HLS 14RS-589 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 17
BY REPRESENTATIVES STUART BISHOP, ABRAMSON, NANCY LANDRY, AND
ROBIDEAUX AND SENATOR CORTEZ
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of and posthumously commends
Carl Bauer of Lafayette
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express condolences upon the death of Carl W. "Wimpy" Bauer and to express enduring2
gratitude for his outstanding contributions to Acadiana and the state of Louisiana,3
particularly during his tenure as a distinguished member of the Louisiana House of4
Representatives.5
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the Louisiana House of6
Representatives has learned of the death of Carl W. "Wimpy" Bauer, of Lafayette, on June7
11, 2013, at the age of seventy-nine; and 8
WHEREAS, Carl Packard Wiegmann was born in Centerville, Louisiana, on October9
4, 1933, as the third son of Fred and Mary Packard Wiegmann; his biological parents10
divorced a few years later, and he was placed in a foster home in Alpine, Texas, at the age11
of five; and 12
WHEREAS, the foster home was arranged by a distant cousin, Margaret Wooster13
Bauer, whose aunt, Elma Wooster Boudreaux, took care of Carl until he was twelve; he then14
returned to Louisiana, initially as the foster child of Margaret Wooster Bauer and her15
husband, R. Norman Bauer, both lawyers in their mid-forties; and 16
WHEREAS, the Bauers formally adopted Carl the following year and changed his17
name to Carl Wiegmann Bauer; he enjoyed life in Franklin, Louisiana, as the only child of18
Margaret and Norman Bauer and was blessed from the moment he entered their home; and19 HLS 14RS-589 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, Carl carried their name proudly from the day of his adoption until death,1
always remembering just how fortunate he was to have such loving parents who gave him2
not only their revered name but their wisdom, work ethic, generosity, and kindness; and 3
WHEREAS, upon graduating from Franklin High School in 1951, Carl enrolled at4
Louisiana State University (LSU), where he completed his undergraduate work and the first5
year of law school in 1955; having completed the Reserve Officer Training Corps program6
at LSU, he was then called to active duty, to be trained as a navigator at Ellington Air Force7
Base in Houston, Texas; and 8
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer received his Air Force wings and was stationed in Waco,9
Texas, Panama City, Florida, and Sacramento, California, before being released from active10
duty in 1957; and 11
WHEREAS, upon his return to civilian life, Mr. Bauer completed his legal education12
at LSU and joined the law firm of his father, Norman, and beloved uncle, Theodore, at Bauer13
and Bauer, Attorneys at Law; and 14
WHEREAS, Carl, at the age of fourteen, was a page in the Louisiana House of15
Representatives, where his father served as Speaker of the House under Governors Sam16
Jones and Jimmy Davis; this was a life-changing experience for Carl as he became severely17
infected with the "political bug"; and 18
WHEREAS, in 1965, Mr. Bauer entered a special election race for a vacant seat in19
the House of Representatives, representing St. Mary Parish, the same parish his father had20
served with admirable distinction; Carl won that election, completed the unexpired term of21
two years, and then successfully ran for a full term in a newly created district which included22
Iberia Parish; and 23
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer served four full years in the House of Representatives under24
the administration of Governor John McKeithen; during his tenure in the legislature, he25
championed many causes of good government and tirelessly promoted funding the four-26
laning of US Highway 90 from Lafayette to New Orleans; and 27
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer continued this highway interest and determination after28
leaving public office through dedicated efforts towards transforming Highway 90 to29
interstate standards as a continuation of I-49; and 30 HLS 14RS-589 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, in 1972, Mr. Bauer ran unopposed for a new senate district and served1
a full term; and 2
WHEREAS, at the age of fifty-seven, Mr. Bauer joined the staff of Dr. Ray3
Authement, the President of the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL), as the4
coordinator of governmental relations; Carl served in this capacity until shortly after Dr.5
Authement's retirement nearly twenty years later; and 6
WHEREAS, Carl Bauer lived a long, active, and varied life full of love, opportunity,7
people, and experiences; he had a successful law practice, numerous business interests,8
unprecedented career opportunities, and a wonderful family, along with a multitude of9
friends; and 10
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer's professional career included membership on many boards11
of directors, including the Lafayette Economic Development Association, the Louisiana12
Enterprise Center, the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, and the Gulf and Great13
Plains Legal Foundation, in addition to several private landholding companies; and 14
WHEREAS, while in the practice of law, Carl served the State Bar Association in15
both the House of Delegates and on the Board of Governors; in 1968, he was elected as16
president of the LSU Foundation; and 17
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer also served several years as a member of the board of the18
USL Foundation and was involved in the Boy Scouts; he was a longtime member and past19
chairman of the Board of Goodwill of Acadiana; and 20
WHEREAS, while still in Franklin, Mr. Bauer served on and chaired both the21
Administrative Board and the Trustees of the First Methodist Church and when he moved22
to Lafayette, he was an active member of Asbury United Methodist Church; he was also a23
Master Mason, a Shriner, and a member of Rotary; and24
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer is survived by his loving wife of thirty-three years, Mary25
Jane Peacher Bauer; six wonderful children; and eight adored grandchildren; and 26
WHEREAS, Carl W. Bauer received much from his two marriages, including the27
love and devotion of six remarkable children, four of his own blood and two by virtue of a28
superb marriage to Mary Jane, whom he loved beyond belief; his blessings multiplied with29 HLS 14RS-589 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 17
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the births of his eight marvelous grandchildren, each of whom he adored as they mutually1
adored their "Poppy"; and 2
WHEREAS, while he experienced his share of heartache, including the loss of his3
sight in recent years, he never lost sight of the positives in his life; Carl Bauer was a very4
positive person who left this world firmly convinced that life is good, family is love, friends5
are priceless, and God has blessed America; and 6
WHEREAS, the death of Mr. Bauer has left a great void and created a genuine sense7
of sorrow in all who knew him, including the members of the legislative family, all of whom8
mourn the loss of this wonderful man who served his state and this institution with9
distinction, integrity, and statesmanship.10
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby11
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of former state representative Carl12
W. "Wimpy" Bauer and does hereby record for posterity the enduring appreciation of the13
citizens of Louisiana for his outstanding contributions and achievements, particularly during14
his tenure as a distinguished member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted16
to the family of Carl Bauer. 17
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Stuart Bishop HCR No. 17
Expresses the condolences of the legislature upon the death of former state representative
Carl Bauer.