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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 30
BY SENATOR ALARIO
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of former Louisiana State Senator
J. Chris Ullo.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the2
passing of a beloved statesman, the Honorable J. Chris Ullo, former member of both3
the Louisiana Senate and the Louisiana House of Representatives.4
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of the5
death of Chris Ullo of Marrero, who passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2014, two6
months shy of his eighty-sixth birthday; and7
WHEREAS, Chris Ullo had the rare privilege of public service in both houses of the8
Louisiana Legislature for a combined total of thirty-six years, elected to the House of9
Representatives District Eighty-four from 1972 until 1988 and elected to Senate District10
Eight from 1988 until 2007; and11
WHEREAS, Senator Chris Ullo was blessed with a quick smile and a firm12
handshake; he was a gentleman brimming with self-confidence, charisma, a keen sense of13
humor, and with a profound understanding of the complexities of issues affecting the people14
of south Louisiana; and who, through diligence and tenacity, led a fascinating life15
experiencing success in nearly every endeavor; and16
WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of Marrero, Senator Ullo represented the populace17
of Jefferson Parish in that area known as the "West Bank"; from Terrytown to Grand Isle and18 SCR NO. 30
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in the rural communities of Crown Point, Barataria, and Lafitte in South Jefferson; and1
WHEREAS, Chris Ullo embodied the best qualities of a public servant; he held a2
genuine interest in the people he served and felt a personal responsibility to represent all of3
his constituency with honesty and integrity; and4
WHEREAS, he was born on March 16, 1928, to parents Mike and Carolina Drago5
Ullo; and6
WHEREAS, he attended parochial grammar school, graduated from Marrero High7
School, and continued his studies at Tulane University in mechanical drawing; and8
WHEREAS, Chris Ullo was married to the former Joyce Ann Daigle for sixty-three9
years and together they reared a family of four children, son, Chris John Ullo, and daughters,10
Cynthia Ullo Robbins, Frankie Ullo Boudreaux, and Bernie Ullo Blanchard, and were11
blessed with ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and 12
WHEREAS, Chris Ullo was a businessman who had owned a towboat service and13
Ullo's Hardware, a prosperous hardware and department store in Marrero; and14
WHEREAS, he was articulate and knowledgeable in those policies affecting the15
infrastructure and economic growth of Jefferson Parish, whether it was the plight of16
commercial fishermen or employees of the petro-chemical complex, Senator Ullo tried to17
strike a balance between the needs of all the factions within his district; and18
WHEREAS, while in the House of Representatives he served as vice chairman of the19
House Committee on Natural Resources and took an active interest in oil and gas exploration20
and also served as vice chairman of the Energy Committee of the National Conference of21
State Legislatures and the chairman of the Southwest Regional Energy Council; and22
WHEREAS, in the Senate, Chris Ullo was chairman of the Senate Education23
Committee, with membership on Senate committees on Environmental Quality, Finance,24
Senate & Governmental Affairs, Judiciary C, and Natural Resources, the Joint Committee25
on the Budget, and the select committee on Coastal Restoration and Flood Control; and26
WHEREAS, Chris Ullo took an avid interest in coastal reclamation, wetlands, and27
wildlife conservation and was instrumental in the development of Jean Lafitte State Park;28
and29
WHEREAS, through his extraordinary talents of diplomacy and compromise, he30 SCR NO. 30
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brought to fruition important legislation that included economic development, right-to-work,1
energy production, highway and railroad infrastructure, teacher pay, educational2
accountability, student truancy, law enforcement, criminal justice, and coastal restoration;3
and4
WHEREAS, Chris Ullo spoke out on the thorny issue of the return of public lands5
in Barataria to its previous owners; and6
WHEREAS, Chris Ullo had been the deserving recipient of numerous honors and7
awards throughout the course of his exemplary career that included being named the 19788
Legislative Conservationist of the Year by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation; and9
WHEREAS, his participation in community activities included that of past president10
of the Marrero Lions Club, International, and membership in the Hope Haven-Madonna11
Manor Boys' Home, the Italian-American Society, the Marrero-Harvey Volunteer Fire12
Department, and the Louisiana State Firemen's Association; and13
WHEREAS, throughout his time as a legislator, his political philosophy embraced14
compromise, those give and take processes of representative democracy; Chris provided15
invaluable leadership to the legislative process and it was made better by his active16
participation; and17
WHEREAS, Chris Ullo was a generous man blessed with an abundance of skills; he18
performed his public service proudly and willingly; he extended courtesy to all; and he19
leaves a rich and unique legacy of public service to his family, community, state, and nation.20
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby21
extend its sincere condolences to the family and friends of that great statesman, Senator J.22
Chris Ullo, a former member of both houses of the Legislature of Louisiana and a mainstay23
in Jefferson Parish.24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his25
widow, Joyce D. Ullo.26 SCR NO. 30
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
Alario SCR No. 30
Expresses condolences upon the death of former legislator, Chris Ullo.