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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 4
BY REPRESENTATIVE SHADOIN
A RESOLUTION
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the untimely death of
Wiley Wilson Hilburn, Jr., of Choudrant, Louisiana, noted north Louisiana
newspaper columnist, editorial writer, and professor of journalism.
WHEREAS, north Louisiana lost a beloved voice, remembered as "the Mark Twain
of Louisiana", and journalism lost one of its treasured local contributors with the January 16,
2014, death of Wiley Hilburn, Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Wiley Hilburn, Jr., a native of Ruston, Louisiana, began his long career
in journalism as a teenager at The Ruston Daily Leader; he devoted over four decades to
Louisiana Tech University as chair of the journalism department and director of the news
bureau and, after retiring in 2009, was named journalism professor emeritus and
Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Liberal Arts; he was also selected to membership
in the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame and for 50 years, until the time of his
death, published widely read editorials and a cherished column in Gannett newspapers; and
WHEREAS, throughout his long teaching career, Mr. Hilburn guided numerous
students into the profession of journalism, for which he had great respect and love as an
important American cultural institution, and he maintained close relationships, both
professional and personal, with many of his students whom he had influenced and mentored;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hilburn was widely known as a lover of jokes and as a practical
joker who concocted elaborate ruses to confound his victims, seeing also the entertainment
value when he was in turn the butt of a good practical joke; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 4
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WHEREAS, there can scarcely be any greater tribute than to be remembered by his
many friends, colleagues, readers, and former students as finding "as much intrigue in the
lives of everyday people as he did governors and celebrities"; as creating pictures with
"words that were his brush strokes ... from the majestic eagle to the melodious mockingbird,
from the old-school Louisiana politician to the gathering of old men in a store"; as being
"each of us, only better"; whose writing would "cause you to stop and really see something
important and needed, something you'd missed, though right in front of your eyes"; and
being "a strong and bold voice of contemplation and reason in tumultuous times, a
peacemaker, a lover of nature, and a friend to many"; and
WHEREAS, the loss of Wiley Hilburn, Jr., is profoundly felt by his wife, Kate
Sartor; children, Anne Marie Hilburn, Kevin Hilburn, and Greg Hilburn and their mother,
Ellen LaCroix; his stepdaughter, Jenny O'Driscoll; his brother, Chet Hilburn; his daughters-
in-law, Holley Hilburn and Tania Hilburn; his grandchildren, Steven Ledford, William
Ledford, Seth Hilburn, and twins Shyla and Shyenne Hilburn, and his mother- and father-in-
law, C. Lane and Gloria Sartor.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express its condolences to the family of Wiley Wilson
Hilburn, Jr., for their great loss.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Wiley Wilson Hilburn, Jr.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES