Charles W. Tapp
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend Charles Tapp left this world on May 24, 2015, after a lengthy illness.
A native of Greer, he was born August 27, 1928, the first of three children of Broadus Daniel and Nellie Bruce Tapp. During the Korean conflict, he served in the army as an instructor and tactical officer in the 47th Division Leadership School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
He entered LSU in 1956, receiving undergraduate and master’s degrees in government. During this time he completed his thesis, entitled “LONGS,” which was cited in a number of published histories of the Longs. As a student he worked for the Louisiana Legislative Council, researching, preparing and tracking legislation. He was awarded a University Fellowship from Duke University to continue his graduate studies in political science. After a year of study he joined the faculty of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.
Returning to Baton Rouge, he spent considerable years in public service, first as a research analyst for the Public Affairs Research Council and later as the head of Community Advancement, Inc., where he drove the development of the anti-poverty program. During his tenure he was instrumental in establishing Head Start and other economic development programs in the greater Baton Rouge area.
Furthering his public service, he became Director of the Office of Consumer Protection for the State of Louisiana under Governor Edwin W. Edwards. He also served the Department of Education as Director of Policy Analysis and Coordination under Superintendent J. Kelly Nix and finished his career as a legislative representative for various entities.
In the community, he served on the boards of directors of Capital Area Transit System (CATS), Catholic Social Services for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, LACAP Federal Credit Union and the Mid-Louisiana Health Systems Agency. He also served on the Consumer Advisory Council of the Federal Energy Administration, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, and was a member of the United States Army Reserves.
Throughout his life, he was a student of history, both local and international. He will be remembered for his intelligence, wit, loyalty, integrity and ability to see and fight for the needs of the total community. He served as mentor to many, in line with his philosophy that “...leadership requires clarity of thought that ensures the talents of the best people are involved to carry out duties.” He was fortunate in his selection of those he mentored, as he was in the people who served as his mentors.
He is survived by his spouse, Joan Vogel-Tapp; three sons, Daniel Hunter Tapp of Phoenix, Arizona, Quai Carter Tapp (Fabiola) of Florence, Texas, and Jonathan Michael Tapp (Sarah) of Tokyo, Japan; three grandchildren, Meagan Fairchild, Patrick Tapp and Esperanza Tapp; two great-grandchildren Anna-Kathleen Fairchild and Jerry Fairchild III; sister Rebecca Daniels (Aubrey) of Tucker, Georgia; aunt Edith Tapp; nieces Laura-Lee Glass, Joanna Daniels Senter and Debra Tapp Cronin, and nephew Dean Tapp.
He was preceded in death by a son, Charles Brian Tapp; grandson Ryan Joseph Tapp; parents B.D. and Nellie Tapp; brother Harold Dean Tapp; many beloved uncles and aunts, especially Sam Tapp and Dolores Bruce Tapp; and a treasured (spoiled) cat, Dash.
Services were held on Monday, June 1, 2015, at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., Baton Rouge, Louisiana with visitation from 4 p.m. until 6 pm, followed by a memorial service at 6 p.m. A reception followed.
Interment will be in Greer, South Carolina at a later date.
The family would like to extend special thanks to physicians Roy Kadair, David Hanson and Charles Eberly as well as the staffs of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Sage Rehabilitation Hospital and Ollie Steele Burden Manor.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (PO Box 3704, Memphis, TN 38173), East Baton Rouge Parish Head Start Program (4523 Plank Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70805) or Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS, 6357 Quinn Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817). We hope Charlie’s next life will bring him as much joy as he brought to us in this life.
