environment, and to have the flexibility to work the hours I chose.
My mother had cleaned Prudential’s offices many years of her life and
ironically I began my financial career with Prudential Securities in Dallas in
1994.”
“Advising families on how to preserve and
grow their wealth is very satisfying. I have a direct impact on the quality of
life of my clients. My career as a financial advisor allows me to work every day
towards the best interest of people who put their faith and trust in me. It is
an honor and privilege I do not ever take lightly.”
“From 1996 to 2004, I worked for A.G. Edwards. I started at A.G. Edwards on a Friday. That
same day, we closed on our first home and bought a car! Earlier that year, I had
joined the Plano Chamber of Commerce and by working with the chamber, the
chamber worked for me! My practice took off. Plano became our family home and
we knew that we would never leave!”
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| The LaRosiliere Family: Tracy, Maya, Brianna, and Harry |
My first child Brianna was born in '97 and my youngest Maya was born in '99.
After 5 more years with Morgan Stanley, Harry
and Tracy had a family, a home, and were deeply rooted in a community they were
actively in love with. In 2009, Harry joined UBS where he is 1st
Vice President in the Wealth Management Division. The three years in Texas is
now approaching twenty years.
Becoming a Mayor
You don’t just put up a sign and expect to
be a good mayor. Especially when dealing with the complexities of a dynamic
city like Plano. Plano doesn’t deserve a good mayor. It deserves a great one.
There have been many great mayors in Plano’s recent past. The current mayor and
many who have preceded Phil Dyer have elevated the city to growing heights of
respectability.
Florence Shapiro went on to become a State
Senator. Phil Dyer, Pat Evans, and James Muns have been recognized as ‘Citizen
of the Year.’ Others like John Longstreet remain respected and involved.
It is a strong legacy of leadership that is
calling for a proven civic leader.
I invite you to visit harry4mayor.com for a
list of the civic service of Harry LaRosiliere.
As Plano
residents, you owe it to yourself to meet the man who has been active in Leadership Plano
and has also served as the Chairman of the Board for CASA of Collin County where he is
credited in helping CASA of Collin County turn things around during one of
their most trying times.
This servant leader has also served 6 years on the
Plano city council.
The former Mayor Pro Tem is ready for the
next step.
The call from a New York City mayor in 1990 to serve his community
has come full circle in 2013 in Plano, Texas.
- J.B. Blocker is a media consultant based in Collin County in North Texas.
