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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 156
BY REPRESENTATIVES POPE, ABRAMSON, ANDERS, ARMES, ARNOL D,
AUBERT, AUSTIN BADON, BOBBY BADON, BALDONE, BARRAS,
BARROW, BILLIOT, BISHOP, BROSSETT, BURFORD, HENRY BURNS, TIM
BURNS, BURRELL, CARMODY, CARTER, CHAMPAGNE, CHANDLER,
CHANEY, CONNICK, CORTEZ, CROMER, DANAHAY, DIXON, DOERGE,
DOVE, DOWNS, EDWARDS, ELLINGTON, FANNIN, FOIL, FRANKLIN,
GALLOT, GEYMANN, GISCLAIR, GREENE, GUILLORY, GUINN, HARDY,
HARRISON, HAZEL, HENDERSON, HENRY, HENSGENS, HILL, HINES,
HOFFMANN, HONORE, HOWARD, HUTTER, HUVAL, GIROD JACKSON,
MICHAEL JACKSON, JOHNSON, ROSALIND JONES, SAM JONES, KATZ,
KLECKLEY, LABRUZZO, LAFONTA, LAMBERT, LANDRY, LEBAS, LEGER,
LIGI, LITTLE, LOPINTO, LORUSSO, MCVEA, MONICA, MONTOUCET,
MORENO, MORRIS, NORTON, NOWLIN, PEARSON, PONTI, PUGH,
RICHARD, RICHARDSON, RITCHIE, ROBIDEAUX, ROY, SCHRODER,
SEABAUGH, SIMON, SMILEY, GARY SMITH, JANE SMITH, PATRICIA
SMITH, ST. GERMAIN, STIAES, TALBOT, TEMPLET, THIBAUT, THIERRY,
TUCKER, WHITE, WILLIAMS, WILLMOTT, AND WOOTON
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the House of Representatives upon the
death of Rhett Jeansonne, Fraud Section Investigator with the Louisiana Department
of Insurance.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and sincere sorrow that the members of the
House of Representatives of the Louisiana Legislature have learned of the untimely death
at age thirty-nine of Rhett Jeansonne, a dedicated state employee who gave his life in the line
of duty on June 7, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Rhett Jeansonne, a resident of Denham Springs, had previously worked
for the state fire marshal's office and began his career at the Louisiana Department of
Insurance in November of 2006, as a fraud section investigator; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jeansonne's many achievements include National Emergency
Medical Technician Certification (EMT), Firefighter and Emergency Responder
certification, and EMT certification; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jeansonne was also an American Heart Association CPR certified
instructor who trained some of the Louisiana Department of Insurance's staff as well as a
safety warden for the department; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jeansonne additionally served as a volunteer firefighter for
twenty-two years with Districts 4 and 5 in Livingston Parish, attaining the rank of medical
captain with District 5; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 156
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WHEREAS, Mr. Jeansonne was loved deeply by his family as well as his fellow
employees at the Department of Insurance who unanimously speak only in the highest terms
of him as a person and a state employee; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jeansonne has also been described as a compassionate person who
always went out of his way to help others and who loved and was dedicated to his job and
making a difference in state government; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Jim Donelon called Mr. Jeansonne's death and that of
his co-worker, Kimberly McElveen Sledge: "the darkest day in the history of the Department
of Insurance"; and
WHEREAS, Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order calling for the flags
at all state buildings to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Friday, June 10, 2011, in
recognition of Mr. Jeansonne's and Mrs. Sledge's dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice;
and
WHEREAS, to further recognize these fallen heroes, state law is currently being
amended by the Legislature of Louisiana to retroactively provide for their families and to
ensure that the families of other state employees will be similarly protected under the same
circumstances; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jeansonne is survived by his wife, Bernadette, his daughter, Sharon,
and sons, Kristopher, Kale, and Konner, and a granddaughter, Khloe, born May 18, 2011,
as well as a host of other close relatives and friends who will continue to mourn his tragic
and untimely death.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express its condolences upon the death of Rhett
Jeansonne, Fraud Section Investigator with the Louisiana Department of Insurance, who
gave his life in the line of duty on June 7, 2011, and does hereby acknowledge his exemplary
public service to the citizens of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Rhett Jeansonne.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES