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Salute to Service: Andrew M. Edwards II

Salute to Service is a feature of our Firm’s newsletter that celebrates those who make our community in Tangipahoa Parish great!

“I wanted you to see what real courage is… It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
– Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird

I have had the privilege of knowing Andrew Edwards my entire life.  Our families have been friends for generations.  His father once offered to “sell” my grandfather, a baseball player, to Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey.  Their adventures were legendary.

Andrew Edwards II

For the past decade, it has been my honor to share a law office with Andrew.  At all times, he has been a generous mentor who provided exemplary guidance to a young lawyer in need of it.  Andrew also set an Atticus-like example of how to practice law in a small town with integrity, compassion, and skill.  More times than I can remember, he courageously championed the underdog cases no other lawyers would take (often for free!).

Now, as Andrew eases into retirement, I’d like to take this time to express my gratitude for all he has done for me and our community over the years.

Andrew loves our hometown of Ponchatoula. More than 100 years ago, his grandfather built the Gateway Building that now houses our law office.  More recently, Andrew donated the valuable land next door to the city for use as a museum and park.  He gives of his time just as freely. For example, Andrew has served our local Rotary as president and received the Rotarian of the Year Award as well as the Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year Award.

Prior to his career as a successful attorney in New Orleans and Ponchatoula, Andrew was an accomplished CPA with a national firm.  In addition to his undergraduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, he earned MBA and JD degrees from Tulane University.  He is a loving husband, father, and friend.

Perhaps no case better exemplifies Andrew’s dedication to our local community than his tireless work on behalf of the victims of the historic Flood of 1983.  Despite the steep odds inherent to suing the State of Louisiana in its own court system, Andrew and his colleagues “began anyway and saw it through no matter what” to achieve a judgment that is now worth hundreds of millions of dollars.  Thirty years after the flood, they are still seeing it through.  To date, Andrew hasn’t been paid a penny for his hard work.  Atticus would be proud.

Parker Layrisson Law Firm

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