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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 191
BY REPRESENTATIVE WESLEY BISHOP
A RESOLUTION
To commend Leonard Galmon upon receipt of a prestigious Ron Brown Scholarship and
upon his acceptance by and plans to attend Yale University.
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana recognizes the outstanding accomplishments Leonard Galmon has
achieved in his eighteen years of life; and
WHEREAS, over five thousand college-bound students applied for the Ron Brown
Scholar Program, the nation's leading scholarship program for African-American youth, with
only twenty-six students selected for the 2014 class of Scholars; and
WHEREAS, Ron Brown Scholars are selected on the basis of demonstrated academic
excellence, leadership potential, social commitment, and financial need; and
WHEREAS, Leonard's success is deeply rooted in his own personal experience and
life's journey; Leonard was born to a thirteen year old mother and lost his father to the streets
of New Orleans when he was only four years old; and
WHEREAS, five years later the winds of Hurricane Katrina destroyed Leonard's
home, which forced a nine year old Leonard to sleep on the Claiborne Avenue bridge while
protecting his younger siblings, including a newborn; and
WHEREAS, while Leonard and his family were relocated in Houston, Leonard
escaped into the world of books, reading three to four books each week, which influenced
this young man to begin recognizing his potential; and
WHEREAS, upon Leonard's return to New Orleans a few weeks into his high school
freshman year, he enrolled at Walter L. Cohen High School where he remained,
notwithstanding a one hour and forty-five minute commute to school each day; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 191
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WHEREAS, Leonard joined the Cohen High art class in his sophomore year, which
was held in a cinder block room with only one window and one easel that his teacher
donated; and
WHEREAS, with the paints his teacher gave him, a paintbrush that he picked up, and
with a memory of the drawing lessons his Uncle Alfred had given him, Leonard produced
his first masterpiece which was selected for a Contemporary Arts Center youth exhibit; and
WHEREAS, the summer of 2012 gave Leonard a bedroom of his own, his first ever
after living with seven people in a shotgun house, and a desire to draw; and
WHEREAS, during his junior year at Cohen, Leonard continued his diligent studies
and his art, but also developed a restlessness brewing deep inside that led him to enroll at
Cohen College Prep and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) for his senior year
of high school; and
WHEREAS, Leonard knew from his days in Houston that he was going somewhere,
but just not sure where; the counselors at Cohen College Prep were determined to help
Leonard get there and assisted him in applying to top colleges outside New Orleans and
Louisiana, to places Leonard had only heard of, as Leonard is the first in his family to apply
to any college; and
WHEREAS, while at NOCCA, many creative firsts were being made by Leonard:
his first screenprint, his first time painting in oils, his first sculpture, his first photography
class, his first woodcut, and his first distinctive voice as a young artist; and
WHEREAS, through Uncle Alfred and genetics, Leonard knew how to create, but
he needed guidance and the opportunity to use the tools and techniques Leonard had never
been exposed to; and
WHEREAS, recipients of Ron Brown scholarships dedicate themselves to enriching
lives in their local communities and worldwide; and
WHEREAS, at eighteen years of age, Leonard Galmon has already enriched the lives
of his family members, his many friends, the city of New Orleans, and the state of Louisiana;
and
WHEREAS, we know what kind of man Leonard will become by looking at
Leonard's art work, which is filled with images of his precious siblings, knowing that ENROLLEDHR NO. 191
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Leonard Galmon is a man that cares deeply for his family and desires to make a positive
difference in the lives of everyone he touches.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Leonard Galmon upon receipt of a
prestigious Ron Brown Scholarship and upon his acceptance by and plans to attend Yale
University.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
of Louisiana also highly commends Leonard Galmon for challenging himself by taking the
road less traveled and not taking the easy, comfortable route, and for never giving up.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Leonard Galmon.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES