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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 29
BY SENATORS JOHNS, MORRISH AND JOHN SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVES
DANAHAY, FRANKLIN, GEYMANN, GUINN, HENSGENS AND
KLECKLEY
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Dennis
C. Ware II.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the citizens of the state
of Louisiana learned of the death of Mr. Dennis C. Ware II, on April 1, 2013, at the age of
ninety; and
WHEREAS, Dennis C. Ware II was born on June 8, 1922, in Helbig, Texas, to
Dennis C. Ware and Louvenia Scott Ware; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ware graduated as valedictorian from Second Ward Colored High
School; and
WHEREAS, in 1947, he graduated from the Southwest School of Mortuary Science
in Dallas, Texas; and
WHEREAS, on March 7, 1947, Dennis married Mildred Simon and six children were
born of their union: Dennis C. III, Melverte Frances, Deborah Gale, Reginald Charles,
Rodney Burton, and Ronald Frank; and
WHEREAS, in 1948, he obtained his bachelor's degree in biology from Wiley
College, and in 1955, he earned his Master of Arts in Educational Sociology from the
University of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ware also graduated from several specialty courses and programs
including: the Life Underwriters Training course in 1963; Governance of Anti-Poverty
Programs at the University of Oklahoma in 1966; and Development and Operation of
Neighborhood Centers at the University of Missouri in 1967; and
WHEREAS, he also studied various disciplines at Howard University, Penn State
University, the University of Hawaii, and Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical
University; and SCR NO. 29 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Mr. Ware was honorably discharged from the United States Army after
he served his country as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 24
th
Infantry Regiment in the
Western Pacific during World War II; and
WHEREAS, he began his professional career as an educator and coach in 1949 at
W.O. Boston in Lake Charles, and in 1957, began working as an agent with Universal Life
Insurance where he rose to the position of area supervisor; and
WHEREAS, from 1966 to 1968, Mr. Ware served as director of the Gulf Assistance
Program, which was tasked with assisting underprivileged residents; and
WHEREAS, he was employed as a laborer with Manpower, Inc., and used his tireless
work ethic and determination to become the Human Resources Manager before retiring in
the mid-1970s; and
WHEREAS, he served as the editor and publisher of The Southwest Sepian and was
the driving force of the civil rights movement in southwest Louisiana, working tirelessly to
integrate public education, the local petrochemical industry, and public housing and
accommodations; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ware was the epitome of public service as a member of several
organizations, which included being an active member and Past Polemarch of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity, Inc., a former member of the Lake Charles City Council, co-founder and past
commissioner of the Southwest Louisiana Underwriters Association, co-founder and
president of the first college chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People west of the Mississippi River, a member and Past Post Commander of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of both the Wiley College Alumni Association and
the University of Chicago Alumni Association; and
WHEREAS, he was a man of character who, when confronted with the hatred of the
old South, stood up against the Jim Crow system and fought for civil rights and justice; and
WHEREAS, Dennis C. Ware II was one of the finest public servants in the history
of Louisiana and a gentleman whose dedicated and highly productive service has forever
changed Louisiana for the better; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ware, who was admired by all whose lives he touched, leaves
behind a rich and unique legacy and is greatly missed; and SCR NO. 29 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, although the death of Dennis C. Ware II has left a tremendous void in
his community, his memory shall live forever in the hearts and minds of all who knew and
loved him.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Dennis C. Ware II, does hereby
recognize and record for posterity his accomplishments and contributions, and does hereby
extend enduring appreciation for the pride and honor that he will forever bring 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 Dennis C. Ware II.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES