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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 95
BY SENATORS KOSTELKA AND THOMPSON AND REPRESENTATI VE DOWNS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of
Professor Emeritus Robert C. Snyder Sr., educator, civic leader, and public servant.
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of
the passing of Professor Emeritus Robert C. Snyder Sr., age ninety-two, on Wednesday, June
8, 2011, just nine weeks after the death of his beloved wife of sixty-five years, Virginia
Webb Snyder; and
WHEREAS, Robert Snyder was born in Niota, Tennessee, on April 30, 1919, the
youngest of six children; and
WHEREAS, he attended Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee; studied
at Florence State, now the University of Northern Alabama, Western Kentucky, and Tulane;
attended graduate school at Vanderbilt; and, with his family, spent summers at University
of Mississippi and University of Alabama; and
WHEREAS, although teaching was his passion, "Bob" Snyder was involved in civic
and state affairs for many years; and
WHEREAS, in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, he was a prolific lecturer on cultural, civic,
and educational affairs throughout the state, was chosen as a member of the Executive
Council on the Louisiana Commission for the Humanities, served as a national editorial
critic for many specialized publications, and fielded questions on a weekly radio broadcast
in Shreveport; and
WHEREAS, in 1962, Mr. Snyder worked to establish the Lincoln Parish Library,
serving as President of the Board from its inception to recent years; in 1966, Governor
McKeithen appointed him to the State Library Board of Commissioners; and he was SCR NO. 95 ENROLLED
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reappointed as President of the State Library Board, was awarded the coveted Modisette
Award by the Louisiana Library Association, and served as a national officer in the
American Library Association; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, he was appointed by Governor Treen to serve on the Louisiana
State Ethics Commission and served as Chairman and was a board member for twenty-six
years; and
WHEREAS, Bob Snyder was proud to have been employed during war time as an
"engineer" by the Atomic Energy Commission to work on the Top Secret Manhattan Project
at Oak Ridge, Tennessee during the development of the atomic bomb; and
WHEREAS, above all, Professor Snyder enjoyed a remarkable forty-two year career
at Louisiana Tech University during which time, he was head of the Department of English
and Foreign Language and later the Department of English; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Snyder was also an avid sports fan, as both he and his wife
attended Tech football and basketball games and other events regularly, and he served on
the Tech Athletic Council from the late 1950s through the 1980s; and
WHEREAS, he loved the classroom where he instructed, encouraged, counseled,
consoled, challenged, and inspired students and, to his last days, could recall the countless
Tech students he taught by name; and
WHEREAS, Professor Snyder, in a speech many years ago, first espoused his
philosophy of life as follows:
"I am so very weary of hearing that the world is going to be blown up—that youth
is not to be trusted—that there is no chance for greatness today—that most of the
frontiers have been conquered," he said. "Let me say to you that all of these
suggestions are untrue and will not come to pass, for we are actually just in the
infancy of civilization, and you are living in a glorious age and day. Man is just
beginning to crawl, so to speak."
"Troubles and problems will give you strength," he said. "Your only resolve should
be to maintain fidelity to just principle, to what is right, to what is noble, to what
ought to be."; and
WHEREAS, at his retirement in 1989, he was honored to be conferred the rare SCR NO. 95 ENROLLED
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Professor Emeritus title, became Louisiana Tech's first Distinguished Professor, and former
students, Charles and Sam Wyly established the Robert C. Snyder Chair English
Endowment; and
WHEREAS, he was selected by the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association for the
school's Arliss Scroggin's Award for Distinguished Service to the university well after
retirement in 2005; and
WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his parents, Sophia Elizabeth Brock and
Robert Harrison Snyder; step-mother, Alpha Simpson Snyder; his beloved wife, Virginia
Webb Snyder; sisters, Elizabeth Snyder Harrington, Ava Snyder Glendenning; Mary Frances
Snyder Smith; brothers, Samuel Snyder, Gilbert Snyder; and half sisters, Mary Jane Snyder
Sewell and Sue Snyder Long; and
WHEREAS, Robert Snyder is survived by his three devoted children, seven
grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren: Rebecca Snyder Howard and husband Dr.
Rennie Howard; Stephana Snyder Dean and husband Albert " Bud"; Dr. Robert C. Snyder
Jr. and wife Gayle Langley Snyder and daughter Molly Snyder; grandchildren, Tad Howard
and wife Susan and son Grady; Scottie Howard Brown and husband David Brown; Virginia
"Ginny" Dean Nolen and husband Drew and children Melanie and Mary Elizabeth Nolen;
Robbie Dean; Dr. Steven Snyder and wife Janet and children Will and Evelyn; Dr. Hunter
Snyder and wife Jennifer and daughter Jillian; two beloved half-brothers, William Snyder
and Joe Snyder and their families; and many cherished nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, he was as beloved as he was at times difficult; his brilliancy had no
match; his white long sleeve starched shirts and seersucker suits…his knowing laugh, his
acerbic wit and charm, and his engaging manner of telling stories combined with his
refinement will be forever missed; and
WHEREAS, he was a caring and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-
grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend and his memory will live forever in the minds and
hearts of those who knew and loved him.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
recognize and acknowledge the many contributions of Professor Robert C. Snyder to the
United States of America, Louisiana, and Louisiana Tech University, but primarily his SCR NO. 95 ENROLLED
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lasting impact upon his students, and does hereby express sincere condolences to the family
of Professor Robert C. Snyder upon the occasion of his death.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Rebecca Snyder Howard, Stephana Snyder Dean, and Dr. Robert C. Snyder Jr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES