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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 51
BY SENATOR ALLAIN
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of former Louisiana State
Representative and United States Congressman, Patrick T. Caffery Sr.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the2
death of Louisiana statesman, The Honorable Patrick T. Caffery Sr., and to recognize3
his years of service to the Legislature of Louisiana, the Congress of the United4
States, and the state of Louisiana.5
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of6
the passing of Congressman Pat Caffery of New Iberia, a distinguished gentleman, renown7
attorney, civic leader, and former member of the Louisiana State University Board of8
Supervisors, on December 17, 2013, at the age of eighty-one; and9
WHEREAS, Pat Caffery was a renaissance man of unique talents, intelligence, and10
curiosity, who, through diligence and hard work, had experienced great success in public life11
and was blessed with the thoughtful demeanor of a true southern gentleman; and12
WHEREAS, Patrick Thomson Caffery was born on July 6, 1932, at Haifleigh13
Plantation in St. Mary Parish, to parents Ralph Earl and Letitia Decuir Caffery; he was a14
favorite son of Louisiana and perhaps even destined to legislative service, in that, he was the15
grandson of former United States Senator Donelson Caffery; and16
WHEREAS, reared in Franklin, he enrolled in Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now17
the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, attended on a music scholarship for trumpet, was18 SCR NO. 51
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elected student body president, and received the saber award as outstanding third-year cadet1
in the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC); and 2
WHEREAS, Pat Caffery was an enthusiastic disciple of jurisprudence; he earned his3
law degree from Louisiana State University Law Center; and while in law school, he served4
in the prestigious position of managing editor of the Louisiana Law Review for 1955-56; and5
WHEREAS, after passing the bar, Pat Caffery joined the New Iberia law firm of6
Helm, Simon, Caffery and Duhe and later established the firm of Caffery, Duhe and Davis7
with partners John M. Duhe Jr. and Eugene Davis; and8
WHEREAS, Caffery served as an assistant district attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial9
District from 1958 until 1962; later in 1964, he was elected to the Louisiana House of10
Representatives and served one term with committee assignments to House committees on11
Contingent Expense, Judiciary C, and Ways and Means; and12
WHEREAS, he was elected to the United States Congress in 1968, representing13
Louisiana District Three during the Ninety-first and Ninety-second Congress and serving on14
the Public Works committee, until he did not seek reelection in 1973; and15
WHEREAS, after leaving Capitol Hill, Pat Caffery returned to New Iberia and16
immersed himself in the practice of law, art and music appreciation, and continued17
community service to the citizenry of Iberia Parish; and18
WHEREAS, as a talented musician, he had an avid interest in the history and culture19
of music, especially jazz and jazz musicians like Bunk Johnson, a New Iberia native; he was20
also involved with the Iberia Community Band; and21
WHEREAS, his philanthropy was boundless and he had longtime service as both22
member and officer of the New Iberia Community Chest, the New Iberia United Givers23
Fund, the Iberia Crippled Children's Association, the Iberia District of the Boy Scouts of24
America, the Rotary Club, and the Catholic High School Board of Directors; and25
WHEREAS, he received many accolades during his prestigious career that included26
receipt of the New Iberia Jaycees' Distinguished Service award and the Distinguished27
Service Award by the Americans for Constitutional Action; and28
WHEREAS, many public and nonprofit agencies benefitted from his guidance,29
including that of appointment to the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors from30 SCR NO. 51
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1988 until 1992, as a member he provided wise counsel on issues that involved tuition1
increases, loans extended to fraternal organizations, and advanced desegregation plans for2
institutions of higher learning; and3
WHEREAS, throughout his life Pat Caffery was a man of action and his proactive4
stance made him a positive force at all levels of human endeavor; and5
WHEREAS, he is survived by the love of his life, Anne Bercegeay Caffery, sons,6
Patrick Jr., Kevin, and Michael; six grandchildren, extended family, and dear friends; and7
WHEREAS, Pat Caffery was a man of great strength and intellect, a caring individual8
who has left his mark on the community of New Iberia and the state of Louisiana, who9
envisioned the potential for each individual, and who met the challenges of life head-on with10
zeal and candor tempered with immense love of family and compassion for his fellow man.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby12
express its sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of a renowned statesman,13
The Honorable Patrick T. Caffery Sr.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby15
celebrate his extraordinary life and commend the rich legacy that Pat Caffery leaves to the16
benefit of future generations and acknowledges a life well-spent in the service of his country,17
his community, his state, and his God.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his19
widow, Mrs. Anne B. Caffery.20
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
Allain SCR No. 51
Expresses condolences upon the death of former Congressman Pat Caffery of New Iberia.