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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 177
BY SENATOR GARY SMITH
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Larry Bourgeois Jr. for 34 years of service at St. Joan
of Arc Catholic School and on the occasion of his retirement.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Larry Bourgeois Jr., upon his retirement after thirty-four years of2
extraordinary service at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace, Louisiana.3
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois is a native of Garyville, Louisiana, and a graduate of4
St. Peter Catholic School and Riverside Academy in Reserve; and5
WHEREAS, he graduated from Nicholls State University in 1980 with a Bachelor6
of Arts degree in secondary school social studies, with a minor in English, and was7
employed at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, a kindergarten through eighth grade school;8
and 9
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois continued his education while teaching at SJA, which10
currently teaches children age three (kindergarten) through eighth grade, and received his11
Master of Education degree in administration and supervision from Nicholls State University12
in 1990; and13
WHEREAS, he obtained additional certifications from the Archdiocese of New14
Orleans Office of Religious Education as an elementary school catechist and received15
certification in the course The Principal as Spiritual Leader; and16
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois has served as a teacher for fourteen years, as assistant17
principal for five years, and as principal for eight years at SJA; and18 SR NO. 177
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WHEREAS, in the mid-1990's he was a member of the Archdiocese Office of Middle1
School Task Force which introduced leveled classes, individualized scheduling, and2
exploratory classes at SJA and other Catholic middle schools and SJA remains the only3
school in the river parishes to offer these programs; and4
WHEREAS, during his tenure at SJA, Larry Bourgeois established the student5
council, which he has guided since its establishment fifteen years ago, and SJA is one of the6
few schools in the river parishes which maintains the student government as an active7
member of the Louisiana Association of Student Councils; and8
WHEREAS, he serves as a member of the Archdiocese of New Orleans office of9
Catholic Schools' Principals' Steering Committee for Best Standards and as cohort leader for10
the six Catholic elementary schools in the river parishes area; and11
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois also represents the Catholic elementary schools of the12
river parishes as their moderator on the Principals' Committee for the Catholic Schools13
Athletic League; and14
WHEREAS, he maintains active membership in the National Catholic Educators15
Association, the National Council for Social Studies, the Association for Supervision and16
Curriculum Development, the National Geographic Society, the Louisiana Middle School17
Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National18
Association of Secondary School Principals, Phi Alpha Theta, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa19
Delta Phi; and20
WHEREAS, a life-long love for history and the theater, led Larry Bourgeois to21
become a member of the River Road Historical Society and the Friends of the St. John22
Theatre at their inception twenty-five years ago and his membership continues to this day;23
and 24
WHEREAS, he is a parishioner of St. Peter Catholic Church in Reserve, where he25
has been a member of the Msgr. Jean Eyraud Knights of Columbus Council #3426 for over26
thirty years; and27
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois is a fourth degree Knight in the Archbishop Blenk28
Knights of Columbus Assembly and he serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy29
Communion at both St. Peter Church in Reserve and St. Joan of Arc Church in LaPlace.30 SR NO. 177
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana1
does hereby commend Larry Bourgeois upon his retirement after thirty-four years of2
extraordinary service at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace, Louisiana.3
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to4
Larry Bourgeois Jr. through St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace.5
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
Gary Smith SR No. 177
Commends Larry Bourgeois upon his retirement after 34 years of service at St. Joan of Arc
Catholic School in LaPlace, Louisiana.