Community Remembers Sam Giordano

Shreveport-Bossier is remembering Sam Giordano. The Ark-La-Tex became his adopted home. And the State Fair of Louisiana was his pride and joy. Dozens gathered at St. Jude Catholic Church in Bossier City Wednesday morning for a memorial mass in his honor. Family and friends came to pay their final respects. And many prominent members of the Shreverport-Bossier community were in attendence. As manager of the fair for 14 years, Sam was well-known throughout the community. "We always recognized our role at the fair as being a part of the community. And that was very import to Sam. He wanted to be a good citizen to Shreveport-Bossier and he certainly was that." said State Fair of Louisana board member David Means. Friends say Sam dedicated his life to helping others and improving the community as a whole. He worked to beautify the Greenwood Road area and was instumental in bringing Shreveport-Bossier it`s first professional hockey team. "The last really visible effort was during the hurricane, when the Hirsch was turned into a shelter. I mean Sam just worked 20 hours a day to try to make that as good as possible for a very bad situation." said friend Taylor Moore. He even gave the shelter residents jobs at the fair. And helped them find permanent housing. "I think that speaks volumes about Sam and his life." said friend Moore. Giordano died Saturday, after a 10-year battle with heart disease. Sam leaves behind his wife of 40 years, 2 sons and several grandchildren. Sam Giordano was 61.