Monumental Task Committee, Inc.

Who We Are

The MTC is a predominantly volunteer-run monument preservation organization that was founded in New Orleans in 1989. Our mission is to restore, repair and forever maintain all of the monuments located in the city. Members of our Board of Directors come from diverse professional and educational backgrounds, contributing decades of experience to our preservation efforts. As we move into our third decade of service we are excited about the possibilities that we can achieve with the help of our collaborators and supporters.

Our Board of Directors

Pierre McGraw, President

Founder of the MTC in 1989, Pierre A. McGraw was raised in the river parishes’ area and graduated from LSU. Past job experiences include working in the environmental industries with bioremediation technologies that remove contaminants from soils and groundwater. Presently, McGraw works for an international company specializing in gas compression equipment and technologies. McGraw has managed numerous restoration projects through the MTC and is also actively involved in many social, historical and preservation organizations.

Rick McGregor, Secretary

Rick McGregor has been a New Orleans resident since 1991, and recently retired from Shell Oil Companies' deepwater exploration group. He is a frequent guest lecturer for the MBA program at UNO on management principles. He also serves on the board of directors for the non-profit, "MakeNewOrleansHome.com". His particular interest for the Monumental Task Committee is to help the citizens of New Orleans become aware of the amazing assortment of monuments and preserve these monuments for future generations.

Betty Davidson, Treasurer

Betty M. Davidson is one of the founding members of the Monumental Task Committee, Inc. and a long time resident of New Orleans. A recent retiree from the University of New Orleans, she has a Master's of Science in Education from Loyola University and a Ph.D. from UNO. Community involvement has always been a priority and she has served as President and/or Fundraising Chairman for organizations such as St. Michael's School, New Orleans Opera Association, New Orleans Symphony, New Orleans Museum of Art, Friends of Longue Vue, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Heart Association, Young Audiences, Preservation Resource Center, Drugs Off The Street, and several others.

John Brink

John Brink is a Sr. Account Manager for Dresser-Rand Company, a major worldwide manufacturer of specialty machinery including compressors and turbines. He previously held positions of both Branch and Regional Manager and oversees nearly $42 million in annual sales to major energy companies throughout the Southeast. He has experience in numerous major projects and value stream analysis. A New Orleans, La. native who moved to the North Shore in 1985, he served as a key member of several committees involved in the “SmartGrowth” plan development for the Saint Tammany Parish “New Directions 2025”. He and his wife, Sally, now live in Mandeville,La. His interest in local history and love for the rich heritage of our city led to his participation in several Mardi Gras organizations and is the primary reason for joining MTC. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration from Loyola University in New Orleans.

Burt Carnahan, Esq.

Biography coming soon!

Gontran N. Celerier, Jr.

Gontran N. Celerier, Jr. is a retired Lockheed Martin company employee who worked in the Space Program at Michoud. He also has worked for the U.S. Navy and the Census Bureau prior to the Space Program. He is a long-time resident of the New Orleans area and has a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans.

Lynn DuPont, ASLA, GISP

Since 1999 Lynn Dupont has been employed at the Regional Planning Commission of New Orleans as principal planner and GIS Manager handling enhancement projects, land use studies and data integration in the region. Her emphasis has been in working with State and Federal agencies in procuring usable data for use at the local level. She represents Planning and Development Districts on the Louisiana GIS Council and has been an active participant in ortho-imagery standards, contracting and procurement. She is past-president of LA URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association). She has also served as adjunct instructor for the University of New Orleans Department of Geography teaching GIS Theories and Concepts. She is a licensed landscape architect and holds Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) certification through URISA.

ADVISORY BOARD

Mrs. Edward B. Benjamin, Jr.

Mrs. William K. Christovich

Mrs. James J. Coleman

T. Semmes Favrot

Mrs. Vaughn Fitzpatrick

W. Geary Mason

Henri Schindler

Mrs. F. D. M. Strachan, III, Esq.

Mrs. Patrick F. Taylor

Our History

In 1989, a small group of New Orleans citizens joined forces to rescue the abandoned Davis monument on Canal Street. A plan was developed, funds raised and many experts and resources were brought together to preserve this beautiful monument that is one of the best works of renown sculptor, Edward Valentine. This restoration project was no small effort, but proved to be a successful endeavor.

Noticing that there was an abundance of other neglected monuments in the city, the original volunteers decided to stay together and perform more restorations. It quickly became apparent that the city had no dedicated funding or comprehensive plan in place to properly care for our beautiful monuments. Of all the noteworthy historical preservation efforts in the city, monument preservation was not one of them.

In a short time, the MTC grew in volunteers and became incorporated in Louisiana as a non-profit corporation and also received US Internal Revenue Service status as a 501c (3) tax exempted organization. The volunteers learned a lot about approved monument restoration methods and were also able to bring professional metal and stone experts into our group. During this time, the MTC gained the respect of several city agencies and also was able to establish good relationships with many neighborhood organizations. Some of our restoration projects include those monuments to Ben Franklin, John McDonough, the Women’s Army Corps, Samuel Lowenberg, The Ninth Ward Victory Arch, Col. Dreux, Henry Clay, the Banks St. WWII, and many others.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the MTC initiated a city-wide survey to locate and ascertain the condition of all monuments. Volunteers were grouped into teams and assigned different parts of the city and set about photographing, measuring and taking notes on all monuments. Until this time, our list of monuments was approximately 88. After the survey, we were all surprised to learn that there were over 200 monuments located in all parts of the city. Along with traditional statue and pedestal type pieces, we found many smaller stone markers, inscribed flagpoles, plaques and other types of monuments. It was the realization at this time that the original grass-roots effort would not be large enough to effectively handle such a ‘monumental task.’ Immediately, the committee took action by restructuring our Board of Directors, moving from a kitchen table to an actual office building and hiring our first professional director to help us better manage our program.

Also around this time, the MTC brought down from New York, the professional services of the reknown Mary Jablonski of Jablonski Building Conservation, Inc. to help us further evaluate the monument’s conditions and develop restoration and cost plans. This project proved very insightful as we were able to discover several important monument problems that are very serious and not readily noticeable.

As the MTC enters its third decade of service, we will not be resting on our laurels. A newer and more comprehensive city-wide monument restoration plan is presently in development. Professionals with specific education and experience are being added to our restoration projects resources group. And of course, major new fundraising programs are commencing. We have lots to do and are excited about all that can be achieved through the support and dedication of those that love New Orleans and her monuments as much as we do!