SLS 13RS-934 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 29
BY SENATORS JOHNS, MORRISH AND JOHN SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVES
DANAHAY, FRANKLIN, GEYMANN, GUINN, HENSGENS AND
KLECKLEY
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Dennis C. Ware II.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Dennis2
C. Ware II.3
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the citizens of the state4
of Louisiana learned of the death of Mr. Dennis C. Ware II, on April 1, 2013, at the age of5
ninety; and6
WHEREAS, Dennis C. Ware II was born on June 8, 1922, in Helbig, Texas, to7
Dennis C. Ware and Louvenia Scott Ware; and8
WHEREAS, Mr. Ware graduated as valedictorian from Second Ward Colored High9
School; and10
WHEREAS, in 1947, he graduated from the Southwest School of Mortuary Science11
in Dallas, Texas; and12
WHEREAS, on March 7, 1947, Dennis married Mildred Simon and six children were13
born of their union: Dennis C. III, Melverte Frances, Deborah Gale, Reginald Charles,14
Rodney Burton, and Ronald Frank; and15
WHEREAS, in 1948, he obtained his bachelor's degree in biology from Wiley16
College, and in 1955, he earned his Master of Arts in Educational Sociology from the17
University of Chicago; and18 SCR NO. 29
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WHEREAS, Mr. Ware also graduated from several specialty courses and programs1
including: the Life Underwriters Training course in 1963; Governance of Anti-Poverty2
Programs at the University of Oklahoma in 1966; and Development and Operation of3
Neighborhood Centers at the University of Missouri in 1967; and4
WHEREAS, he also studied various disciplines at Howard University, Penn State5
University, the University of Hawaii, and Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical6
University; and7
WHEREAS, Mr. Ware was honorably discharged from the United States Army after8
he served his country as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 24
th
Infantry Regiment in the9
Western Pacific during World War II; and10
WHEREAS, he began his professional career as an educator and coach in 1949 at11
W.O. Boston in Lake Charles, and in 1957, began working as an agent with Universal Life12
Insurance where he rose to the position of area supervisor; and13
WHEREAS, from 1966 to 1968, Mr. Ware served as director of the Gulf Assistance14
Program, which was tasked with assisting underprivileged residents; and15
WHEREAS, he was employed as a laborer with Manpower, Inc., and used his tireless16
work ethic and determination to become the Human Resources Manager before retiring in17
the mid-1970s; and18
WHEREAS, he served as the editor and publisher of The Southwest Sepian and was19
the driving force of the civil rights movement in southwest Louisiana, working tirelessly to20
integrate public education, the local petrochemical industry, and public housing and21
accommodations; and22
WHEREAS, Mr. Ware was the epitome of public service as a member of several23
organizations, which included being an active member and Past Polemarch of Kappa Alpha24
Psi Fraternity, Inc., a former member of the Lake Charles City Council, co-founder and past25
commissioner of the Southwest Louisiana Underwriters Association, co-founder and26
president of the first college chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of27
Colored People west of the Mississippi River, a member and Past Post Commander of the28
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of both the Wiley College Alumni Association and29
the University of Chicago Alumni Association; and30 SCR NO. 29
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WHEREAS, he was a man of character who, when confronted with the hatred of the1
old South, stood up against the Jim Crow system and fought for civil rights and justice; and2
WHEREAS, Dennis C. Ware II was one of the finest public servants in the history3
of Louisiana and a gentleman whose dedicated and highly productive service has forever4
changed Louisiana for the better; and5
WHEREAS, Mr. Ware, who was admired by all whose lives he touched, leaves6
behind a rich and unique legacy and is greatly missed; and7
WHEREAS, although the death of Dennis C. Ware II has left a tremendous void in8
his community, his memory shall live forever in the hearts and minds of all who knew and9
loved him.10
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby11
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Dennis C. Ware II, does hereby12
recognize and record for posterity his accomplishments and contributions, and does hereby13
extend enduring appreciation for the pride and honor that he will forever bring to his family,14
friends, community, and the state of Louisiana.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the16
family of Dennis C. Ware II.17
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
Johns SCR No. 29
Expresses condolences upon the death of Dennis C. Ware II.