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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 110
BY SENATORS CROWE, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME,
BROWN, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAI TOR, CORTEZ,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY,
MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH , MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHI TE
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Dr. James Larry Crain, former Southeastern Louisiana University President,
former state commissioner of higher education, and former secretary of the
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that the citizens and the Legislature of Louisiana
have learned of the death of Dr. J. Larry Crain on February 2, 2014, at age seventy-nine; and
WHEREAS, a native of Washington Parish he taught science and coached basketball
at Varnado High School before leaving to go to Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU)
as a professor of Biology; and
WHEREAS, Larry Crain met Edwin Edwards in 1970 when Crain was an assistant
professor of biology at SLU, he heard Edwards speak and was so impressed with him that
he introduced Edwards throughout Washington Parish; Edwards went on to win the
gubernatorial election in 1976 and asked Crain to serve as deputy secretary, and later
secretary, of the state Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Larry Crain went on to serve as Southeastern Louisiana University's
president from 1980 to 1986 before becoming system president for the Board of Trustees for
State Colleges and Universities, which is now known as the Board of Supervisors for the
University of Louisiana System; and
WHEREAS, current SLU President John L. Crain, described Dr. J. Larry Crain as
the one who "led the university at a pivotal time in its history during the 1980s and played
a key role in transforming the institution from a small, sleepy college into one of the state's
major regional universities, he will be remembered for his efforts to enhance the academic
stature of the university during the 'oil bust' years that impacted the state's economy and
severely affected the funding of higher education as well as other state services, he will be SCR NO. 110 ENROLLED
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remembered as a man of integrity, who was committed to higher education and historic
preservation"; and
WHEREAS, in December 1993, following a contentious deadlock between
supporters of Governor Edwin Edwards and appointees of former Governor Buddy Roemer,
the Board of Regents named Dr. James Larry Crain as the state's higher education
commissioner; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Larry Crain was an avid collector with an interest in history,
particularly the Civil War and Southern architecture, culture and genealogy; he was a
member of the Civil War Roundtable, serving as the group's president; and he had "perhaps
the finest collection in the world" of U.S. Martial single-shot pistols; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Crain spent years restoring a dogtrot-style house on his
grandfather's homestead in State Line, including a functioning syrup mill, blacksmith shop,
and barn; and
WHEREAS, he was a loving husband to his wife of fifty-seven years, Jean Lott
Crain, (a very successful retired nurse and operating room supervisor who died just a few
weeks after him on February 19, 2014) and a cherished father, grandfather, great-grandfather
and relative whose love of family was of the utmost importance to him in his life; and
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
and the overall vitality of American society depends, in great measure, upon the dedication
of people like Dr. J. Larry Crain who dedicate themselves and their lives to education, and
to making Louisiana a better place for future generations.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
honor the extraordinary life and numerous accomplishments and many achievements of Dr.
J. Larry Crain for the betterment of education and for Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Dr. J. Larry Crain.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES