The Founding of Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans: A Legacy Rooted in Service and Civic Leadership

James Gilley, Jr., Vice President of Whitney National Bank and first treasurer for JA of Greater New Orleans

In 1955, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans was officially formed in the boardroom of Whitney National Bank. At a time when civic institutions were expanding across the nation, the founding of JA in New Orleans reflected a growing commitment to preparing young people for economic self-sufficiency through practical education in business, financial literacy, and career readiness. The effort was anchored by the leadership of Whitney Bank, whose executives not only provided institutional support but personally served on JA’s inaugural Board of Governors.

The founding of JA in New Orleans was more than symbolic—it took place in the boardroom of Whitney National Bank, a powerful institution at the heart of the city’s economic life. Two of the bank’s most prominent leaders, Keehn W. Berry, President of Whitney National Bank in 1955, and James Gilly, Jr., who would rise to become Executive Vice President, served on JA’s first board. Their presence affirmed JA’s importance and set the tone for a deep and enduring partnership between the banking community and youth development in the region.

Berry’s involvement as president of the bank reflected an institution-wide commitment to JA’s mission of educating and empowering the next generation. Gilly, who served as Treasurer of the founding JA of Greater New Orleans board, ensured strong financial governance and strategic oversight from the very beginning.

Born in 1904 in Labadieville, Louisiana, James Gilly, Jr. decided early in life that his work should offer opportunities to serve others. He began his career at Whitney National Bank in 1912 as an office boy and worked his way up to Executive Vice President by 1960. Along the way, he became not only a respected banking executive but also one of New Orleans’ most honored and admired civic leaders.

His record of service is extraordinary in both scope and inclusivity. As early as 1925, Gilly was active in the Community Chest, and in 1938, he led the organization as chairman. During World War II, he chaired the War Chest, galvanizing local support for the war effort. In 1953, he served as General Chairman for the United Negro College Fund in New Orleans, and in 1956, he received the Weiss Award for outstanding service to the community.

Gilly’s tireless advocacy extended across lines of race and religion. He provided direct support and financial guidance not only to Catholic institutions, but also to Protestant and Jewish organizations. In 1947, Pope Pius XII recognized his extraordinary contributions to the Archdiocese of New Orleans with the title Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory with special decoration—only the second time in history that such an honor had been awarded in the archdiocese. Gilly had helped lead financial drives that enabled the construction of Christian Brothers School, Xavier Preparatory School, and St. Alphonsus High School.

His leadership of the Youth Progress Program, which raised over $3 million—far exceeding its $2 million goal—demonstrated his unmatched ability to rally the business and civic communities behind causes that uplifted youth across the city.

As the Times-Picayune wrote when awarding him the Loving Cup, “He has not let color or race stand in his way to help others.” Gilly himself put it more simply: “I just believe in justice and in human rights. Everyone has a soul, and I believe everyone deserves respect regardless of his religion or race.”

Gilly’s belief in education and opportunity found a lasting home in Junior Achievement. His financial stewardship and moral clarity helped ensure the organization would be accessible and impactful from the start. JA's programs, which introduced students to free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and personal finance, were built with the intention of leveling the playing field for all young people.

The foundation laid by Gilly, Berry, and the early board continues to shape JA’s work today. Through hands-on programs in classrooms and experiential learning centers, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans now serves close to 40,000 youth annually. But the spirit of service, equity, and financial empowerment that characterized the organization’s founding remains at the core of its mission.

Today, Hancock Whitney—the successor of Whitney National Bank—still holds a seat on JA’s Board of Governors and remains one of the organization’s most steadfast and generous supporters. The bank continues to provide vital financial support and remains deeply involved through employee volunteerism. Hancock Whitney team members give their time to deliver JA programs in schools across the region, carrying forward the legacy of community investment first modeled by leaders like James Gilly, Jr. and Keehn W. Berry.

The Whitney National Bank boardroom may have been where Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans was born, but it was the vision and values of its earliest leaders that gave the organization its heart.