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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 67
BY SENATORS BROOME, CLAITOR, DORSEY, ERDEY AND MARIONNEAUX AND
REPRESENTATIVES BARROW, CARTER, FOIL, GREENE,
MICHAEL JACKSON, MCVEA, PONTI, RICHARDSON, PATRICIA
SMITH AND WHITE AND SENATORS ADL EY, ALARIO, AMEDEE,
APPEL, CHABERT, CHAISSON, CHEEK, CROWE, DONAHUE,
DUPLESSIS, B. GAUTREAUX, N. GAUTREAUX, GUI LLORY,
HEBERT, HEITMEIER, JACKSON, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG,
MARTINY, MCPHERSON, MI CHOT, MORRELL, MORRI SH,
MOUNT, MURRAY, NEVERS, PETERSON, QUINN, RISER, SHAW,
SMITH, THOMPSON AND WALSWORTH
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Kirt
Bennett, founder and executive director of The Young Leaders' Academy.
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness and sense of loss that the Louisiana Legislature
has learned of the untimely passing of Kirt Bennett on May 3, 2010, at the age of forty-two;
and
WHEREAS, he was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 15, 1967, and
attended Eleanor McMain Magnet School; and
WHEREAS, Kirt Bennett came to Baton Rouge to attend Louisiana State University
where he participated on the LSU Track and Field Team in 1985-1988 and obtained a
bachelor's degree in political science; and
WHEREAS, with his dynamic presence and sense of self, together with his oratorical
skills, he was highly involved in campus activities and was elected president of the LSU
Student Government Association in 1990, as only the second African American to hold the
office; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, Kirt Bennett was a founder of The Young Leaders' Academy
in Baton Rouge, a group that works to lead black boys away from violence, and also served
as executive director of the academy until 2003; and
WHEREAS, through his efforts at The Young Leaders' Academy, he left a lasting
impression on those young men that he inspired, molded, and mentored; and
WHEREAS, Kirt Bennett was named as a Forty Under 40 Winner by the Baton
Rouge Business Report in 1994 and also served as a board member of the Baton Rouge SCR NO. 67 ENROLLED
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Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, he was a visionary leader who offered himself in service of others in
his community; and
WHEREAS, Kirt Bennett was a candidate for public office twice in his short life, for
a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1993 as a Democrat, and for lieutenant
governor in 2003 as a Republican; and
WHEREAS, in 2008 he was appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to serve on the
Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission; and
WHEREAS, Kirt Bennett was a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual
Finance and an active member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, having been youth
minister; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his loving wife, Denise, and their three children -
John, Benjamin, and Christiana; and
WHEREAS, Kirt Bennett was an outstanding citizen of Baton Rouge and Louisiana,
a man who through his talents, generosity, courage, integrity, dignity, inspiration, and
service brought change for the better to his community; and
WHEREAS, he was a loving husband and father, a compassionate and caring mentor,
and a role model who will be missed by family and friends; and
WHEREAS, the death of Kirt Bennett has left a tremendous void in his community
and has created a genuine sense of sorrow in the many persons whose lives he touched who
mourn the loss of this unique gentlemen.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
acknowledge the contributions to the Baton Rouge community made by Kirt Bennett and
hereby extends sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family on the occasion of his death.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Denise Bennett.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES