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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 133
BY SENATOR LONG
COMMENDATIONS. To commend Robert "Bob" Harper for forty-two years of service in
state government.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend and congratulate Robert "Bob" Harper upon his much deserved retirement2
after forty-two years of service in state government.3
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens and the Senate of Louisiana have4
learned of the much deserved retirement of Bob Harper; and5
WHEREAS, Bob received his baccalaureate degree in political science from6
Louisiana State University; and7
WHEREAS, he began his career in state government on September 1, 1970, at the8
State Library and then took a position as senior budget analyst at the Division of9
Administration, where he worked for the office of planning and budget and participated in10
the legislative appropriations cycles for twenty consecutive years; and11
WHEREAS, in 1993, he was initially appointed to the position of undersecretary of12
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by Governor Edwin Edwards, and was13
subsequently reappointed to the position by governors Mike Foster, Kathleen Blanco, and14
Bobby Jindal, serving under both Democrats and Republicans, and confirmed six times by15
the Louisiana Senate; and16
WHEREAS, he will be remembered as the longest serving undersecretary in the17
history of the cabinet-form of state government in Louisiana; and18 SR NO. 133
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WHEREAS, as a result of his service with excellence and honor, he was appointed1
as secretary of the Department of Natural Resources by Governor Jindal from June to2
November 2010; and3
WHEREAS, during his tenure as secretary Louisiana faced one of the worst natural4
disasters in its history, with the explosion and sinking of the Deep Water Horizon drilling5
rig under contract to British Petroleum America, and the resulting massive oil spill in the6
Gulf of Mexico; and7
WHEREAS, the disaster placed Secretary Harper, in the forefront of the Louisiana8
effort, working closely with all levels of government in crafting and implementing a unified9
response to that disaster embodying mitigation and ultimate relief, while maintaining10
ordinary duties incumbent upon him; and11
WHEREAS, he also served faithfully and tirelessly as undersecretary with the12
administrations during response and recovery efforts following hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and13
Gustav, all of which had major impacts on the state, and worked to ensure that adequate14
volunteers staffed emergency operation centers and emergency shelters; and15
WHEREAS, he served as an ex officio and often designee member of the State16
Mineral and Energy Board, he has served on the Supervisory Committee of La Capitol17
Federal Credit Union since 1996, and is currently serving as their vice chairman; and18
WHEREAS, his management abilities and understanding of fiscal responsibility has19
guided the Department of Natural Resources through recurring budget crisis during troubled20
economic times, with minimal impact on services provided and department personnel; and21
WHEREAS, after a long and distinguished career, Mr. Harper will finally be able to22
spend time with the loves of his life, his wife Sherry Penney Harper and their dog Wilson.23
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana24
does hereby commend and congratulate Robert "Bob" Harper on forty-two years of service25
in state government, and upon his much deserved retirement, and wishes him much success26
in all his future endeavors.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to28
Robert "Bob" Harper.29 SR NO. 133
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Long SR No. 133
Commends and congratulates Robert "Bob" Harper on forty-two years of service in state
government and upon his much deserved retirement.