Henry Goodrich

September 10, 1930 - March 26, 2014. Henry Goodrich, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, March 26, 2014. He will be dearly missed by family, friends and business associates. Visitation will be held at Rose-Neath Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana on Friday March 28, 2014 from 4 p.m. to 7p.m. Funeral Services will be held Saturday March 29, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Jordan Street, Shreveport. Officiating will be the Reverend Chris Curry, assisted by the Reverend John Rogers. Interment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery, St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport, LA. The son of Grace Flournoy Goodrich and Henry Goodrich, Mr. Goodrich was born in Shreveport on September 10, 1930. He attended South Highlands School, Jefferson Military Academy in Natchez, MS and was a graduate of C.E. Byrd High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Louisiana State University in 1951. In the 1950's, he began his career as an Exploration Geologist with Union Producing Company, and McCord Oil Company in Shreveport where he became President and CEO. The company became McCord-Goodrich of which he was President and CEO. In 1975 he formed Goodrich Oil Company of which he was Chairman and CEO. In 1995 Goodrich Petroleum Corporation was formed and listed on the New York Stock Exchange as GDP. Henry served as Chairman and later as Chairman Emeritus. On December 5, 2011 he had the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. During his career in the Oil and Natural Gas business, he was recognized frequently. He served as President of the Louisiana Association of Independent Producers and Royalty Owners (LAIPRO); additionally he was a member of the Alumni Hall of Distinction, LSU Alumni Federation and Board of Trustees of Rhodes College. He was inducted into the Byrd High School Hall of Fame. He also formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Commercial National Bank of Shreveport and Pan American Life in New Orleans. On March 28, 2014 he is to be inducted into the LSU College of Science, Hall of Distinction. He was always very active in the First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport serving as Deacon, Elder and became Elder Emeritus in 2010. For many years he taught the high school Sunday school class as well as adult Sunday school. Mathew 25:23, "Well done, good and faithful servant." After surgery in 1990 he became interested in painting and discovered his talent. His art expresses humor and love of life. In 2012 he had an exhibition at ArtSpace in Shreveport entitled "The Pleasure of Life", based on the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The pleasure of life is according to the man that lives it." That was Henry Goodrich. He was a caring man that loved life, people, but most of all, he loved his family. He was a remarkable man. He was predeceased by his first wife and mother of his children, Tonia Gilreath Goodrich, his parents, his sister Grace Goodrich Youngblood and 3 nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife Laurice; son Walter Gilreath Goodrich and his wife, Frederique; Henry Goodrich, Jr., and his wife, Melissa; daughter Laura Goodrich Watts and her husband, Michael. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Alice Watts Byington (Randy), Bridget Watts Whittington (George), Christopher Watts, Eloise Watts, Guillaume Goodrich, Olivier Goodrich, Emily Goodrich, Kendall and Colton Blount. Henry is also survived by three stepchildren, Julie Rountree Folse, and her husband, Scott; Ashley Rountree Beck and her husband, John; Gordon Elliott Rountree, Jr., and his wife, Catherine and seven step-grandchildren. The family extends their deepest thanks and gratitude to Dr. Emma McCarty, Dr. Sanders Hearne, and Dr. Sylvia Noble for their medical care and to Kathy Mawhinney for many loyal years as his executive assistant. To his care givers, Helen Bradley, Lucy Fraser, Clarice Barnes, Seth Winn, Gwen Bradley, Tina Rich, Donna Hehnke, Ellen Bartell and Jennifer Ling, his devoted Physical Therapist. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Gregg Lyrse whose services, devotion and friendship greatly enhanced Henry's life for many years. Honoring Henry as pallbearer will be Randy Byington, Gregg Lyrse, Jimmy Marston III, David Meadows, Stuart Oden, Adam Palmer, Michael Watts and George Whittington. Serving as honorary pallbearers Jeff Benhard, Glenn Flournoy, Delton Harrison, Harry Hobbs, Sam Loeb, Stuart Lunn, Charles McCord, Michael McCord, Rick McCord, Steve McCord, Willis Meadows, Sam Talbot and his students of the First Presbyterian Sunday school he taught and the Board of Directors of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation. The family suggests memorials may be made to: First Presbyterian Shreveport, 900 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA 71101; Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71103; Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758518, Topeka, KS 6667; or Charity of donor's choice.