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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 46
BY SENATORS KOSTELKA AND JOHNS
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Charles Gerald Clark Sr.
WHEREAS, Charles Gerald Clark Sr. was a native of Bagley, Iowa, growing up and
graduating from high school there before heading south to Jennings, Louisiana, and joining
his sister, Lillian, and brother-in-law, Frank Eastman, far from the harshly cold winters he
knew from his youth; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clark Sr. soon found work at Broussard's Cleaners, allowing him
to settle in Jennings where he would meet the local girl who was to become the love of his
life, Hilda Weisse; and
WHEREAS, Gerald and Hilda would exchange marriage vows on Hilda's birthday,
November 6, 1941, and begin a new life together, but the drums of war would soon be heard
around the world when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and soon, Gerald
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and after much tough training, headed to the
Pacific Theater of War to fight Japan; and
WHEREAS, as a member of the 5
th
Marine Division, Charles Gerald Clark Sr. fought
his way across the Pacific Ocean, island to island and battle to battle, and in the journey, he
became a part of Marine Corps history as he distinguished himself with his brave service in
one of the most vicious fights of the entire war, the Battle of Iwo Jima; and
WHEREAS, Charles Gerald Clark Sr. was honorably discharged after hostilities
ended and surrender ceremonies were over, and he and his family moved to Sulphur,
Louisiana, where he found work with Cit-Con Oil Corporation and stayed with the company
as a valued employee until retiring in 1982; and SR NO. 46 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Gerald and Hilda were also small business owners and operated Clark's
Launderama for thirty-five years, and were active in their community with Gerald being
involved in and supportive of Little League as a coach and with his son's Boy Scout Troop;
and
WHEREAS, Gerald and Hilda both loved to travel and visited France, Germany,
Korea, Hawaii, California, Washington D.C., Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Texas, and made
a trip to his native home of Iowa for a reunion; and
WHEREAS, Gerald stayed busy, even in retirement, as he helped organize a
volunteer-run recycling program for Sulphur and served as a member of the Marine League
and the Henning Memorial United Methodist Church; and
WHEREAS, one of Gerald's most passionate and satisfying endeavors was his work
on his son's successful campaign in 2009 for a seat as Justice on the Louisiana Supreme
Court; and
WHEREAS, while Charles Gerald Clark Sr.'s family and friends will miss his
presence in their lives, all feel fortunate and grateful for the experience of knowing an
American of such high standards.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of
Charles Gerald Clark Sr. for their immeasurable loss.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Charles Gerald Clark Sr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE