Page 1 of 2 Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 171 BY SENATOR GUILLORY A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON To commend posthumously Al J. Ransome for his service to the state of Louisiana and as a pioneer in the field of unemployment compensation cost control management. WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the citizens of Louisiana learned of the death of Al J. Ransome on Friday, March 7, 2014; and WHEREAS, he was a native of Morganza and a resident of Baton Rouge; and WHEREAS, he attended Louisiana State University and enrolled in accounting, business administration, and computer science classes; and WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome's knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of a competitive nationwide industry in cost control management of unemployment compensation for employers; and WHEREAS, in 1974, Mr. Ransome founded Unemployment Compensation Control Systems, Inc., and served as its chief executive officer until early 2003; and WHEREAS, in 2003, Mr. Ransome founded Unemployment Cost Solutions, LLC and served as its chief executive officer until his demise; and WHEREAS, he was responsible for the design, development, and implementation of an ongoing computerized management control and reporting system; and WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome was extremely knowledgeable in unemployment law, having worked in the unemployment compensation industry for over forty years; and WHEREAS, as a result of his expertise in data collection and statistics, in 1986 and 1987, he was asked to serve on a task force established by the governor and a task force established by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry to address Louisiana's bankrupt unemployment trust fund; and WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome developed the concept of bonding the one billion dollars unemployment compensation trust fund debt which would retire the debt seven years early and allow the unemployment compensation trust fund to grow to one and one-half billion dollars; and WHEREAS, when hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Louisiana, Mr. Ransome SCR NO. 171 ENROLLED Page 2 of 2 anticipated the effect those storms were going to have on the field of unemployment cost control for private sector and governmental employers; and WHEREAS, he was able to bring together the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and the AFL-CIO to enact legislation over a period of years which allowed the unemployment compensation trust fund to absorb the unemployment compensation paid to displaced workers without Louisiana employers having to absorb any of the cost; and WHEREAS, Mr. Ransome worked together with labor and industry to pass legislation that was equally beneficial to labor, industry, and the state; and WHEREAS, he is survived by his loving wife, Darlene Sansone Ransome; a daughter, Stephanie "Taffy" Matheny; three sons, Justin Paul Ransome, Dustin Mark Ransome, and Al Jerome Ransome II; and seven grandchildren, John W. St. Amant II, Christopher Matheny, Breeanna Ransome, Brooke Ransome, Blair Ransome, Christin Ransome, and Cullen Ransome; and WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of its communities, and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure upon the people like Al J. Ransome; and WHEREAS, Al J. Ransome merits this posthumous commendation for the tremendous honor, integrity, and service that he brought to his clients, the state of Louisiana, and to all who knew and loved him. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby 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. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the family of Al J. Ransome. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES