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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 173
BY SENATOR BUFFINGTON
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of local labor leader, Roosevelt
Smalley.
A RESOLUTION1
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon death2
of Roosevelt Smalley of Keithville.3
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the citizens of the state4
of Louisiana learned of the death of Roosevelt Smalley on May 28, 2012, at the age of5
seventy; and6
WHEREAS, Mr. Smalley was born in Shreveport and attended school in Caddo7
Parish before completing the Army Food Service and Leadership and Management School8
at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas; and9
WHEREAS, he later attended school at Ft. Carson and at Boulder University in10
Colorado; and11
WHEREAS, in 1961, he began serving on the negotiating team for Retail Clerks12
Union 210 of the Local A & P Tea Company; and13
WHEREAS, he served as the union representative for United Food & Commercial14
Workers Union Local 210 and as the executive assistant to the president and local union15
chief executive officer from 1969 until his retirement in December, 1998; and16
WHEREAS, Mr. Smalley was a distinguished union organizer and was successful17
in bringing union representation to over ten thousand workers; and18 SR NO. 173
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WHEREAS, he successfully negotiated numerous union contracts and resolved1
thousands of worker grievances during his twenty-eight year career; and2
WHEREAS, Mr. Smalley served as Army Food Service Mess Sergeant for the 114
th
3
Evacuation Hospital in 1975 and later retired from Army 409 Medical Unit as food service4
sergeant; and5
WHEREAS, he served on numerous civic organizations including the past president6
of the Louisiana A. Philip Randolph Institute, the past president of the Shreveport A. Philip7
Randolph Institute, and as a former board member of the Caddo Council on Aging, the8
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Caddo Community9
Action Agency; and10
WHEREAS, he utilized his life experience and his expertise to serve as a member11
of the board of directors of several trade and civic organizations, including the Coalition of12
Black Trade Unions, the Louisiana AFL-CIO; the Shreveport Workforce Investment Board,13
the Coordinating and Development CROP Board, the United Way, and the North Caddo14
Industrial Board; and15
WHEREAS, prior to his passing, he served on the Louisiana AFL-CIO Executive16
Board as a district vice president from District 8 and as president of the Central Trades and17
Labor Council of Northwest Louisiana; and18
WHEREAS, Mr. Smalley was a lifelong advocate for justice, civil rights, and trade19
unionism; and20
WHEREAS, to recognize Mr. Smalley for his years of dedicated service to union21
members throughout Louisiana, he was inducted into the Louisiana AFL-CIO Hall of Fame22
in March; and23
WHEREAS, Roosevelt Smalley was a man of wisdom who used his talents, integrity,24
and passion to change his community and state for the better, especially for working men25
and women, the poor, and the disadvantaged; and26
WHEREAS, upon his death, the world lost a unique individual who left an indelible27
mark upon the lives of all who knew him; and28
WHEREAS, because of his numerous accomplishments in public and private life,29
the death of Roosevelt Smalley has left a void in the community and has created a genuine30 SR NO. 173
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sense of profound sorrow in his family and friends; and1
WHEREAS, the memory of Roosevelt Smalley will remain eternal in the hearts and2
minds of his family, friends, and all of those whose lives he touched and who loved him.3
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana4
does hereby express its heartfelt condolences upon the death of Roosevelt Smalley, does5
hereby recognize and record for posterity his accomplishments and contributions, and does6
hereby extend enduring appreciation for the pride and honor that he will forever bring to his7
family, friends, community, and the state of Louisiana.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the9
family of Roosevelt Smalley.10
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
Buffington SR No.
Expresses condolences upon the death of Roosevelt Smalley.