HLS 14RS-817 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 4
BY REPRESENTATIVE SHADOIN
CONDOLENCES: Expresses the condolences of the Louisiana House of Representatives
upon the death of Wiley W. Hilburn, Jr., of Choudrant, Louisiana
A RESOLUTION1
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the untimely death of2
Wiley Wilson Hilburn, Jr., of Choudrant, Louisiana, noted north Louisiana3
newspaper columnist, editorial writer, and professor of journalism.4
WHEREAS, north Louisiana lost a beloved voice, remembered as "the Mark Twain5
of Louisiana", and journalism lost one of its treasured local contributors with the January 16,6
2014, death of Wiley Hilburn, Jr.; and7
WHEREAS, Wiley Hilburn, Jr., a native of Ruston, Louisiana, began his long career8
in journalism as a teenager at The Ruston Daily Leader; he devoted over four decades to9
Louisiana Tech University as chair of the journalism department and director of the news10
bureau and, after retiring in 2009, was named journalism professor emeritus and11
Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Liberal Arts; he was also selected to membership12
in the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame and for 50 years, until the time of his13
death, published widely read editorials and a cherished column in Gannett newspapers; and14
WHEREAS, throughout his long teaching career, Mr. Hilburn guided numerous15
students into the profession of journalism, for which he had great respect and love as an16
important American cultural institution, and he maintained close relationships, both17
professional and personal, with many of his students whom he had influenced and mentored;18
and19 HLS 14RS-817 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 4
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, Mr. Hilburn was widely known as a lover of jokes and as a practical1
joker who concocted elaborate ruses to confound his victims, seeing also the entertainment2
value when he was in turn the butt of a good practical joke; and3
WHEREAS, there can scarcely be any greater tribute than to be remembered by his4
many friends, colleagues, readers, and former students as finding "as much intrigue in the5
lives of everyday people as he did governors and celebrities"; as creating pictures with6
"words that were his brush strokes ... from the majestic eagle to the melodious mockingbird,7
from the old-school Louisiana politician to the gathering of old men in a store"; as being8
"each of us, only better"; whose writing would "cause you to stop and really see something9
important and needed, something you'd missed, though right in front of your eyes"; and10
being "a strong and bold voice of contemplation and reason in tumultuous times, a11
peacemaker, a lover of nature, and a friend to many"; and12
WHEREAS, the loss of Wiley Hilburn, Jr., is profoundly felt by his wife, Kate13
Sartor; children, Anne Marie Hilburn, Kevin Hilburn, and Greg Hilburn and their mother,14
Ellen LaCroix; his stepdaughter, Jenny O'Driscoll; his brother, Chet Hilburn; his daughters-15
in-law, Holley Hilburn and Tania Hilburn; his grandchildren, Steven Ledford, William16
Ledford, Seth Hilburn, and twins Shyla and Shyenne Hilburn, and his mother- and father-in-17
law, C. Lane and Gloria Sartor.18
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the19
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express its condolences to the family of Wiley Wilson20
Hilburn, Jr., for their great loss.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted22
to the family of Wiley Wilson Hilburn, Jr.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)]
Shadoin HR No. 4
Expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Wiley Wilson
Hilburn, Jr., of Choudrant, Louisiana.