SLS 15RS-38 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 38
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
CONDOLENCES. Extends the Louisiana Legislature's condolences on the death of former
state Senator Erle Edwards Barham.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana to the family of former
3 state Senator Erle Edwards Barham upon his death.
4 WHEREAS, Erle Edwards Barham was a native son of Oak Ridge, Louisiana, born
5 July 10, 1937, and lived in Oak Ridge throughout his life; and
6 WHEREAS, Erle Edwards Barham graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1955
7 and then began his studies at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical
8 College where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and earned his bachelor's
9 degree; and
10 WHEREAS, Edwards Barham ran successful farm operations in both Louisiana and
11 Mississippi for most of his life, and served as a member of the Louisiana Cotton Producers
12 Association Inc., the Northeast Louisiana Rice Growers Association Inc., and was past
13 president of the Morehouse Parish Farm Bureau; and
14 WHEREAS, Edwards Barham was very interested in education and ultimately
15 became the only member of a higher education board who served on the Board of Regents,
16 the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and the Board of
17 Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, serving as the chairman of each of those
18 boards; and
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SLS 15RS-38 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, he also served from 1976 to 1980 in the Louisiana State Senate, always
2 working for a higher quality of life for all of the citizens of the state, and becoming the first
3 Republican elected to hold a state Senate seat since reconstruction; and
4 WHEREAS, Edwards was a successful businessman, a certified flight instructor and
5 an accomplished farmer, known for his conservation concerns and appointed by President
6 Richard Nixon to head a White House conservation initiative; and
7 WHEREAS, he also served as the chairman of the board of the Bank of Oak Ridge,
8 served on the board of commissioners of the Morehouse General Hospital, and was a
9 member and past president of the Oak Ridge Lions Club; and
10 WHEREAS, Edwards was also a very active member of the Masons and served as
11 the past master of the Brookville Masonic Lodge Number 161 and on the executive
12 committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana; and
13 WHEREAS, he also returned to college later in life and earned a master's degree in
14 ornithology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, previously known as Northeast
15 Louisiana State College; and
16 WHEREAS, Edwards is cherished and will be dearly missed by his wife of fifty-six
17 years, Bennie Faye; his children, Ben Edwards Barham II and wife Bonnie, Erle West
18 Barham and wife Trudy, Robert Berry Barham and wife Camille, and Amy Barham
19 Westbrook and husband Scott; and his two brothers, Thomas West Barham and Robert
20 Jocelyn Barham.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
22 extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the family of former state Senator Erle
23 Edwards Barham for the immeasurable loss they have suffered with the passing of such a
24 compassionate and giving man who was known as a gifted story teller, historian, and true
25 southern gentleman.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
27 family of former state Senator Erle Edwards Barham.
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SLS 15RS-38 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
SCR 38 Original 2015 Regular Session Walsworth
Expresses condolences upon the death of former state Senator Erle Edwards Barham.
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