Here’s Tommy

THE LIFE AND CAREER OF MONROE’S GREATEST HOST, BAYOU DESIARD COUNTRY CLUB’S TOMMY HARRIS

article by MICHAEL DEVAULT and photography by BRAD ARENDER

CHANCES ARE THE NAME TOMMY HARRIS isn’t one you’ve heard before. But if you’ve ever attended a fundraiser, graduation party, bridal shower or business event at Bayou Desiard Country Club, you’ve seen his work.
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For twenty years, Tommy has faithfully helped members and organizations plan perfect celebrations of all sizes at Bayou DeSiard. As catering and events coordinator, that’s his job. But Tommy’s efforts transcend the office he holds, and because of his dedication and devotion to making the best events, he’s become more than just someone who runs the ballroom.

“He’s in charge, and he still just makes you feel good,” says Dianne Cage, a member of Bayou DeSiard who’s hosted dozens of events at the country club. Whether it’s a Monroe Garden Club function or a bridesmaids luncheon, Dianne knows Tommy is someone she can turn to. “He’s like a member of the family who just makes things run smoothly.”

It’s an interesting job for a man who started out his career as a vault teller for Central Bank. While his path to Bayou DeSiard Country Club was hardly direct, all the steps seem to fit for a man who likes to serve.

Between overseeing his staff set for lunch and planning a couple of upcoming events, Tommy took a few minutes to visit with BayouLife Magazine and to share his thoughts on why the community loves him so much. It’s clear that the fondness people like Dianne show for him is mutual.

“This is family to me,” Tommy says, speaking with us on the exact date of his 20th anniversary at Bayou DeSiard. It gave him a few moments to pause, look back on his career, and be thankful to those who helped show him the way. “I never would have gotten to do the things I’ve done, if someone hadn’t taken the effort to teach me everything I had to learn.”

That family he’s referring to began in downtown Monroe, near Central and Ouachita Banks, where he had begun his career. He took a job with the Cascade, and owners Bobby and Sophie Williamson “taught him everything” about fine dining.
From appropriate place settings to pouring wine, Tommy showed early promise in the world of serving at table. He worked for the Williamsons for several years before taking a new job at Highland Park Country Club. There, he drew the attention of management at the Tower Club in Monroe and accepted a position with them that he held until the Tower Club closed in 1999.
Remaining close to home made sense for Tommy. After all, his mother, brother and sister are all still Monrovians. A graduate of the Carroll High School Class of 1969, he also has friends here. But Tommy did want to visit relatives he had not seen in years. With his job coming to a close at the Tower Club, he had a chance. He decided then that it was time to do a little traveling, and he had made the decision to go to Ohio for a month or so to visit an aunt and relatives. Afterwards, a banking job waited. That’s when Bill Wilson changed his course.

“He asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was getting ready to visit Ohio and then would return for a job at Chase Bank,” Tommy recalls. “He told me that I wasn’t doing that, that I was coming to Bayou DeSiard Country Club, and that was that. I’ve been here for 20 years.”

That’s twenty years of wedding receptions, midnight galas, garden parties and ladies’ teas. Two decades of bridal showers, baby showers and graduation dinners have passed. He’s seen two, three, even four generations of members come into Bayou DeSiard. Along the way, he’s made sure to create experiences they’ll remember. Making things easy for his guests is part of what drives Tommy to never shy away from a task.

“I just do it all, everything. Whatever they need done, I do it,” Tommy says. “My thing is to make people’s parties right, so they can be happy about them.”

For people like Dianne Cage, that’s an extra effort that doesn’t go unnoticed. She recalls numerous times when Tommy stepped up to help decorate the tables, set the flowers, or squeeze in an extra guest or three. No matter the challenge, Dianne says Tommy rises to it with a smile.

“He’s big, friendly and gets it done,” Dianne says. “I just love Tommy.”

Country club member Fred Huenefeld also expresses a fondness for Tommy. As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Huenefeld has worked alongside him to hold dozens of SAR events at Bayou DeSiard over the years.

Moreover, through the long-running English Speaking Union, Fred and his late wife, Jean, relied on Tommy to make ESU banquets and events truly something special. Fred notes Tommy always made sure to be there when they needed him, whether it was taking care of special requests for an event or just putting flags and bunting on the tables.

“Tommy is so accommodating in everything he does,” Fred says. “He’s always a delight, and he really cares about the people he’s working with, the event. He gets it right.”

Tommy demurs at the praise he’s received. Even though he’s been entertaining guests for more than 40 years, half of those at Bayou DeSiard, he’s still excited to get to work every day.

“I love every minute of it,” Tommy says. “When I see a person walk in the door happy and walk out the door happy, I know I’ve given them what they want. They’re having a good time, and everything is going right. That’s exactly what I give them – a seamless event, full of great times and good memories.”

Forty years is a long time at service, but Tommy shows no interest in slowing down any time soon. He’s still excited about the work he does, and there’s always another party on the horizon demanding his attention. That’s not to say he doesn’t foresee a day when his time as Monroe’s premier party planner comes to a close.

He has designs on doing some more traveling and perhaps returning to some of the other endeavors he enjoyed when he was younger. For instance, he once owned a flooring business. “There are some places I want to see, and I hope the good Lord lets me stay long enough to see them,” he says. “And I may still get off into some of the things I like to do on the side – parties, and stuff like that.”

For now, though, he’s still hard at work at Bayou DeSiard, making life on the bayou just a little more beautiful for the guests and members at the country club every day.