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