ENROLLED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 33
BY REPRESENTATIVE PATRICK WILLIAMS
A RESOLUTION
To commend Dr. Harry Blake for his contributions to at-risk youth through the Canaan Boys
Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana.
WHEREAS, Dr. Harry Blake is a graduate of Bishop College in Dallas, Texas;
served as a devoted pastor for the Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana,
for forty-eight years since 1966; currently holds the position as President Emeritus of the
Louisiana Baptist State Convention; was appointed vice president for the Southwest Region
of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., in 2009; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, Dr. Harry Blake was honored by receiving an Honorary
Doctorate of Humanities from Louisiana Baptist University and the Louisiana Democratic
Party's Lifetime Achievement Award; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Harry Blake has notably held many honorable positions, such as
general secretary of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., moderator of the
Thirteenth District Baptist Association, dean and vice president at large of the Congress of
Christian Education of the Louisiana Baptist State Convention, and chairman of the
Evangelical Board of the Louisiana Baptist State Convention; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Harry Blake has devoted his time to enhance his local community
in Shreveport by being a member of the Louisiana Recovery Authority Board, serving as
president of the board of directors of a low-income housing complex and a senior citizen and
handicap housing complex, and serving as a member for a development corporation for the
revitalization of the Allendale community; and
WHEREAS, other distinctive achievements of Dr. Harry Blake include serving as
president of Project UpLift, a center for the development of human potential, serving on the
board of directors for Shreveport Bossier Community Renewal, past president of the ENROLLEDHR NO. 33
Page 2 of 2
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, field secretary for Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., and past president of Mount Canaan Day Care Center; and
WHEREAS, because of Dr. Harry Blake's numerous accomplishments, he has been
a guest lecturer at many colleges throughout the United States, some of which include
Morehouse School of Divinity, Arkansas Baptist College, American Baptist College, and
Birmingham Bible College; and
WHEREAS, Mount Canaan Baptist Church was led by Dr. Blake in establishing a
model prayer service that has been emulated throughout the nation; he has instituted
ministries to serve all segments of the congregation and community, which include tutoring
programs, children's and young adults' ministries, family ministry, and a prison ministry; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Harry Blake's vision to serve his community has contributed to the
creation of the Canaan Boys Academy, which is an academic program at Mount Canaan
Baptist Church that aims to advance education in young African American boys in third
through fifth grade; and
WHEREAS, the Canaan Boys Academy seeks to improve the students' skills in
reading, writing, and math.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Dr. Harry Blake for his contributions to at-
risk youth through the Canaan Boys Academy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Dr. Harry Blake.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES