HLS 14RS-5678 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 177
BY REPRESENTATIVE HOFFMANN
COMMENDATIONS: Posthumously commends Reverend Andrew Thomas Mitchell for
his contributions to religious and community life in West Monroe
A RESOLUTION1
To posthumously commend the Reverend Andrew Thomas "A. T." Mitchell, known in his2
lifetime as "Brother Tom", for his many contributions to religious and community3
life in West Monroe, Louisiana.4
WHEREAS, Andrew Thomas Mitchell was born in 1895 in a small Mississippi town;5
and6
WHEREAS, both his father and grandfather were Baptist ministers; and7
WHEREAS, he accepted the ministry as a call from God at the age of nineteen; and8
WHEREAS, Reverend Mitchell first ministered at a church in Angie, Louisiana, then9
pastored in Bernice, Louisiana, until 1940, when he felt the Lord calling him to establish a10
church in West Monroe; and11
WHEREAS, starting in a simple open-sided structure built of posts and tin, "Brother12
Tom", as he was known by then, grew his church steadily; and13
WHEREAS, though that church, Ridge Avenue Baptist, would eventually become14
the second-largest church in West Monroe, Brother Tom felt that his calling was not to build15
the largest church, but to help other communities build churches in their own neighborhoods;16
and17
WHEREAS, when he became aware of churchgoers attending Ridge Avenue Baptist18
from other communities, he would encourage them to buy property and would help them to19
secure financing, build a church of their own, and find a preacher; and20 HLS 14RS-5678 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 177
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WHEREAS, in the course of his career, Brother Tom would mentor twenty-four1
young men who became ordained as ministers, and two who became missionaries; and2
WHEREAS, Brother Tom was highly involved in community life beyond his church,3
and was one of West Monroe's early leaders who pushed for establishment of a high school4
and a hospital in his city; and5
WHEREAS, he was so strong in his conviction that West Monroe needed a hospital6
that when he was unable to muster the necessary support from among his fellow Baptists to7
get a hospital built, he joined with efforts of local Methodists and played a key role in the8
founding of Glenwood Hospital in the community; and9
WHEREAS, a former mayor of West Monroe may have said it best when he stated10
that if you needed a community improvement, you should let Brother Tom know, then get11
out of his way while he went to work on it; and12
WHEREAS, Brother Tom was active as a minister until the age of ninety-three,13
spending the last twenty-seven years of his career as an interim pastor at numerous area14
churches, some of which he helped to organize earlier in his life; and15
WHEREAS, he died in 1991 at the age of ninety-six in his beloved West Monroe,16
where his many notable contributions to the community are celebrated to this day.17
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the18
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby posthumously commend the Reverend Andrew19
Thomas "A.T." Mitchell, known in his lifetime as "Brother Tom", for his many contributions20
to religious and community life in West Monroe, Louisiana.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted22
to the family of Reverend Andrew Thomas Mitchell.23
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)]
Hoffmann HR No. 177
Posthumously commends Reverend Andrew Thomas Mitchell for his contributions to
religious and community life in West Monroe.