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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 74
BY SENATOR JOHNS
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Don Pat Descant of Bunkie.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Louisiana Senate have learned of the passing of Don Pat Descant on March 22, 2012, at the
age of sixty-three; and
WHEREAS, he was a native of Bunkie, attended St. Anthony of Padua Catholic
School, and graduated from Bunkie High School; and
WHEREAS, upon graduation, Mr. Descant attended Northeast Louisiana University
in Monroe and McNeese State University in Lake Charles; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Descant was chairman of the board of M.D. Descant, Inc., a
construction company in Bunkie established by his father forty-eight years ago; and
WHEREAS, he served in the United States Army Reserves, was a member of St.
Anthony Padua Catholic Church where he served as a lector and a Eucharistic minister, and
was a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, in his formative years his goal was to earn the rank of Eagle Scout and
he served on the Eagle Scout Review Committee for the Boy Scouts of America; and
WHEREAS, he served on the Bunkie City Council, the Bunkie General Hospital
Board of Commissioners for twenty-four years, and as the past president of the Bunkie
Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, he was also past president of the Louisiana Associated General
Contractors and served on its legislative council; and
WHEREAS, he was a former member of the Louisiana Licensing Board of
Contractors and served as chairman of the Avoyelles Parish Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Descant was a member of the Hancock Holding Company and
served on its compensation committee, and was recently named to the board of directors of
Whitney Bank; and SR NO. 74 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, he is preceded in death by his parents, Metreades Dwight and Anna
McDonald Descant; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his loving wife of forty-two years, Becky Newton
Descant; three children, Annie Catherine Descant Schmitt and her husband Jeffrey, Patrick
Newton Descant, and Megan Rebecca Descant; three brothers, Dwight Descant and his wife
Brenda, Trent Descant and his wife Gwen, and Chuck Descant and his wife Melinda; his
sister, Kay Descant Lee and her husband Jim; his grandchildren, Dane Descant Schmitt,
Jonah Newton Schmitt, Sebastien Peter Lemoine, and Nora Ophelia Lemoine; his
stepmother, Vivian Laprairie Descant; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred Peter and
Doris Nell Blakewood Newton; and numerous loving family and friends; and
WHEREAS, with the death of Mr. Descant, Louisiana lost one of its finest citizens
and a true gentleman who left an indelible mark on the lives of those he touched; and
WHEREAS, although his passing left a tremendous void in his community and state,
his memory shall live on in the minds and hearts of all who knew and loved him.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Don Pat Descant,
and does hereby recognize the incomparable legacy which is marked by the deep pride and
honor that he brought to his family, friends, community, and the state of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Don Pat Descant.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE