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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 15
BY SENATORS BROOME, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROWN,
BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAI TOR, CORTEZ, CROWE,
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 WHITE AND
REPRESENTATIVE HONORE
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
passing of former mayor of Baker and former Louisiana State Senator, Michael A.
Cross, and to celebrate his life of public service, his humanity, and his many
contributions made on behalf of the citizens of Senate District 13, of the city of
Baker, and of the state of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of
the death of former state senator, Mike Cross, on November 18, 2013, at the age of
sixty-nine; and
WHEREAS, Mike Cross was an affable gentleman, kind and considerate, who
possessed an indomitable spirit; he was open and honest; a consummate man of the people
who never met a stranger, a vibrant human being with an endearing compassion for those
he represented; and
WHEREAS, he was born on September 8, 1944, to parents, Aduron B. Cross and the
former Margie McCulloch; and
WHEREAS, after graduation from Baker High School in 1962, he attended the
University of Southwestern Louisiana, now known as University of Louisiana at Lafayette;
and
WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of Baker, Mike was employe d as a chemical plant
manager when his life of public service began with his election as a member of the Baker SCR NO. 15 ENROLLED
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City Council in 1972 and later with his election as the city's mayor in 1976; and
WHEREAS, at that time, Mike was the youngest elected city council member and
mayor in Louisiana and won a second mayoral term in 1980; and
WHEREAS, with each election he ran a grassroots campaign; he walked door-to-
door, shook hands, and asked constituents about improvements that would make their
community a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS, his accomplishments were many, as councilman he voted to reduce the
city's utility service fee to a flat rate of one dollar per month for senior citizens and as mayor
he had ad valorem taxation rates reduced by thirty-three percent; and
WHEREAS, as mayor he was very energetic and brimming with new ideas; he
focused on efficiency in city government operations that included adoption of a digital
database format for utility services; and he was frugal with taxpayer monies and always had
an end-of-year surplus; and
WHEREAS, in 1981, after serving five years as mayor, he ran and was elected to the
Louisiana State Senate in a special election to fill a vacated seat and for fifteen years he
represented Senate District 13 that included portions of the parishes of East Feliciana, East
Baton Rouge, and Livingston; and
WHEREAS, during his distinguished tenure in the Louisiana Senate, Senator Cross
authored and coauthored various critical pieces of legislation concerning pro-life issues,
prolabor and the prevailing wage, local and municipal finance, tighter regulation of anabolic
steroid usage, establishment of the Baker Independent School District, flood control and
drainage infrastructure projects, and the creation of the homeschool program that provided
parents with an educational alternative that allowed for a home-study curriculum; and
WHEREAS, during his exemplary service to the citizens of Louisiana, Senator Cross,
a conservative, was a loyal and viable member of the Democratic Party; however, he cared
little for partisan politics and more about what he could do for the betterment of the people
he served; and
WHEREAS, while in the Louisiana Senate he served as chairman of the Senate
committees on Health and Welfare, Environmental Quality, and Retirement; vice-chairman
of the Finance Committee; and a member of the Senate committees on Judiciary B, Local SCR NO. 15 ENROLLED
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and Municipal Affairs, Retirement, Environmental Quality, and Labor and Industrial
Relations; and
WHEREAS, after his tenure ended in the Louisiana Senate in 1996, Mike Cross was
appointed as vice president of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, then opened his own
lobbying firm, Cross and Co., which represented high level clients such as CLECO electric
utilities and the Louisiana Municipal Association; and
WHEREAS, Mike Cross enjoyed the company of others; he possessed a friendly
demeanor and a fun-loving spirit of adventure no matter what the activity; he loved music
and singing; also he frequently used an adage, which he attributed to his father, that
"Everyday is a good day, some are just better than others"; and
WHEREAS, Mike Cross is survived by his wife, Kristie, four sons, Michael Shane,
Clifton Lance, Ryan Michael, and Matthew Aaron, two daughters, Lauren Adrianne and
Christen Joanna Cross, and two sisters, Pat Cross and Lori C. Martinez, plus a host of
precious friends and extended family; and
WHEREAS, Mike Cross shall be remembered by his many contemporaries in the
Louisiana Legislature for his ability to stand his ground on principle, his fearlessness, his
tireless work ethic, and his ability to speak directly from his heart; as a legislator, he was
tenacious, always focused on the task at hand, and always personable; and
WHEREAS, Mike Cross was a Christian with a generous heart who shared his
invaluable knowledge with others; he proved himself to be a man of many talents and of his
word, and a man whose dedication to this state and its people was without par; and
WHEREAS, he wore the mantle of community service proudly and willingly while
extending courtesy and friendship to all; and
WHEREAS, although the passing of Mike Cross has left a tremendous void in his
community, he leaves a rich and unique legacy that shall live on in the hearts of all who
knew him throughout the halls of this Legislature and the state of Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express its sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of Senator Mike Cross,
businessman, civic leader, and legislator, and does hereby acknowledge that his life was
well-spent in service to his country, his community, and his state. SCR NO. 15 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
family.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES