SLS 11RS-532 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 94
BY SENATOR CHAISSON
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Senator Joe McPherson on years of distinguished public
service.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend the Honorable William Joseph "Joe" McPherson, Jr., and express enduring2
gratitude for his outstanding contributions to the parish of Rapides and the state of3
Louisiana, particularly during his tenure as a distinguished member of the Louisiana4
Senate.5
WHEREAS, William Joseph "Joe" McPherson, Jr., is an excellent public servant,6
whose dedication to public service as a state senator, has merited his consistent election to7
the Louisiana Senate from 1984 to 1996, when he left his Senate seat to run unsuccessfully8
for the Public Service Commission, and then was reelected to the Louisiana Senate for three9
consecutive four year terms in 2000, 2004, and 2008, during which terms he has fully10
utilized every opportunity to serve the citizens of Senate District 29 and Louisiana in an11
honorable, distinguished, and a dedicated manner; and12
WHEREAS, a graduate of Pineville High School, Senator McPherson received a13
Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern Louisiana University; and14
WHEREAS, Senator McPherson is a lifelong resident of Rapides Parish, who was15
honorably discharged from the United States Army Reserves; and16
WHEREAS, Senator McPherson is married to the former Karen Saucier; they have17
one child, a son, William Joseph McPherson III; and18 SR NO. 94
SLS 11RS-532 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, Senator McPherson, a businessman and nursing home owner, is a1
Louisiana entrepreneur whose business interests include an automobile dealership, real estate2
interests, and a dealer in antiques; and3
WHEREAS, Senator McPherson's professional, business, and civic affiliations4
include the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and the Louisiana Automobile Dealers5
Association; and6
WHEREAS, during his tenure in the Louisiana Senate, Senator McPherson served7
during the 2004 to 2008 term as Chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and8
Vice Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; and9
WHEREAS, Senate District 29 and Louisiana's citizens have benefitted from Senator10
McPherson's service as a state senator, as he has authored legislation creating the Alexandria11
Port Authority, the England Economic District, a four-year Louisiana State University at12
Alexandria, the Alexandria-Pineville Loop study; he also authored a constitutional13
amendment to protect private property interests from expropriation by the state or a political14
subdivision for economic development or to enhance tax revenue, or other incidental benefit15
as a "public purpose"; an avid outdoorsman, Senator McPherson has fought for wildlife and16
fisheries and natural resources having authored bills for the right to hunt, fish and trap, pre-17
emptive legislation to prevent local gun control, the creation of three new wildlife18
management areas and public control of White Lake; in honor of his efforts, Senator19
McPherson received the Governor's Award for conservation achievement in 2005; and20
WHEREAS, during his final term in the Louisiana Senate, Senator McPherson is the21
longest serving member of the Senate, having earned the designation "Dean of the Senate";22
he currently serves with great diligence as chairman of the Senate Committee on23
Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, and as a member of the Senate Committees24
on Health and Welfare and Agriculture; and25
WHEREAS, as he prepares to begin the next exciting and productive chapter of his26
life, Senator McPherson merits a sincere measure of commendation for his contributions and27
the exemplary strides he has taken as an exceptional member of the Senate of the state of28
Louisiana.29
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana30 SR NO. 94
SLS 11RS-532 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
does hereby commend the Honorable William Joseph "Joe" McPherson, Jr., and express1
enduring gratitude for his outstanding contributions to the parish of Rapides, the constituents2
of Senate District 29, and the state of Louisiana, particularly during his tenure as a3
distinguished member of the Louisiana Senate which has been marked by his4
uncompromising endeavor to improve the welfare of his constituents in the parish of Rapides5
and the citizens of Louisiana, and hereby pays tribute to him for the generous and effective6
way in which he has dedicated his intelligence and energy to the services of his family,7
friends, community, and state.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does9
hereby express enduring gratitude to Senator McPherson for his service to the citizens of10
Louisiana, as evidenced by his superlative achievements as a member of this distinguished11
body, and hereby extends to him the best wishes of all of his colleagues for continued12
prosperity and success in his future endeavors.13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the14
Honorable William Joseph "Joe" McPherson, Jr.15
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sharon F. Lyles.
DIGEST
Chaisson SR No.
Commends the Honorable William Joseph "Joe" McPherson, Jr.