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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 5
BY SENATOR KOSTELKA AND REPRESENTATI VE SHADOIN
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend and congratulate Irene Riley Anderson on the celebration of her one hundredth
birthday and to honor her lifetime of outstanding accomplishments.
WHEREAS, it is altogether fitting and proper to honor Irene Riley Anderson on this
very special celebration of her one hundredth birthday; and
WHEREAS, Irene Riley was born on March 18, 1912, in Morton County, Kansas,
in the southwestern corner of the state, to parents George Parker and Ethel Agnes Riley; and
WHEREAS, the Rileys were real pioneers, who along with other family members
staked out parcels of rolling grassland to homestead, to farm, and to rear a family; and
WHEREAS, born on the day after St. Patrick's Day in a sod hut, Irene Riley
Anderson is descended from hardy Irish stock, whose land was located on the Santa Fe Trail
near the Cimarron River; she recalls playing in wagon ruts left five decades before by
adventurers migrating farther west; and
WHEREAS, Irene married Allen Anderson during the Great Depression of the 1930s
just as the "Dust Bowl" drought began to overtake the Kansas prairies; in the "Dirty Thirties"
times were difficult and opportunities to make a living faded; and
WHEREAS, Irene and her family then moved to Ruston, Louisiana, and opened the
first of their business ventures, the City Bakery on Vienna Street, next to the Dixie Theater,
and the second business was the College Café located near the campus of Louisiana Tech;
and
WHEREAS, Irene Riley Anderson put down new roots and prospered with a growing
family of four children; Shirley, Dolores, Eugene, and the late Kenneth Anderson, and her
family is still growing with seven grandchildren and many, many great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, having worked all of her life, Irene Riley Anderson is a self-made
woman, strong of spirit, hard working, and self-reliant, she learned the value of an education
and instilled that appreciation in her children who all attended college; and SCR NO. 5 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, she was born before the advent of rural electrical utilities, radio,
television, and space travel, and in her mature years has witnessed man's walk on the moon,
digital technology, miracles of science and medicine, and many other marvels that were
unheard of only a few short decades ago; and
WHEREAS, with good health, a keen memory, and great attention to detail, Irene
shares her one hundred years of life experiences with her family and friends, all who gaze
in wonder at the events she has seen and participated in, firsthand; and
WHEREAS, Irene Riley Anderson merits a special measure of commendation and
recognition for the tremendous pride, kindness, and sense of purpose that she brings to her
family, friends, community, and state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Irene Riley Anderson on the occasion of her one hundredth birthday, March 18,
2012, and does hereby recognize the extraordinary life she has lived thus far, and for the
contributions she has made to her family and community, and to wish for her a full measure
of happiness in the years to come.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Irene Riley Anderson.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES