Maurice “Mel” L. Lagarde, III

Maurice "Mel" L. Lagarde, III, is chairman of the First Bank and Trust board of directors and its Executive Committee.

He is president and CEO of the Delta Division of HCA, Inc., which operates 169 hospitals and 108 free-standing surgery centers in 20 states and also in England. The Delta Division operates 11 hospitals and two surgery centers in Louisiana and southern Mississippi.

A native of New Orleans, Lagarde received a Bachelor's degree in economics from Tulane University and a Master's degree in public health from Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Active in the community, Lagarde is a director of the Audubon Nature Institute, vice chair of University Healthcare Systems, LC, and a member of the New Orleans Business Council. He also serves on Xavier University of Louisiana's President's Council, Tulane University's Dean's Council and Loyola College of Business Visiting Committee. Lagarde previously served as chairman of the New Orleans Police Foundation and on the executive committee of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. In addition, he has served as a director of the Bureau of Governmental Research, co-chairman of the Bring New Orleans Back Commission and in a number of other civic capacities. He is past president of Legatus International — New Orleans Chapter.

Lagarde is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a director of the Federation of American Hospitals. Lagarde also has been named as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He has received the Young Leadership Council Role Model Award and is in the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.