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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 113
BY SENATOR GARY SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVE GAINES
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Hahnville High School head softball coach, Kenneth
Vial, for an outstanding career and on the occasion of his retirement.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To commend Kenneth Vial head softball coach of Hahnville High School on an outstanding2
career and on the occasion of his retirement.3
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens and the Legislature of Louisiana4
have learned of the outstanding career of Hahnville High School head softball coach5
Kenneth Vial and wishes to congratulate him on his much deserved retirement; and6
WHEREAS, Kenneth Vial has a special place in his heart for Hahnville, Louisiana,7
it is where he was born, raised, played sports, coached, and raised his family; and8
WHEREAS, Kenneth Vial spent thirty-three years as a coach in public schools9
throughout Louisiana; he began his career coaching baseball at Central Lafourche before10
moving to Hahnville for a year; and he then coached at Landry Middle School for thirteen11
years before returning to Hahnville, where he spent the next twelve years; and12
WHEREAS, he led the Hahnville Lady Tigers to five-straight appearances in the13
state tournament which matches up the top eight Class 5A softball teams in Louisiana; he14
also led the Lady Tigers to three straight state title games from 2010-2012, a feat rarely seen15
in any sport at any level, and while he remembers all the kids that he has taught, coached,16
and mentored throughout his years at Hahnville High School, he was quoted saying that they17
were all just "really good kids with a good understanding of what we wanted to do"; and 18 SCR NO. 113
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WHEREAS, Coach Vial proudly recalls that special group of kids, and their 20111
state championship, as the Lady Tigers had lost in the 2010 state championship game, but2
came back to win the state title the very next season defeating Denham Springs and claiming3
their Class 5A state title making them the first and only girls team in the history of Hahnville4
High School to win a state championship in any sport; and5
WHEREAS, he retires after a monumentally successful career winning an astounding6
seventy-four percent of his games during his twelve years back at Hahnville, and he finishes7
his Hahnville coaching career with a 329-85 record; and8
WHEREAS, while Coach Kenneth Vial's decision to retire was a personal one in9
order to have the opportunity to see his sons, Brooks and Jared, play college baseball, he said10
his decision came down to the freedom of being able to jump in the car and just go watch11
them play; he was quoted saying, "If I don't go see them play now, it will be too late," and12
those are the kind of memories you can never get back; and13
WHEREAS, while the loss of Head Coach Kenneth Vial certainly leaves a14
tremendous void at Hahnville High School and with the Hahnville Lady Tigers, he is sure15
to have an exciting, adventurous, and memory-filled retirement beginning with watching his16
two sons play college baseball; and17
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,18
and the overall vitality of American society depends, in great measure, upon the dedication19
of men like Kenneth Vial who know the importance of family, and dedicate their lives to20
teaching, coaching, mentoring, and molding our future generations. 21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby22
commend and congratulate Kenneth Vial on his outstanding career as a coach and mentor23
and wishes him much success on the occasion of his retirement and with all his future24
endeavors.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to26
Kenneth Vial.27 SCR NO. 113
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Gary Smith SCR No. 113
Commends Head Coach Kenneth Vial of Hahnville High School, on his outstanding career
and on the occasion of his retirement.