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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 27
BY SENATORS THOMPSON, KOSTELKA, LONG, RI SER AND WALSWORTH
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Wiley Hilburn Jr.
A RESOLUTION1
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of2
Louisiana upon the death of Wiley Wilson Hilburn Jr. of Choudrant, Louisiana.3
WHEREAS, north Louisiana lost a beloved voice, remembered as "the Mark Twain4
of Louisiana", and journalism lost one of its treasured contributors on January 16, 2014, with5
the death of Wiley Hilburn Jr.; and6
WHEREAS, Wiley Hilburn Jr., a native of Ruston, Louisiana, began his long career7
in journalism as a teenager at The Ruston Daily Leader; and8
WHEREAS, he devoted over four decades to Louisiana Tech University as chair of9
the journalism department and director of the news bureau and, after retiring in 2009, he was10
named journalism professor emeritus and Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Liberal11
Arts; he was also selected to membership in the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of12
Fame; and 13
WHEREAS, throughout his long teaching career, Mr. Hilburn guided numerous14
students into the profession of journalism, a profession for which he had great respect and15
love as an important American cultural institution, and he maintained close relationships,16
both professional and personal, with many of his students whom he influenced and mentored17
throughout his life, and he will no doubt live on in the hearts of each of those he touched;18 SR NO. 27
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and1
WHEREAS, for fifty years until his death, he published widely-read editorials and2
a cherished column in Gannett newspapers; and3
WHEREAS, Mr. Hilburn was widely known as a lover of jokes and as a practical4
joker who concocted elaborate ruses to confound his unsuspecting prey, seeing also the5
entertainment value when he was, in turn, the butt of a good practical joke; and6
WHEREAS, there can be no greater tribute than to be remembered by his numerous7
friends, colleagues, readers, and former students in such prolific ways as finding "as much8
intrigue in the lives of everyday people as he did governors and celebrities"; creating9
pictures with "words that were his brush strokes ... from the majestic eagle to the melodious10
mockingbird, from the old-school Louisiana politician to the gathering of old men in a11
store"; as being "each of us, only better"; whose writing would "cause you to stop and really12
see something important and needed, something you'd missed, though right in front of your13
eyes"; and being "a strong and bold voice of contemplation and reason in tumultuous times,14
a peacemaker, a lover of nature, and a friend to many"; and15
WHEREAS, the loss of Wiley Hilburn Jr. is profoundly felt by his wife, Kate Sartor;16
his children, Anne Marie Hilburn, Kevin Hilburn, and Greg Hilburn, and their mother, Ellen17
LaCroix; his stepdaughter, Jenny O'Driscoll; his brother, Chet Hilburn; his daughters-in-law,18
Holley Hilburn and Tania Hilburn; his grandchildren, Steven Ledford, William Ledford,19
Seth Hilburn, and twins Shyla and Shyenne Hilburn, and his father-in-law and mother-in-20
law, C. Lane and Gloria Sartor; and21
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,22
and the overall vitality of American society depends, in great measure, upon the dedication23
of great men like Wiley Wilson Hilburn Jr. who share their gifts of the written word with the24
world through their numerous works. 25
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana26
does hereby express its condolences to the family of Wiley Wilson Hilburn Jr. for their27
tremendous loss.28
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the29
family of Wiley Wilson Hilburn Jr.30 SR NO. 27
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Thompson SR No. 27
Expresses condolences upon the death of Wiley Wilson Hilburn Jr.