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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 87
BY SENATOR PERRY
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Ronald Menard on the occasion of his retirement having
worked 42 years at Kaplan State Bank.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Ronald Menard on the occasion of his retirement having worked forty-two2
years at Kaplan State Bank.3
WHEREAS, on March 28, 1969, Ronald Menard, the son of the late Junius and4
Myrtis Menard, became an employee of Kaplan State Bank in the bookkeeping department;5
and6
WHEREAS, during the week of May 31, 2011, Mr. Menard said goodbye to the7
Kaplan State Bank family, after deciding to retire after forty-two years of dedicated service;8
and9
WHEREAS, during the retirement party for Mr. Menard, Kaplan State Bank chief10
executive officer, Vernon Johnson, indicated his hire date predates man's first walk on the11
moon and Woodstock; and12
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson gave accolades to Mr. Menard's extreme dedication to13
Kaplan State Bank where he had an unmatched willingness to help people with their14
financial needs which gained him great respect; and15
WHEREAS, prior to his long tenure with the bank, Mr. Menard's first job in 196516
was with Meaux Lumber Yard as a delivery man, followed by being a manager at Southern17
Pacific Transport Company in Kaplan; and18 SR NO. 87
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WHEREAS, Mr. Menard was also a member of the National Guard Reserve for nine1
years; and2
WHEREAS, after beginning his job at Kaplan State Bank, he enrolled in night school3
at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then the University of Southwestern Louisiana,4
to further his education in banking; and5
WHEREAS, in 1970, he joined and became president of the American Institute of6
Banking; and7
WHEREAS, throughout his career, he remained abreast of all changes involving8
banking rules and regulations by attending seminars and schools provided by the Louisiana9
Bankers Association; and10
WHEREAS, Mr. Menard's promotions continued from bookkeeping to teller, and11
from loan officer to assistant vice president; and12
WHEREAS, by 1975, his title of vice president enabled him to become the manager13
of the newly opened Kaplan State Bank branch in Forked Island; and14
WHEREAS, in 1977, with no customers in the bank, the branch was robbed at15
gunpoint; and16
WHEREAS, as a gun was pointed to his head and another to his stomach, the17
gunmen ordered him and another employee to open the cash drawers and lay on the floor;18
and19
WHEREAS, the theft ended with no one being harmed, with a minimal amount of20
funds stolen; and21
WHEREAS, the incident alerted bank officials that security procedures needed22
upgrading, which Mr. Menard took full charge to direct; and23
WHEREAS, Mr. Menard was past president and current member of the board of24
directors for the Meaux-Nunez Volunteer Fire Department, and past president and member25
of the Kaplan Rotary Club, and the Kaplan American Legion; and26
WHEREAS, as an avid supporter of the Vermilion Parish 4-H program, he attended27
the annual 4-H Livestock Shows and would purchase show animals from the students on28
behalf of Kaplan State Bank; and29
WHEREAS, throughout his years at the bank, Mr. Menard said the best part of his30 SR NO. 87
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job was to say "yes" to his customers when they applied for loans, with the hardest part of1
his job saying "no" to a customer; and2
WHEREAS, when not working, Mr. Menard dedicated his time to his wife, the3
former Glenda Petry, for forty-three years; and4
WHEREAS, when asked of his planned activities upon his retirement, Mr. Menard5
responded that he would do what he wanted, when he wanted, and whatever he wanted; and6
WHEREAS, as he begins the next chapter of his life, Mr. Ronald Menard will be7
greatly missed by Kaplan State Bank employees and customers, many of whom have had8
the opportunity to know him as a friend and mentor, and they will remember his readiness9
to assist those in need, and how he always provided the banking industry with opportunities10
to develop and grow under his guidance and dedication.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana12
does hereby commend Ronald Menard on the occasion of his retirement having worked13
forty-two years at Kaplan State Bank.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Mr.15
Ronald Menard.16
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
Perry SR No. 87
Commends Ronald Menard on the occasion of his retirement having worked 42 years at
Kaplan State Bank.