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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 59
BY REPRESENTATIVES MICHAEL JACKSON, BARROW, CARTER, FOI L, GREENE,
MCVEA, PONTI, RICHARDSON, PATRICIA SMITH, AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the House of Representatives upon the
death of Kirt Bennett of Baton Rouge.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of Kirt Bennett
of Baton Rouge on Monday, May 3, 2010, at the age of forty-two; and
WHEREAS, raised in New Orleans, Mr. Bennett resided in Baton Rouge, attended
LSU on athletic scholarship, lettered for the Tigers in various track and field events, and
became the first black LSU Student Government Association president in 1990; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Mr. Bennett graduated from LSU with a political science
degree, and he later earned a master of public administration degree from Southern
University; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, Mr. Bennett was hired as the first executive director of the
Young Leaders Academy of Baton Rouge, a leadership and education program that exists
to nurture the development of leadership abilities of young African American males,
empowering them to improve the quality of their lives and assisting them in becoming
productive citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Young Leaders Academy, along with Mr. Bennett, made two
appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and won the Use Your Life award in 2001, three
United States Presidential Service awards, the National Points of Light award in 2001, and
a Federal Bureau of Investigation Community Service award in 2006; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, Mr. Bennett was a Baton Rouge Business Report "Forty Under
40" winner; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 59
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WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett ran for political office twice during his life, once as a
Democrat for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1993 and as a Republican
for the lieutenant governor position in 2003; and
WHEREAS, at the time of his death, Mr. Bennett was working for Northwestern
Mutual as a financial representative; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett was a member of the National Association of Insurance and
Financial Advisors, and he received the National Sales Achievement Award in 2006; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, Mr. Bennett was appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to serve
as secretary on the Port of Greater Baton Rouge's board of commissioners; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett was an active and devoted member of Wesley United
Baptist Church, and he was formerly a youth minister; and
WHEREAS, in his leisure time, Mr. Bennett was interested in genealogy and
photography, and he loved to travel, spend time with his family, and experience new
cultures; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett is survived by his loving wife of almost twelve years,
Denise, and his three children, John, Benjamin, and Christiana; and
WHEREAS, with the death of Mr. Bennett, Louisiana has lost one of her finest
citizens; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett holds a special place in the history of his community,
particularly for the generous and admirable way in which he devoted his energy and talents
to the development of young people into informed, capable, and productive citizens of their
communities and the world; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bennett, who was admired by the countless citizens whose lives he
touched, leaves behind a rich and unique legacy and is greatly missed; and
WHEREAS, although the death of Kirt Bennett 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 House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the
death of Kirt Bennett of Baton Rouge, does hereby recognize and record for posterity his
outstanding accomplishments and singular contributions to his community, and does hereby ENROLLEDHR NO. 59
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extend enduring appreciation for the pride and honor that this wonderful man will forever
bring to his family, friends, and community, the city of Baton Rouge, and the state of
Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Kirt Bennett.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES