ENROLLED
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 78
BY REPRESENTATIVES DOWNS AND GALLOT AND SENATOR KOSTELKA
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of John Worth Perritt, Ruston's
longest serving mayor.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of John Worth Perritt, the longest serving
mayor of Ruston, on Sunday, February 28, 2010, at the age of ninety; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt was born on March 24, 1919, in Kirbyville, Texas, to
Reverend W.B. Perritt, Sr., and Nellie Hays Perritt of Castor, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, raised in Tyler, Texas, Mr. Perritt was educated in the Tyler public
school system and graduated in 1939 from Tyler High School, where he excelled in football;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt moved to Ruston in 1939 to attend Louisiana Tech
University, where he was a walk-on for the school's football team, earned a scholarship, and
became the team's captain in 1942; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt's college education was briefly interrupted by his call to
serve in the United States Army Air Force during World War II; and
WHEREAS, during World War II, Mr. Perritt served his country with tremendous
pride and valor in the South Pacific with the 576th Aircraft Warning Battalion, a radar unit;
and
WHEREAS, after his military service, Mr. Perritt returned to Louisiana Tech
University, graduating in the summer of 1946 with a bachelor's degree in physical education
and as president of his graduating class of thirty-nine students; and
WHEREAS, during his collegiate career, Mr. Perritt also served with dedication as
president of the Louisiana Tech University Key Club and Athletic Club; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 78
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, as a student at Louisiana Tech University, Mr. Perritt met Judith Talbert
at a school dance, and the couple were later married on July 22, 1940, and had one son, John
Worth Perritt, Jr.; and
WHEREAS, after graduation, Mr. Perritt decided to stay in Ruston, where he owned
and operated a retail shoe store with his uncle, Drew Hays, and he also worked toward
earning a graduate degree in special education before entering city politics; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt ran for mayor of Ruston in 1962, won the office by fifty-two
votes, and continued to serve with great distinction as mayor for twenty years, serving for
five terms until stepping down in 1982; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt walked with crutches throughout his adult life after
sustaining injuries while playing football at Louisiana Tech University and working at a
campus job, but he never let his physical setbacks interfere with his commitment to serve
the people of Ruston; and
WHEREAS, during his five terms as mayor of Ruston, Mr. Perritt was instrumental
in expanding the city's power plant, blacktopping all of the city's roads, installing modern
streetlights throughout the city, making sewerage available to every Ruston household,
establishing the city's Parks and Recreation Department, and constructing a new city hall and
civic center; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt was involved in numerous civic organizations outside of the
mayor's office, serving as president of the Louisiana Municipal Association in 1966,
president of the American Association of Small Cities in 1979, and as a member of the board
of directors of the Southwest Power Administration; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt was also one of the principal organizers of the Louisiana
Electric Power Association, a consortium of nineteen municipally owned generating plants
and districts; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt, along with his wife, was a faithful member of First Baptist
Church of Ruston; and
WHEREAS, in his leisure time, Mr. Perritt was an avid fan of country-western music
and enjoyed playing the guitar with his friends; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-nine years, Judith
Talbert Perritt, and an array of extended family members and friends; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 78
Page 3 of 3
WHEREAS, Mr. Perritt was preceded in death by his son, John Worth Perritt, Jr.;
parents, Reverend W.B. Perritt, Sr., and Nellie Hays Perritt; and brothers, W.B. Perritt, Jr.,
and Brooks Perritt; and
WHEREAS, with the death of John Worth Perritt, Louisiana has lost one of her finest
citizens; and
WHEREAS, John Worth Perritt, who was admired by all whose lives he touched,
leaves behind a rich and unique legacy and is greatly missed; and
WHEREAS, although the death of John Worth Perritt has left a tremendous void in
his community, his memory shall live on forever in the minds and hearts of all who knew
and loved him.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of John Worth Perritt, does hereby
recognize and record for posterity his outstanding accomplishments and singular
contributions as Ruston's longest serving mayor, and does hereby extend enduring
appreciation for the pride and honor that this wonderful man will forever bring to his family,
friends, and community, the city of Ruston, the state of Louisiana, and the United States of
America.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of John Worth Perritt.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE