HLS 15RS-4094 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 211
BY REPRESENTATIVES JACKSON, BADON, BARROW, WESLEY BISHOP, BOUIE,
BURRELL, COX, FRANKLIN, GAINES, HALL, HONORE, HUNTER, JAMES,
JEFFERSON, TERRY LANDRY, NORTON, PIERRE, PRICE, SMITH, THIERRY,
ALFRED WILLIAMS, PATRICK WILLIAMS, AND WOODRUFF AND
SENATORS BROOME, BROWN, DORSEY-COLOMB, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
MORRELL, MURRAY, PETERSON, AND TARVER
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the passing of Southern University System
president emeritus Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To express the condolences of the legislature upon the passing of Southern University
3 System president emeritus Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes.
4 WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana is deeply saddened to learn of the passing
5on June 1, 2015, of former Southern University System president Dolores Margaret Richard
6Spikes at the age of seventy-eight; and
7 WHEREAS, Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes earned a bachelor's degree in
8mathematics in 1957 from Southern University and a master's degree in mathematics from
9the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and she made history in 1971 by becoming
10the first African American to earn a doctor of philosophy degree in mathematics from
11Louisiana State University; and
12 WHEREAS, Dr. Spikes became the first female chancellor of a public university in
13Louisiana when she was named chancellor of both Southern University Baton Rouge and
14Southern University New Orleans in the late 1980s; and
15 WHEREAS, Dr. Spikes was appointed to the board of Harvard University's Institute
16of Educational Management in 1987, and in 1988, she became the first woman in the United
17States to head a university system when she was appointed president of Southern University
18and A&M College System; and
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HCR NO. 211
1 WHEREAS, the depth of contributions made by Dr. Spikes to Southern University
2Baton Rouge led to the naming of The Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes Honors College in
3her honor; and
4 WHEREAS, Dr. Spikes served as president of the University of Maryland-Eastern
5Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland, from 1997-2001; current university president, Juliette
6B. Bell, credits Dr. Spikes with laying the groundwork for the school's evolution into the
7twenty-first century historically black institution it has become; and
8 WHEREAS, during Dr. Spikes' tenure as president of the University of Maryland-
9Eastern Shore, the Hytche Athletics Center and the Student Services Center were built; and
10 WHEREAS, President Bill Clinton named Dr. Spikes to his board of advisors on
11historically black colleges and universities in 1994; two years later, she was named vice
12chair of the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities; and
13 WHEREAS, Southern University System acting chancellor Flandus McClinton, Jr.,
14said upon learning of the death of Dr. Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes that she "was a
15shining star among the leaders of Southern University. She brought national acclaim to the
16university as she guided the Baton Rouge campus and the system through some of its most
17challenging times. She was beloved and respected by faculty, staff, students, and alumni
18during her tenure. She will be missed, but her legacy will live on. Southern University has
19truly lost a giant".
20 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
21extend sincerest and most heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and former colleagues
22upon the passing of Dr. Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes; does hereby express deepest
23sympathies at the eternal departure of this trailblazer in higher education; and does hereby
24offer prayers and hopes for comfort to those who mourn her passing.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
26to the family of Dr. Dolores Margaret Richard Spikes.
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HCR NO. 211
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 211 Original 2015 Regular Session Jackson
Expresses the condolences of the legislature upon the passing of Dr. Dolores Margaret
Richard Spikes, SU System president emeritus.
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