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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 113
BY SENATOR GARY SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVE GAINES
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend Kenneth Vial head softball coach of Hahnville High School on an outstanding
career and on the occasion of his retirement.
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens and the Legislature of Louisiana
have learned of the outstanding career of Hahnville High School head softball coach
Kenneth Vial and wishes to congratulate him on his much deserved retirement; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth Vial has a special place in his heart for Hahnville, Louisiana,
it is where he was born, raised, played sports, coached, and raised his family; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth Vial spent thirty-three years as a coach in public schools
throughout Louisiana; he began his career coaching baseball at Central Lafourche before
moving to Hahnville for a year; and he then coached at Landry Middle School for thirteen
years before returning to Hahnville, where he spent the next twelve years; and
WHEREAS, he led the Hahnville Lady Tigers to five-straight appearances in the
state tournament which matches up the top eight Class 5A softball teams in Louisiana; he
also led the Lady Tigers to three straight state title games from 2010-2012, a feat rarely seen
in any sport at any level, and while he remembers all the kids that he has taught, coached,
and mentored throughout his years at Hahnville High School, he was quoted saying that they
were all just "really good kids with a good understanding of what we wanted to do"; and
WHEREAS, Coach Vial proudly recalls that special group of kids, and their 2011
state championship, as the Lady Tigers had lost in the 2010 state championship game, but
came back to win the state title the very next season defeating Denham Springs and claiming
their Class 5A state title making them the first and only girls team in the history of Hahnville
High School to win a state championship in any sport; and
WHEREAS, he retires after a monumentally successful career winning an astounding
seventy-four percent of his games during his twelve years back at Hahnville, and he finishes
his Hahnville coaching career with a 329-85 record; and SCR NO. 113 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, while Coach Kenneth Vial's decision to retire was a personal one in
order to have the opportunity to see his sons, Brooks and Jared, play college baseball, he said
his decision came down to the freedom of being able to jump in the car and just go watch
them play; he was quoted saying, "If I don't go see them play now, it will be too late," and
those are the kind of memories you can never get back; and
WHEREAS, while the loss of Head Coach Kenneth Vial certainly leaves a
tremendous void at Hahnville High School and with the Hahnville Lady Tigers, he is sure
to have an exciting, adventurous, and memory-filled retirement beginning with watching his
two sons play college baseball; 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 men like Kenneth Vial who know the importance of family, and dedicate their lives to
teaching, coaching, mentoring, and molding our future generations.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend and congratulate Kenneth Vial on his outstanding career as a coach and mentor
and wishes him much success on the occasion of his retirement and with all his future
endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Kenneth Vial.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES