SLS 13RS-933 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 30
BY SENATORS JOHNS, MORRISH AND JOHN SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVES
DANAHAY, FRANKLIN, GEYMANN, GUINN, HENSGENS AND
KLECKLEY
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Junius Joseph "Joe"
Champeaux II.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Junius2
Joseph "Joe" Champeaux 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. Junius Joseph "Joe" Champeaux II on March 31,5
2013, at the age of seventy-four; and6
WHEREAS, Mr. Champeaux was born on January 15, 1939, in New Iberia to J.7
Joseph and Isabelle Champeaux; and8
WHEREAS, he graduated from Landry High School in 1957 which is where he met9
his high school sweetheart, Rosalie "Poddy" Leveque; and10
WHEREAS, upon graduation, Joe studied architecture at the University of11
Southwestern Louisiana; and12
WHEREAS, he finished his undergraduate degree and received a master's degree at13
Tulane University, and subsequently received a second master's degree at Rice University14
with specialties in architecture, urban design, and city planning; and15
WHEREAS, on July 29, 1961, Joe married the love of his life, "Poddy" Leveque and16
from their union, three daughters were born: Renee Michelle, Caron Cherise, and Marjorie17
Annette; and18 SCR NO. 30
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WHEREAS, in 1963, Joe passed the Architecture Registration Exam and enlisted in1
the United States Air Force where he served as a proud member of the 4420
th
Combat2
Support Group, 1
st
Air Commando Wing of the Tactical Air Command at the Special Air3
Warfare Center at Hurlburt Field, which is a part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base in4
Florida; and5
WHEREAS, he was assigned to the engineering department and worked with the6
Wing Commander, General Gilbert Pritchard, on improvements at Hurlburt Field; and7
WHEREAS, after serving three years in the United States Air Force, Joe received the8
Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Services which is the highest award given9
for non-combat service, and at the end of his service, Joe and his family moved back to10
Louisiana; and11
WHEREAS, in 1968, he was named the first in-house city planner in Lake Charles12
and in 1972, he became a principal in the firm Barras Breaux Champeaux; and13
WHEREAS, in 1980, Joe became the first and only architect from southwest14
Louisiana to be elected by his peers to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of15
Architects, which is a lifetime honor bestowed upon architects for their notable contributions16
to the profession; and17
WHEREAS, in the early 1980s, he established his own architectural firm and in 200418
the firm expanded to Champeaux Evans Hotard; and19
WHEREAS, in 2008, Joe retired from the firm but continued to consult as requested;20
and21
WHEREAS, he served as president of the American Institute of Architects and the22
Louisiana Architects Association and was named to the United States Capital Planning Task23
Force in Washington, D.C.; and24
WHEREAS, his forty years of practice as an urban designer involved thirteen cities25
throughout the United States and Canada, as well as consultation for the United States26
Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and27
WHEREAS, Joe had the honor of representing American architects at an28
international earthquake conference in Tokyo, Japan, and also presented a paper on United29
States land use and planning methods; and30 SCR NO. 30
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WHEREAS, he consulted in fifteen states on matters of life safety, public access,1
urban design, ordinance preparation for standards of safety and convenience of public2
spaces, and preparing urban design character sketches reflecting future development3
potential; and4
WHEREAS, Joe served pro bono as an urban designer and as chairman on the5
American Institute of Architects National Regional Urban Design Teams in thirteen states;6
and7
WHEREAS, members of those design teams assist communities throughout the8
United States in developing a vision for the future, along with specific action plans to9
improve land use within those communities; and10
WHEREAS, Joe was instrumental in the development of many buildings and public11
spaces in the Lake Charles area, including Operation GRIP, Operation Heartbeat, the12
original boardwalk around the lakefront, the Christus St. Patrick Cancer Center, the13
Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development Center, the American's14
Wetlands Discovery Center, the Family Life Center at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic15
Church, and the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church; and16
WHEREAS, throughout his life, Joe Champeaux was an active community leader17
and served as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Southwest Louisiana Chamber of18
Commerce and as president of the following organizations: the American Red Cross of19
Southwest Louisiana, the United Cerebral Palsy Organization of Southwest Louisiana, the20
St. Louis Catholic High School Board, the Christus St. Patrick Board of Councilors, and21
president and district governor of the Lake Charles Chapter of Serra International; and22
WHEREAS, he volunteered his time and service to the Junior League of Lake23
Charles by designing their logo and providing the cover design and sketches for the Pirates24
Pantry Cookbook; and25
WHEREAS, his sketches have also been donated to various organizations including26
Lake Charles "Save the Arcade", the Junior League's Follies scenery, the Louisiana Choral27
Foundation stage sets, the Children's Miracle Network telecasts for more than twenty years,28
the Central School for the Dudie Thielen Award, the Chamber Southwest for economic29
development proposals, and numerous schools and churches; and30 SCR NO. 30
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WHEREAS, Joe was on the Board of the Krewe of Contraband for many years,1
served as the Master of Ceremonies, and was honored as its king in 2008; and2
WHEREAS, he was an active member of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Our3
Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, and, most recently, the Cathedral of the4
Immaculate Conception; and5
WHEREAS, Joe is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Rosalie "Poddy" Marie6
Leveque Champeaux, and his three treasured daughters, Renee Wood and husband Frank;7
Cherise Sale and husband Chris; and Annette Cotton and husband Blake; and six cherished8
grandchildren, Ashley and Frankie Wood; Andre Champeaux and Simone Sale; and Marie9
and Camille Cotton; and was preceded in death by his parents, J. Joseph and Isabelle 10
Champeaux; and11
WHEREAS, Mr. Joe Champeaux was a gentleman who was admired by all whose12
lives he touched, leaves behind a rich and unique legacy, and is greatly missed; and13
WHEREAS, although the death of Mr. Champeaux has left a tremendous void in his14
community, his memory shall live forever in the minds and hearts of all who knew and loved15
him.16
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby17
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Junius Joseph "Joe" Champeaux18
II, does hereby recognize and record for posterity his accomplishments and contributions,19
and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for the pride and honor that he will forever20
bring to his family, friends, community, and the state of Louisiana.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the22
family of Junius Joseph "Joe" Champeaux II.23
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
Johns SCR No. 30
Expresses condolences upon the death of Junius Joseph "Joe" Champeaux II.