SLS 14RS-5125 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 3 Regular Session, 2014 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 171 BY SENATOR GUILLORY COMMENDATIONS. Posthumously commends Al J. Ransome for his service to the state of Louisiana. A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1 To commend posthumously Al J. Ransome for his service to the state of Louisiana and as2 a pioneer in the field of unemployment compensation cost control management.3 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the citizens of Louisiana4 learned of the death of Al J. Ransome on Friday, March 7, 2014; and5 WHEREAS, he was a native of Morganza and a resident of Baton Rouge; and6 WHEREAS, he attended Louisiana State University and enrolled in accounting,7 business administration, and computer science classes; and8 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome's knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit led9 to the creation of a competitive nationwide industry in cost control management of10 unemployment compensation for employers; and11 WHEREAS, in 1974, Mr. Ransome founded Unemployment Compensation Control12 Systems, Inc., and served as its chief executive officer until early 2003; and13 WHEREAS, in 2003, Mr. Ransome founded Unemployment Cost Solutions, LLC14 and served as its chief executive officer until his demise; and15 WHEREAS, he was responsible for the design, development, and implementation16 of an ongoing computerized management control and reporting system; and17 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome was extremely knowledgeable in unemployment law,18 SCR NO. 171 SLS 14RS-5125 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 3 having worked in the unemployment compensation industry for over forty years; and1 WHEREAS, as a result of his expertise in data collection and statistics, in 1986 and2 1987, he was asked to serve on a task force established by the governor and a task force3 established by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry to address Louisiana's4 bankrupt unemployment trust fund; and5 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome developed the concept of bonding the one billion dollars6 unemployment compensation trust fund debt which would retire the debt seven years early7 and allow the unemployment compensation trust fund to grow to one and one-half billion8 dollars; and9 WHEREAS, when hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Louisiana, Mr. Ransome10 anticipated the effect those storms were going to have on the field of unemployment cost11 control for private sector and governmental employers; and12 WHEREAS, he was able to bring together the Louisiana Workforce Commission,13 the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and the AFL-CIO to enact legislation14 over a period of years which allowed the unemployment compensation trust fund to absorb15 the unemployment compensation paid to displaced workers without Louisiana employers16 having to absorb any of the cost; and17 WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome worked together with labor and industry to pass18 legislation that was equally beneficial to labor, industry, and the state; and19 WHEREAS, he is survived by his loving wife, Darlene Sansone Ransome; a20 daughter, Stephanie "Taffy" Matheny; three sons, Justin Paul Ransome, Dustin Mark21 Ransome, and Al Jerome Ransome II; and seven grandchildren, John W. St. Amant II,22 Christopher Matheny, Breeanna Ransome, Brooke Ransome, Blair Ransome, Christin23 Ransome, and Cullen Ransome; and24 WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of its communities,25 and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure upon the people like26 Al J. Ransome; and27 WHEREAS, Al J. Ransome merits this posthumous commendation for the28 tremendous honor, integrity, and service that he brought to his clients, the state of Louisiana,29 and to all who knew and loved him.30 SCR NO. 171 SLS 14RS-5125 ORIGINAL Page 3 of 3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby1 posthumously commends Al J. Ransome, who exemplified all that is good about Louisiana,2 and recognizes and records for posterity his long and productive career as a distinguished3 entrepreneur and pioneer in the field of unemployment compensation cost control4 management.5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the6 family of Al J. Ransome.7 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Thomas L. Tyler. DIGEST Guillory SCR No. 171 Posthumously commends Al J. Ransome, who exemplified all that is good about Louisiana, and recognizes and records for posterity his long and productive career as a distinguished entrepreneur and pioneer in the field of unemployment compensation cost control management.