2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 38
BY SENATORS WALSWORTH, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL,
BROOME, BROWN, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR,
CORTEZ, CROWE, DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY,
GALLOT, GUILLORY, HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA,
LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY, MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH,
MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK, PERRY, PETERSON, RISER,
GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER, THOMPSON, WARD AND
WHITE AND REPRESENTATIVE CHANEY
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana to the family of former
state Senator Erle Edwards Barham upon his death.
WHEREAS, Erle Edwards Barham was a native son of Oak Ridge, Louisiana, born
July 10, 1937, and lived in Oak Ridge throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, Erle Edwards Barham graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1955
and then began his studies at Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical
College where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and earned his bachelor's
degree; and
WHEREAS, Edwards Barham ran successful farm operations in both Louisiana and
Mississippi for most of his life, and served as a member of the Louisiana Cotton Producers
Association Inc., the Northeast Louisiana Rice Growers Association Inc., and was past
president of the Morehouse Parish Farm Bureau; and
WHEREAS, Edwards Barham was very interested in education and ultimately
became the only member of a higher education board who served on the Board of Regents,
the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and the Board of
Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, serving as the chairman of each of those
boards; and
WHEREAS, he also served from 1976 to 1980 in the Louisiana State Senate, always
working for a higher quality of life for all of the citizens of the state, and becoming the first
Republican elected to hold a state Senate seat since reconstruction; and
Page 1 of 2 SCR NO. 38 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Edwards was a successful businessman, a certified flight instructor and
an accomplished farmer, known for his conservation concerns and appointed by President
Richard Nixon to head a White House conservation initiative; and
WHEREAS, he also served as the chairman of the board of the Bank of Oak Ridge,
served on the board of commissioners of the Morehouse General Hospital, and was a
member and past president of the Oak Ridge Lions Club; and
WHEREAS, Edwards was also a very active member of the Masons and served as
the past master of the Brookville Masonic Lodge Number 161 and on the executive
committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, he also returned to college later in life and earned a master's degree in
ornithology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, previously known as Northeast
Louisiana State College; and
WHEREAS, Edwards is cherished and will be dearly missed by his wife of fifty-six
years, Bennie Faye; his children, Ben Edwards Barham II and wife Bonnie, Erle West
Barham and wife Trudy, Robert Berry Barham and wife Camille, and Amy Barham
Westbrook and husband Scott; and his two brothers, Thomas West Barham and Robert
Jocelyn Barham.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the family of former state Senator Erle
Edwards Barham for the immeasurable loss they have suffered with the passing of such a
compassionate and giving man who was known as a gifted story teller, historian, and true
southern gentleman.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of former state Senator Erle Edwards Barham.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 2 of 2