Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 43
BY SENATOR BROOME
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
Louisiana upon the passing of a distinguished educator, administrator, community
leader, and humanitarian, Dr. Huel D. Perkins of Baton Rouge.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and sadness that the Senate of the Legislature of
Louisiana has learned of the passing of Huel Davis Perkins on April 15, 2013, at age
eighty-eight; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Perkins shall be commended and remembered for a lifetime of
unselfish contributions made on behalf of public education in the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, he believed that education and preparation could overcome any barrier
in life and he set a daily example of that truth, graduating with highest honors from Southern
University in 1947 with a degree in music and earning both master's and PhD degrees from
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, besides his academic distinctions Huel Perkins was a true son of
Southern; he pledged both Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
(Boule'), where he became the Grand Sire Archon and served as national president; and
WHEREAS, his service at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical
College included a position as Director of Music for eight years where he composed
Southern's Fight Song in 1951 and also served as Dean of the College of Arts and
Humanities from 1968 to 1978; and
WHEREAS, at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College,
he served as Professor of Humanities, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and
Executive Assistant to the Chancellor; and
WHEREAS, in 1988 he was appointed to the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education by Governor Buddy Roemer and named to the board of advisers of the
J. W. Fulbright Scholarship program in 1996 by then President Bill Clinton; and SR NO. 43 ENROLLED
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, in 2005, LSU awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
and created a fellowship program that bears his name to assist students in their personal
quest to achieve their greatest potential; and
WHEREAS, born on December 27, 1924, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. Perkins
spent his entire career in the service of others as a professor and an administrator in higher
education; and
WHEREAS, during his lifetime he earned numerous humanitarian awards and served
on many nonprofit boards, including the Capital Area United Way, Baton Rouge Symphony,
Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and the New Orleans Museum of Art; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Thelma Smith Perkins;
his son Huel Alfred Perkins; his grandsons Huel Jared Perkins and Vincent Frederick
Perkins; and a host of extended family and loving friends; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Huel Davis Perkins was a loving husband, father, and grandfather;
a dedicated professor, administrator, speaker, and composer; a veteran of the United States
Navy; a "true son of Southern" and a gentleman of quick wit with a warm sense of humor;
he shared his knowledge with others; and he was a man of integrity who tried to see the best
in everyone he met.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its most sincere condolences to the family of Dr. Huel D. Perkins on the
occasion of his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Dr. Huel D. Perkins shall be remembered as a
man whose dedication to scholarship has been a priceless gift to the state of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
wife, Mrs. Thelma Perkins.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE