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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 28
BY SENATORS JOHNS, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME,
BROWN, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR, CORTEZ, CROWE,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY, MILLS,
MORRELL, MORRISH, MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK, PERRY,
PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER,
THOMPSON, WAL SWORTH, WARD AND WHI TE AND
REPRESENTATIVE S DANAHAY, FRANKLIN, GEYMANN AND
KLECKLEY
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Lake Charles attorney, Benjamin W. Mount, and to commend a life well
spent in service to his community and to note the proud legacy he leaves to the state
of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the Legislature of
Louisiana has learned of the passing of Benjamin W. Mount, a distinguished gentleman,
renowned attorney, civic leader, and chairman of the Louisiana State University Board of
Supervisors, on December 3, 2011, at the age of sixty-two; and
WHEREAS, Ben Mount was a vibrant man with a quick smile and a lively demeanor
who, through diligence and hard work, experienced great success in public life, and as a true
southern gentleman, never forgot to say, "thank you"; and
WHEREAS, Benjamin Wakefield Mount was born on May 25, 1949, to parents
Crawford and Betty Storer Mount, and reared in Iowa, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, he enrolled at McNeese State University, earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1971, then earned a Jurist Doctor from Louisiana State University Law Center in
1974, and later established the law firm of Bergstedt & Mount; and
WHEREAS, Ben was a gracious servant of the community who expressed gratitude
for his good fortune by his participation in all manner of civic, social, and religious interests;
and SCR NO. 28 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, his professional affiliations include Louisiana State Bar Association,
Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Southwest Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel,
Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Louisiana Society of Hospital Attorneys,
Louisiana Bar Foundation Fellow, Defense Research Institute, Bar Association of the Fifth
Circuit, Assistant Bar Examiner, and Bar Association Disciplinary Committee Mentor; and
WHEREAS, his philanthropy was boundless and he had longtime service as both
member and officer of the Calcasieu Kiwanis Club, McNeese State University Golden
Saddle Club, American Cancer Society, and the Sowela Vocational and Technical School
Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Ben Mount's enthusiasm for nurturing youth development centered on
the South Lake Charles Little League as manager and coach, leading the 2001 team to the
Little League World Series; also the Family and Youth Foundation and the Calcasieu
Council of Boy Scouts of America; and
WHEREAS, his civic duties were focused on Louisiana Preservation Alliance,
Calcasieu Arts Council, Lake Charles League of Women Voters, City of Lake Charles
Annexation Committee, and Chennault Industrial Airpark Tax Initiative; and
WHEREAS, he took a special interest in the Calcasieu Preservation Society and led
the fight to restore and preserve the Central School as an "arts and humanities" center; he
also organized and formed the Margaret Place Historical District; and
WHEREAS, many public and nonprofit agencies benefitted from his guidance,
including the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors as its chairman , Women's and
Children's Hospital, Lake Charles Mental Health Advisory Board, Mid-Louisiana Health
Systems Agency, McNeese State University Bi-Racial Diversity Committee, Calcasieu
Parish Women's Shelter, Inc., Southwest Louisiana United Way, and Christmas in April; and
WHEREAS, he received many accolades during his prestigious career that included
receipt of the Jim Leigh Award from the United Way and the 2006 Civic Service Award
from The Chamber/Southwest Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Ben Mount inspired the coupling of two local fund-raising events, the
Free to Breathe Lake Charles Lung Cancer 5K Run and One Mile Walk and the Lung Cancer
Awareness Breakfast, to increase financial support for research, education, and awareness SCR NO. 28 ENROLLED
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programs; the March 2012 event is dedicated to his memory; and
WHEREAS, Ben was instrumental in the formation of the Louisiana Chapter of the
National Lung Cancer Partnership which secures funding for the Louisiana Hope Research
Grant; and
WHEREAS, throughout his life Ben Mount was a man of action and his proactive
stance made him a positive force at all levels of human endeavor; and
WHEREAS, Ben Mount had a lighter side for he was a Mardi Gras reveler who
celebrated the carnival season as a member of the Krewe of Mystique and served as its king
in 2009; and
WHEREAS, as a humble servant of God and a man of unfaltering faith, Ben Mount
was a member of First United Methodist Church of Lake Charles and served as a district lay
leader, District Chairperson for the Council on Ministries; District Chairperson for the
Committee on District Superintendence, as well as Chancellor for the Louisiana Conference
of the United Methodist Church for fifteen years, past member of the Louisiana Conference
Board of Trustees, Louisiana Conference Board of Higher Education, and Louisiana
Conference Center Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by the love of his life, Willie Landry Mount, his wife of
thirty-five years, his mother, Betty Storer Mount, mother-in-law, Willie Landry, two sisters,
Ann Courville and husband James, Jean Kamla and husband Roger, sister-in-law,
Sandy Moore and husband Nolan, brother-in-law, Dr. Richard Landry and wife Gaye,
sister-in-law Marsha Chapman and husband Ted, fourteen nieces and nephews, extended
family, and dear friends; and
WHEREAS, Ben Mount was a man of great strength and intellect, a caring individual
who has left his mark on the Lake Charles community and the state of Louisiana, who
envisioned the potential for individual and economic growth through readily available
educational opportunities, 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
express its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Benjamin W. Mount and
especially to his wife, our friend and former colleague, Senator Willie Mount. SCR NO. 28 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
celebrate his extraordinary life and commend the rich legacy that Ben Mount leaves to the
benefit of future generations and acknowledges a life well spent in the service of his country,
his community, his state, and his God.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
widow, Willie Landry Mount.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES