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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 95
BY SENATOR KOSTELKA AND REPRESENTATI VE DOWNS
CONDOLENCES. Express condolences upon the death of Professor Emeritus Robert C.
Snyder Sr., educator, civic leader, and public servant.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of2
Professor Emeritus Robert C. Snyder Sr., educator, civic leader, and public servant.3
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of4
the passing of Professor Emeritus Robert C. Snyder Sr., age ninety-two, on Wednesday, June5
8, 2011, just nine weeks after the death of his beloved wife of sixty-five years, Virginia6
Webb Snyder; and7
WHEREAS, Robert Snyder was born in Niota, Tennessee, on April 30, 1919, the8
youngest of six children; and 9
WHEREAS, he attended Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee; studied10
at Florence State, now the University of Northern Alabama, Western Kentucky, and Tulane;11
attended graduate school at Vanderbilt; and, with his family, spent summers at University12
of Mississippi and University of Alabama; and 13
WHEREAS, although teaching was his passion, "Bob" Snyder was involved in civic14
and state affairs for many years; and 15
WHEREAS, in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, he was a prolific lecturer on cultural, civic,16
and educational affairs throughout the state, was chosen as a member of the Executive17
Council on the Louisiana Commission for the Humanities, served as a national editorial18 SCR NO. 95
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critic for many specialized publications, and fielded questions on a weekly radio broadcast1
in Shreveport; and2
WHEREAS, in 1962, Mr. Snyder worked to establish the Lincoln Parish Library,3
serving as President of the Board from its inception to recent years; in 1966, Governor4
McKeithen appointed him to the State Library Board of Commissioners; and he was5
reappointed as President of the State Library Board, was awarded the coveted Modisette6
Award by the Louisiana Library Association, and served as a national officer in the7
American Library Association; and 8
WHEREAS, in 1971, he was appointed by Governor Treen to serve on the Louisiana9
State Ethics Commission and served as Chairman and was a board member for twenty-six10
years; and 11
WHEREAS, Bob Snyder was proud to have been employed during war time as an12
"engineer" by the Atomic Energy Commission to work on the Top Secret Manhattan Project13
at Oak Ridge, Tennessee during the development of the atomic bomb; and 14
WHEREAS, above all, Professor Snyder enjoyed a remarkable forty-two year career15
at Louisiana Tech University during which time, he was head of the Department of English16
and Foreign Language and later the Department of English; and 17
WHEREAS, Mr. Snyder was also an avid sports fan, as both he and his wife18
attended Tech football and basketball games and other events regularly, and he served on19
the Tech Athletic Council from the late 1950s through the 1980s; and20
WHEREAS, he loved the classroom where he instructed, encouraged, counseled,21
consoled, challenged, and inspired students and, to his last days, could recall the countless22
Tech students he taught by name; and23
WHEREAS, Professor Snyder, in a speech many years ago, first espoused his24
philosophy of life as follows:25
"I am so very weary of hearing that the world is going to be blown up—that youth26
is not to be trusted—that there is no chance for greatness today—that most of the27
frontiers have been conquered," he said. "Let me say to you that all of these28
suggestions are untrue and will not come to pass, for we are actually just in the29
infancy of civilization, and you are living in a glorious age and day. Man is just30 SCR NO. 95
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beginning to crawl, so to speak."1
"Troubles and problems will give you strength," he said. "Your only resolve should2
be to maintain fidelity to just principle, to what is right, to what is noble, to what3
ought to be."; and 4
WHEREAS, at his retirement in 1989, he was honored to be conferred the rare5
Professor Emeritus title, became Louisiana Tech's first Distinguished Professor, and former6
students, Charles and Sam Wyly established the Robert C. Snyder Chair English7
Endowment; and 8
WHEREAS, he was selected by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association for the9
school's Arliss Scroggin's Award for Distinguished Service to the university well after10
retirement in 2005; and 11
WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his parents, Sophia Elizabeth Brock and12
Robert Harrison Snyder; step-mother, Alpha Simpson Snyder; his beloved wife, Virginia13
Webb Snyder; sisters, Elizabeth Snyder Harrington, Ava Snyder Glendenning; Mary Frances14
Snyder Smith; brothers, Samuel Snyder, Gilbert Snyder; and half sisters, Mary Jane Snyder15
Sewell and Sue Snyder Long; and 16
WHEREAS, Robert Snyder is survived by his three devoted children, seven17
grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren: Rebecca Snyder Howard and husband Dr.18
Rennie Howard; Stephana Snyder Dean and husband Albert " Bud"; Dr. Robert C. Snyder19
Jr. and wife Gayle Langley Snyder and daughter Molly Snyder; grandchildren, Tad Howard20
and wife Susan and son Grady; Scottie Howard Brown and husband David Brown; Virginia21
"Ginny" Dean Nolen and husband Drew and children Melanie and Mary Elizabeth Nolen;22
Robbie Dean; Dr. Steven Snyder and wife Janet and children Will and Evelyn; Dr. Hunter23
Snyder and wife Jennifer and daughter Jillian; two beloved half-brothers, William Snyder24
and Joe Snyder and their families; and many cherished nieces and nephews; and 25
WHEREAS, he was as beloved as he was at times difficult; his brilliancy had no26
match; his white long sleeve starched shirts and seer sucker suits…his knowing laugh, his27
acerbic wit and charm, and his engaging manner of telling stories combined with his28
refinement will be forever missed; and29
WHEREAS, he was a caring and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-30 SCR NO. 95
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grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend and his memory will live forever in the minds and1
hearts of those who knew and loved him. 2
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 3
recognize and acknowledge the many contributions of Professor Robert C. Snyder to the4
United States of America, Louisiana, and Louisiana Tech University, but primarily his5
lasting impact upon his students, and does hereby express sincere condolences to the family6
of Professor Robert C. Snyder upon the occasion of his death.7
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to8
Rebecca Snyder Howard, Stephana Snyder Dean, and Dr. Robert C. Snyder Jr.9
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Kostelka SCR No. 95
Expresses condolences upon the death of Professor Robert C. Snyder Sr., educator, civic
leader, and public servant.