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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 11
BY REPRESENTATIVE ANDERS
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes May 22, 2010, as Will Haney Day in
Ferriday
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To recognize Saturday, May 22, 2010, as Will Haney Day in Ferriday.2
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize Saturday, May 22, 2010, as Will Haney3
Day in Ferriday in honor of his outstanding contributions to blues music as operator of4
Haney's Big House; and5
WHEREAS, born in Vidalia, Will Haney served with great pride and valor in the6
United States Army, was stationed in France during World War I, and earned the rank of7
first sergeant; and8
WHEREAS, after returning from military service following World War I, Will9
Haney sold life and accident insurance as a representative of People's Life Insurance of New10
Orleans; and 11
WHEREAS, during the floods of the 1930s and 1940s, many of Mr. Haney's12
policyholders were unable to work, so Mr. Haney traveled to New Orleans to tell the13
company that he would not allow his customers' policies to lapse due to the flood; and14
WHEREAS, after turning over the insurance business to a relative, Will Haney15
opened a barbeque joint that had a dirt floor, paneled walls that ran halfway up the building,16
and a screen that ran above the walls to the ceiling; and17
WHEREAS, by the late 1930s, Will Haney constructed a barroom at the same18
location and called the place Haney's, creating what would eventually become the legendary19
Haney's Big House; and20 HLS 10RS-664 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, after enlarging his business, the bluesmen of the Mississippi Delta and1
the jazzmen of New Orleans would often travel to Ferriday to play at Haney's; and2
WHEREAS, Will Haney operated the famous nightclub known worldwide as Haney's3
Big House in Ferriday, Louisiana, during the 1940s and 1950s; and4
WHEREAS, Haney's Big House was a part of what is known as the "chitlin circuit",5
playing host to legends of blues music, including Fats Domino, Duke Ellington, Louis6
Armstrong, B.B. King, Irma Thomas, and Percy Sledge, among others; and7
WHEREAS, blues music is the most influential form of American roots music, and8
its impact is heard around the world in rock 'n' roll, jazz, rhythm and blues, country, and9
classic musical; and10
WHEREAS, with the success of Haney's Big House, Mr. Haney built a two-story11
motel called Haney's Motel behind the club to accommodate musicians and patrons; and12
WHEREAS, the glory years of Haney's Big House spanned about two decades before13
a fire destroyed the entire block in 1966, and Haney's property burned to the ground and was14
never rebuilt; and15
WHEREAS, Will Haney was a loving husband to his wife Lillie and a devoted father16
to his only daughter, Willie, who attended an all-girls college in North Carolina; and17
WHEREAS, Will Haney passed away after becoming ill during the late 1960s, but18
his legacy lives on forever in the minds and hearts of the people of Ferriday; and 19
WHEREAS, as an African American man during turbulent times, Will Haney made20
a place in history for both himself and Ferriday that will never be surpassed; and21
WHEREAS, Ferriday recently joined a handful of cities outside Mississippi,22
including Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans, and London, that were selected to receive a23
Mississippi Blues Trail marker, and the marker is being placed at the site of Haney's Big24
House in honor of the legendary blues musicians that played there; and25
WHEREAS, May 22, 2010, has been proclaimed Will Haney Day by the town of26
Ferriday; and27
WHEREAS, thanks to the success of Will Haney and Haney's Big House, Ferriday28
became legendary and continues to stand out in music culture today. 29 HLS 10RS-664 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 11
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby1
recognize Saturday, May 22, 2010, as Will Haney Day in Ferriday, does hereby2
posthumously commend Will Haney for his contributions to blues music as operator of3
Haney's Big House, and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for the tremendous pride4
and honor that this wonderful man continues to bring to the citizens of the town of Ferriday5
and the state of Louisiana.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted7
to Glen B. McGlothin, Jr., mayor of the town of Ferriday.8
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Anders HCR No. 11
Recognizes May 22, 2010, as Will Haney Day in Ferriday.