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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 33
BY SENATOR DORSEY
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Henry Louis "Dickie"
Thurman, Jr.
A RESOLUTION1
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate upon the death of Henry2
Louis "Dickie" Thurman, Jr., and to pay tribute to his significant contributions to the3
Southern University's School of Architecture and Engineering.4
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the5
Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the death of Henry Louis "Dickie"6
Thurman, Jr., who died on April 10, 2011, at the age of eighty-four; and 7
WHEREAS, Henry Louis "Dickie" Thurman, Jr., was born in Lawrenceville,8
Virginia, to Henry L. Sr., and Helen Frey Thurman, and was a resident of Baton Rouge,9
Louisiana; and 10
WHEREAS, he had a life-long commitment to the education and betterment of11
students and through his hard work and dedication nurtured the hearts and minds of all those12
who had the honor of learning from him while he served as a professor and the first dean of13
Southern's School of Architecture and Engineering; and14
WHEREAS, he was proud of the number of African American architects and15
draftsmen he inspired and became successful in their respective fields; and16
WHEREAS, educated at the Hampton Institute, now Hampton University in Virginia,17
where he received his bachelor's in science degree in architectural engineering, a master's18 SR NO. 33
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of science degree from the University of Illinois and went on later to study further at the1
University of Colorado, University of Wisconsin, UCLA and LSU; and2
WHEREAS, an honorable man with tremendous vision and determination, he3
became the first African American to become a registered architect in the state of Louisiana,4
a true legacy of which his family can be proud; and5
WHEREAS, Henry Louis "Dickie" Thurman, Jr., a leader in every sense of the word6
and a pillar of strength and goodness in his community, will forever be remembered for his7
meaningful involvement in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., where he was a lifetime8
member; and9
WHEREAS, in every endeavor, whether in architecture, in the community or in his10
private life shared with family and friends, he always offered a one hundred percent effort11
which everyone knew and understood to be a habit of a lifetime; and12
WHEREAS, Henry Louis "Dickie" Thurman, Jr., is survived by son and daughter-in-13
law, Henry Louis Thurman III and Natalie Broussard Thurman, sisters, Avis Thurman Watts14
and husband Emerson, of Clinton, Maryland, and Audrey E. Thurman of Washington, D.C.,15
nephew, Alexander Emerson Watts, of Maryland, six godchildren as well as a host of other16
relatives and friends; and17
WHEREAS, it is with great sorrow and sadness that the citizens of Louisiana have18
learned of the death of Henry Louis "Dickie" Thurman, Jr., and though his death has left a19
tremendous void, that special light which beamed within him and inspired not only a joy of20
life but also a delight in the possibilities of life, raised the spirits of everyone around him and21
will continue to shine through his memory and live on in the hearts and minds of all those22
whose lives he touched.23
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana24
hereby expresses the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate to the family of Henry25
Louis "Dickie" Thurman, Jr., upon his death and does hereby pay tribute to his significant26
achievements in architecture and in his community.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the28
family of Henry Louis "Dickie" Thurman, Jr.29 SR NO. 33
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michael Bell.
DIGEST
Dorsey SR No.
Expresses condolences upon the death of Henry Louis "Dickie" Thurman, Jr.