2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 11
BY SENATOR CROWE AND REPRESENTATIVE CROMER
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To congratulate Willard and Inez LeBlanc Hunt upon the occasion of their seventieth
wedding anniversary.
WHEREAS, late in 1944, with the nation in the grip of World War II and most young
men and many young women actively engaged in the effort to win the war in both Europe
and the Pacific, Willard Hunt was granted leave from his service overseas; and
WHEREAS, in Port Arthur, Texas, this young airman and instrument technician
walked into a birthday party and saw a classmate from high school whom he had not seen
for four years; and
WHEREAS, Inez LeBlanc was attending that party and, when she and Willard saw
each other that night, they began a beautiful romance that has endured for more than seventy
years; and
WHEREAS, only six weeks after the birthday party, the young couple were married
at their minister's home with a few guests in attendance, and Inez remembers that her mother
brought the flowers for her to carry during the ceremony; and
WHEREAS, after the ceremony, the newlyweds, considering that the country was
at war, decided to forego a wedding dinner or reception and, instead, they went out to a local
restaurant for a hamburger; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, relieved that Willard was not being sent back
overseas, began their marriage adventure with a trip in their Model A Ford to Willard's new
air corps assignment at Muroc Air Base, now Edwards Air Force Base, in the California
desert; and
WHEREAS, the trek from Port Arthur to near Lancaster, California, took seven days
at the steady pace of thirty-five miles per hour and the couple stayed in motor courts along
the way, including the last part of their trip along the now historic Route 66; and
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WHEREAS, once they arrived at the base, Willard reported for duty and the couple
moved into a small apartment above a store on Route 66 about five miles from the base; and
WHEREAS, the theme of a rustic life continued for the Hunts as their apartment had
an outdoor latrine and the hot water heater had to be lit each time someone wanted a hot
shower; and
WHEREAS, the couple managed to take the living conditions in stride and, in the
face of the rationing of many foodstuffs in order to support the war effort, the Hunts were
ingenious in solving their shortages, particularly the limited amount of meat available; and
WHEREAS, Willard soon learned that his lovely bride was a crack shot with a
twenty-two caliber rifle and the couple would drive out to the uninhabited desert areas and
Inez would shoot rabbits, quail, and doves for their meals; and
WHEREAS, the Hunts had a good laugh years later when they learned that their
"hunting grounds" were actually a game reserve; and
WHEREAS, Willard Hunt remained in the Air Force, as the Army Air Corps was
eventually renamed, for twenty years before retiring and Inez worked at the post office until
their daughters were born; and
WHEREAS, after retiring from the military, Mr. Hunt worked for several companies
involved in technology development and his work took the family throughout the United
States and to England; and
WHEREAS, the Hunts are the very proud parents of three daughters:
Sherry Robertson, Susan Daniel, and Kay Hunt, and enjoy the company of their seven
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, the Hunts, with their pride in the scholarly achievements of their
children and grandchildren obvious, mention that all of their daughters and all of their
grandchildren went to college; and
WHEREAS, in celebration of their seventieth anniversary, the Hunt's daughters
hosted a dinner party with family and friends from church and computer club, and these
many friends shared an evening filled with the telling of many stories and much laughter;
and
WHEREAS, when queried about the secret to their successful marriage, Inez replied
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that the couple never walked out on an argument or stayed mad at each other, but instead
worked through all their disagreements; and
WHEREAS, while a marriage that endures into its eighth decade is a rarity in today's
society, the Hunts partially attribute their many years of a rewarding marriage to two
decisions they made early in their lives together, which were a general agreement as to how
to raise their children and an agreement never to fight about money; and
WHEREAS, surrounded by their loving family and friends at their anniversary
celebration, Inez and Willard Hunt shared stories, memories, and laughter, perhaps the true
secret to the happiness and longevity of their marriage.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
congratulate Willard and Inez LeBlanc Hunt upon the celebration of more than seventy years
of marriage.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Mr. and Mrs. Willard Hunt.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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