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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 67
BY SENATORS ALARIO, ADLEY, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME, BROWN,
BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CL AITOR, 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 WHI TE
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of former Louisiana legislator
Francis E. "Hank" Lauricella.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the2
passing of a beloved gentleman, renowned real estate businessman, community3
activist, and former member of both the Louisiana House of Representatives and the4
Louisiana State Senate, the Honorable Francis E. "Hank" Lauricella, and to celebrate5
a life well spent in service to the betterment of the state of Louisiana.6
WHEREAS, it was with deep remorse that the membership of the Legislature of7
Louisiana had learned of the passing of a longtime colleague from the parish of Jefferson,8
former Senator Hank Lauricella, on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the age of eighty-three;9
and10
WHEREAS, a thoughtful and gentle person, he possessed a dynamic personality, was11
well known for his stellar athletic prowess on the gridiron and for his dedicated legislative12
service to the state that spanned more than three decades; and13
WHEREAS, Francis Edward Lauricella was born on October 9, 1930, in Harahan to14
parents, John and Theresa Sherling Lauricella; and15
WHEREAS, at age ten, he enrolled at Holy Cross, a Catholic boarding school in16
New Orleans, and matured into a phenomenal student athlete; he was a four sport letterman,17
a city-wide batting champion, an all-state halfback that excelled in the single-wing offense,18 SCR NO. 67
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and was known as a "triple threat" tailback in running, passing, and punting maneuvers; and1
during his sophomore year, the Holy Cross Tigers won the Class AA state football2
championship in 1945; and3
WHEREAS, in 1948, he was recruited as a single-wing tailback and defensive safety4
by Coach Robert Neyland of the University of Tennessee and was a member of what is5
considered to be the best recruiting class in Volunteers' history; and6
WHEREAS, his athleticism won him many accolades during his prolific career; he7
earned the nickname, "Mr. Everything"; he led the Volunteers to a national championship8
and berths in the 1951 Cotton Bowl and the 1952 Sugar Bowl; and Hank was named an9
All-American, was voted first runner-up for the Heisman Trophy; won All-Southeastern10
Conference (SEC) titles, and led the SEC in rushing for over eight hundred yards setting a11
conference record that stood for thirty-five years, averaging nearly eight yards per carry; and12
WHEREAS, with an outstanding overall record of 28-4-1 during his varsity career13
at Tennessee, Hank Lauricella articulated that in life as well as football it was not all14
glorious victories and that experiencing defeat was an invaluable lesson that made him a15
better, more humble man; and16
WHEREAS, Hank Lauricella graduated with a degree in business administration,17
was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventeenth round of the 1952 NFL Draft, played one18
season of professional football with the Dallas Texans, married his college sweetheart,19
Betty Valker, served in the military as a first lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of20
Engineers, and in 1955, returned to Harahan to join his father in the family business that later21
became Lauricella Land Company, a commercial real estate firm that played a crucial role22
in the commercial development of large portions of East Jefferson; and23
WHEREAS, in 1964, Hank Lauricella began his life of public service with election24
to the first of two terms in the House of Representatives; his committee assignments25
included the House committees on Appropriations, Labor and Industry, and Affairs of the26
House; as a legislator, his was diligent, low-keyed, trustworthy, consistent in his views, and27
the voice of moderation who instinctively sought consensus among differing factions; and28
WHEREAS, from 1972 until 1996, Hank Lauricella served six consecutive terms in29
the Senate with focus on economic development, in particular, transportation and industrial30 SCR NO. 67
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diversity which were top priorities throughout his long political career; and1
WHEREAS, while representing his constituency in Kenner, Harahan, River Ridge,2
and Metairie, he prompted legislation that benefitted all the greater New Orleans region,3
including expansion and financial support for the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Ernest N.4
Morial Convention Center, the Louis Armstrong International Airport, and the Port of New5
Orleans; and6
WHEREAS, during his lengthy tenure, he served on numerous Senate committees7
that included Commerce, Judiciary B, and long-running chairmanships on Transportation,8
Highways, and Public Works and Natural Resources; and he was responsible for capturing9
needed funding for public works, highway projects, and economic development, including10
the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner; and11
WHEREAS, Senator Lauricella served on local boards and commissions, as president12
and member of the Board of Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans, the Louisiana13
Domed Stadium and Exposition District, and the Public Affairs Research Council; and14
WHEREAS, Hank Lauricella contributed his knowledge and expertise to many local15
and regional business organizations, such as the Jefferson Business Council, the Jefferson16
Edge Task Force, the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the World Trade17
Center; and18
WHEREAS, Senator Hank Lauricella was a special man, a very compassionate19
individual, who received copious acknowledgments and awards during his lifetime; and20
WHEREAS, he was honored with induction into the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame in21
1975, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in22
1982, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2005,23
and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2013; and 24
WHEREAS, Hank Lauricella followed national and state collegiate football, but his25
heart was always with his beloved Volunteers, and in 1990, he was honored with selection26
as a member of an extraordinary squad, the Fifty Year All-University of Tennessee27
Volunteer Football Team; and 28
WHEREAS, in recognition of his many accomplishments in the political arena,29
Senator Hank Lauricella was honored with induction into the Louisiana Political Hall of30 SCR NO. 67
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Fame on January 30, 2010; and1
WHEREAS, Hank Lauricella was a man of vision and foresight; he was a gracious2
servant of the community who expressed gratitude for his good fortune by participation in3
all manner of civic, social, and religious interests; and he was a class act; and 4
WHEREAS, Senator Lauricella cultivated many diverse interests; he was very proud5
of his Italian heritage, was an avid gardener and cook, and was a parishioner at St. Rita6
Catholic Church; he was a disciplined athlete who remained fit by walking five miles a day7
until his early 80s; and he read constantly, focusing primarily on the topics of finance,8
politics, and American history; and 9
WHEREAS, Hank Lauricella is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Betty, and10
their four sons, Francis Jr., Louis, Marc, and Christopher, and one daughter, Elizabeth L.11
McStravick, fifteen grandchildren, and a host of extended family and dear friends; and12
WHEREAS, Winston Churchill once said, "What is the use of living, if it be not to13
strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live14
in it after we are gone?"; and15
WHEREAS, Senator Hank Lauricella was such a man and with his passing the16
Legislature of Louisiana has lost a dear friend and colleague and the citizens of Louisiana17
have lost a dedicated, compassionate public servant; and18
WHEREAS, in death, Hank Lauricella leaves a tremendous void in his community19
and in this state, however, he also leaves a rich and unique legacy of public service in the20
annals of Louisiana's political history, and he shall remain as a fond remembrance in the21
hearts of all who knew him.22
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby23
express its sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of the Honorable Francis E.24
"Hank " Lauricella, longtime friend, gentleman, businessman, civic activist, and legislator.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that his was a life well spent in the service to his26
community, his state, his country, and his God.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the28
family of Senator Hank Lauricella.29 SCR NO. 67
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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. 67
Expresses condolences upon the death of former Louisiana legislator Hank Lauricella.