The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans mourns the passing of former Board Chairman Francis E. “Hank” Lauricella. Gov. Mike Foster appointed Mr. Lauricella to the Board in April of 1997 and he served as Board Chairman from October 2001 until June of 2002. “Mr. Lauricella’s leadership was critical during a period of Port expansion and diversification, such as the construction of the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal and the meteoric rise of the Port’s cruise industry,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. Prior to his service on the Port’s Board, Mr.