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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 78
BY REPRESENTATIVES DOWNS AND GALLOT AND SENATOR KOSTELKA
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of John Worth Perritt, Ruston's
longest serving mayor
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of John Worth Perritt, Ruston's2
longest serving mayor.3
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the4
Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of John Worth Perritt, the longest serving5
mayor of Ruston, on Sunday, February 28, 2010, at the age of ninety; and 6
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt was born on March 24, 1919, in Kirbyville, Texas, to7
Reverend W.B. Perritt, Sr., and Nellie Hays Perritt of Castor, Louisiana; and8
WHEREAS, raised in Tyler, Texas, Mr. Perritt was educated in the Tyler public9
school system and graduated in 1939 from Tyler High School, where he excelled in football;10
and11
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt moved to Ruston in 1939 to attend Louisiana Tech12
University, where he was a walk-on for the school's football team, earned a scholarship, and13
became the team's captain in 1942; and14
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt's college education was briefly interrupted by his call to15
serve in the United States Army Air Force during World War II; and16
WHEREAS, during World War II, Mr. Perritt served his country with tremendous17
pride and valor in the South Pacific with the 576th Aircraft Warning Battalion, a radar unit;18
and19 HLS 10RS-1925 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 78
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WHEREAS, after his military service, Mr. Perritt returned to Louisiana Tech1
University, graduating in the summer of 1946 with a bachelor's degree in physical education2
and as president of his graduating class of thirty-nine students; and3
WHEREAS, during his collegiate career, Mr. Perritt also served with dedication as4
president of the Louisiana Tech University Key Club and Athletic Club; and5
WHEREAS, as a student at Louisiana Tech University, Mr. Perritt met Judith Talbert6
at a school dance, and the couple were later married on July 22, 1940, and had one son, John7
Worth Perritt, Jr.; and8
WHEREAS, after graduation, Mr. Perritt decided to stay in Ruston, where he owned9
and operated a retail shoe store with his uncle, Drew Hays, and he also worked toward10
earning a graduate degree in special education before entering city politics; and11
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt ran for mayor of Ruston in 1962, won the office by fifty-two12
votes, and continued to serve with great distinction as mayor for twenty years, serving for13
five terms until stepping down in 1982; and14
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt walked with crutches throughout his adult life after15
sustaining injuries while playing football at Louisiana Tech University and working at a16
campus job, but he never let his physical setbacks interfere with his commitment to serve17
the people of Ruston; and18
WHEREAS, during his five terms as mayor of Ruston, Mr. Perritt was instrumental19
in expanding the city's power plant, blacktopping all of the city's roads, installing modern20
streetlights throughout the city, making sewerage available to every Ruston household,21
establishing the city's Parks and Recreation Department, and constructing a new city hall and22
civic center; and23
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt was involved in numerous civic organizations outside of the24
mayor's office, serving as president of the Louisiana Municipal Association in 1966,25
president of the American Association of Small Cities in 1979, and as a member of the board26
of directors of the Southwest Power Administration; and27
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt was also one of the principal organizers of the Louisiana28
Electric Power Association, a consortium of nineteen municipally owned generating plants29
and districts; and30 HLS 10RS-1925 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt, along with his wife, was a faithful member of First Baptist1
Church of Ruston; and2
WHEREAS, in his leisure time, Mr. Perritt was an avid fan of country-western music3
and enjoyed playing the guitar with his friends; and4
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-nine years, Judith5
Talbert Perritt, and an array of extended family members and friends; and6
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt was preceded in death by his son, John Worth Perritt, Jr.;7
parents, Reverend W.B. Perritt, Sr., and Nellie Hays Perritt; and brothers, W.B. Perritt, Jr.,8
and Brooks Perritt; and9
WHEREAS, with the death of John Worth Perritt, Louisiana has lost one of her finest10
citizens; and 11
WHEREAS, John Worth Perritt, who was admired by all whose lives he touched,12
leaves behind a rich and unique legacy and is greatly missed; and13
WHEREAS, although the death of John Worth Perritt has left a tremendous void in14
his community, his memory shall live on forever in the minds and hearts of all who knew15
and loved him.16
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby17
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of John Worth Perritt, does hereby18
recognize and record for posterity his outstanding accomplishments and singular19
contributions as Ruston's longest serving mayor, and does hereby extend enduring20
appreciation for the pride and honor that this wonderful man will forever bring to his family,21
friends, and community, the city of Ruston, the state of Louisiana, and the United States of22
America.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted24
to the family of John Worth Perritt.25 HLS 10RS-1925 ORIGINAL
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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)]
Downs HCR No. 78
Expresses condolences upon the death of John Worth Perritt, Ruston's longest serving
mayor.