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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 138
BY SENATORS JOHNS, MORRISH AND JOHN SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVES
DANAHAY, FRANKLIN, GEYMANN, GUINN, HENSGENS AND
KLECKLEY
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend former state senator James J. Cox for his many accomplishments.
WHEREAS, James J. Cox was a diligent champion for the citizens of Louisiana
through both his service as a state senator and also his lifelong work in the legal profession;
and
WHEREAS, James J. Cox was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on June 2, 1934,
the youngest child of eight; and
WHEREAS, following the death of his father when James was only two years old,
his mother raised James and his siblings on her own, supporting the family on a
schoolteacher's salary; and
WHEREAS, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Juris Doctorate from
Tulane University and has been actively engaged in the practice of law since finishing his
studies at the University of Paris on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1960; and
WHEREAS, James J. Cox has served as the president of both the Southwest
Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association; and
WHEREAS, he was a strong supporter of the civil rights movement and has been
actively involved in every presidential race since 1960, backing Democrats at every level;
and
WHEREAS, in his three terms in the Louisiana Senate, James J. Cox was a master
of consensus building, forging alliances, and ultimately joining with a former adversary to
secure millions of additional dollars for funding the education of southwest Louisianians;
and
WHEREAS, he was instrumental in implementing legislative term limits and as an
example to others, he bowed out of legislative service after three terms in the Louisiana
Senate, fulfilling his campaign promise to the citizens of District 27; and SCR NO. 138 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, James J. Cox has been accompanied on his journey by his loving wife,
Marilyn Marie Melancon, for over fifty years and the couple has been blessed with six
children.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does with
heartfelt gratitude hereby commend former state senator James J. Cox for his many
accomplishments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
James J. Cox.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES