Boysie Bollinger was the CEO and chair of Bollinger Shipyard and a prominent Republican fundraiser who knew President George W. Bush when Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29, 2005. The company had 14 shipyards and 3,000 employees. Bollinger and New Orleans attorney Kim Boyle were the only two people who served on both the Louisiana Recovery Authority (created by Gov. Kathleen Blanco) and the Bring New Orleans Back Commission (created by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin).

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Where were you when you first got word about the hurricane?

I was in Grand Isle with my grandson, who was probably six years old. Friday night we had put out crab traps and stuff he likes to do. By Saturday morning, I put the TV on. It changed drastically – it became much b

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