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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 106
BY SENATORS CORTEZ, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME,
BROWN, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CL AITOR, CROWE,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY,
MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH , MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHI TE
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
passing of business entrepreneur, visionary, public servant, legislator, and former
state superintendent of education, Louis Joseph Michot Jr., to commemorate a life
well spent in service to the Lafayette community, and to note the proud legacy he
leaves to the state of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, it is with deep sadness that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of
the death of Louis J. Michot Jr. on March 6, 2012, at the age of eighty-nine; and
WHEREAS, Louis Michot was a dynamo of free enterprise, fueled by a tenacity to
succeed and a willingness to work hard; and
WHEREAS, Louis Michot created a diverse palette of commercial ventures from the
acquisition of his first drive-in movie theater at age twenty-four to home appliances, sporting
goods, a fast food franchise, real estate development, insurance, commercial air and water
transportation, drilling, tool manufacturing, marine fabrication, textiles, and international
trade; and
WHEREAS, he was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, on November 5, 1922, into the
family of Louis Joseph Michot Sr. and Adele Marie Domas Michot; and
WHEREAS, after graduation from Cathedral High School, he attended the University
of Louisiana at Lafayette, then known as Southwest Louisiana Institute; his formal education
was interrupted by enlistment and four years of military service in the United States Marine
Corps, where he served in the Pacific Theater and distinguished himself as captain of an
anti-aircraft gun battery aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, the most decorated ship
in World War II; and SCR NO. 106 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, after being honorably discharged, Louis Michot returned home to seek
his fortune when he was smitten by a vivacious co-ed, Patricia Ann Smith; they were
married on September 7, 1946, and as soul mates embarked on a lifetime of adventure
lasting more than sixty-four years, until her passing in April 2011; and
WHEREAS, his straight-forward approach and business savvy propelled him forward
in many successful endeavors, however, he always lived by the golden rule of civic
responsibility and contributed his time and energy to give back to his community; and
WHEREAS, his public service began in 1960, when he was elected to the House of
Representatives; he then ran unsuccessfully for governor, however, in 1967, he won a seat
on the state Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, using an "apple" as his logo, Michot ran a hard fought race and was
elected state superintendent of education in 1971, with the campaign promise to make the
needs of students and teachers his first priority; and
WHEREAS, as superintendent, he was a great proponent of career education; he
envisioned that students matriculated in an improved vocational education curricula would
produce a well trained workforce essential to attract economic development prospects to the
state; and
WHEREAS, Michot also expanded the scope of educational television with the
further evolution of LPB, Louisiana Public Broadcasting; and
WHEREAS, Louis Michot developed many entrepreneurial efforts and with his
astute business acumen he helped to found Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition, served as
executive vice president and general manager of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of
Commerce, established the Bank of Lafayette and the International Trade Development
Group, and increased the assets of the family businesses of Louis J. Michot and Associates
and Michot Family Partnership; and
WHEREAS, many South Louisiana nonprofit agencies benefitted from his guidance
with his membership on the board of directors of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Conrad
Industries, and the Louisiana Military Hall of Fame and Museum; and
WHEREAS, Louis Michot never lost his affection for aviation; as a licensed pilot,
he accepted positions as national secretary of the Navy League of the United States, as vice SCR NO. 106 ENROLLED
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president of the Air Transport Association of America, as president of the National
Aerospace Education Association, and as vice president of the USS Enterprise Association;
and
WHEREAS, his philanthropy was boundless and he had many charitable interests
as past president and district governor of Kiwanis International, as a fund-raiser for the
Tarahumara Children's Hospital in northwestern Mexico, and as past president of the
International Good Neighbor Council; and
WHEREAS, he received many accolades during his prestigious career that include
recognition as Lafayette's Outstanding Citizen with receipt of the Civic Cup, named an
Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, named to the Acadiana
Business Hall of Fame, receipt of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Le Centre
International De Lafayette, and Cathedral-Carmel Distinguished Graduate Citation; and
WHEREAS, his was the life of a philanthropist, industrialist, civic leader, consultant,
Christian family man, and mentor, whose work ethic was tempered by his keen sense of
humor and quick smile; he was a man true to his word and a friend for life; and
WHEREAS, Louis Michot enjoyed his leisure time by fishing, playing tennis, flying,
and spoiling his grandchildren; he was an extraordinary man of copious achievement; and
WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, and two of their ten children,
Carolyn Rose and Yvette Marie, and survived by sons, Patrick, Thomas, David, Timothy,
Robert, and Michael, and daughters, Marilyn Ann Breaux and Yvonne Marie Michot,
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and dear friends; and
WHEREAS, Louis Michot was a man of great strength and intellect, a caring
individual who has left an indelible mark on the Lafayette community and the state of
Louisiana, who envisioned economic potential and opportunity, and who met the challenges
of life head-on with zeal and candor tempered with immense love of family and compassion
for his fellow man.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
celebrate the extraordinary life of Louis J. Michot Jr. and commend the rich legacy that he
leaves to the benefit of future generations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express SCR NO. 106 ENROLLED
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its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of this great man and especially to his son,
our friend and former colleague, Senator Michael J. Michot.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
children of Louis J. Michot Jr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES