2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 104
BY SENATORS NEVERS, ALARIO, DONAHUE, ERDEY AND W HITE
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Honorable Gordon Burgess, Tangipahoa Parish President, for his years of
meritorious public service to the citizens of Tangipahoa Parish, the state of
Louisiana, and the nation, and to recognize his many accomplishments.
WHEREAS, it is with great admiration that Gordon Burgess is considered "the face
of Tangipahoa Parish" having served eight terms as parish president; as a well-respected
pacesetter within the Florida Parishes, his leadership, fiscal responsibility, and foresight have
accelerated economic growth and his realignment of local agencies has produced a more
efficient delivery of essential services; and
WHEREAS, the extraordinary efforts of Gordon Burgess have propelled the parish
forward with highway network expansion, drainage improvements, fire protection, libraries,
health units, and new governmental facilities; and
WHEREAS, these enhancements were based upon solid conservative management
principles of careful budgeting, resourceful planning, hard work, and a constant focus on the
objective at hand; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Burgess was elected as the first parish president in 1986 when
the police jury system was replaced with a home rule charter; he has fulfilled his election
promise, which was to make local government more viable, accountable, and transparent;
and
WHEREAS, he introduced innovative fiscal methods such as "Pay As You Go", a
financial plan, which was almost unheard of in government, to reduce bond indebtedness and
to capture state and federal monies to fund major infrastructure improvements, highway
resurfacing, bridge repair, railroad safety, tourism, and emergency preparedness; and
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WHEREAS, best known for his "can do" attitude, Gordon Burgess has served as
either chairman or member of the State Board of Commerce and Industry, the Pontchartrain
Causeway Commission, the Police Jury Association, the Zachary Taylor Parkway
Association, the Louisiana Federal Property Advisory Board, Parishes Against Coastal
Erosion, the Amite Rotary Club, the Hammond, Ponchatoula, and Amite chambers of
commerce, and the Louisiana Cattlemen's Association; and
WHEREAS, in 1982, during the administration of Governor David C. Treen, he was
appointed as chairman of the Louisiana State Racing Commission; under his leadership, the
commission regained its credibility and respectability when Burgess led the fight to secure
funding for a Louisiana State Police investigative unit assigned to the horse racing industry,
and his other reforms improved racetrack safety for both horses and jockeys; and
WHEREAS, often the mettle of man is tested under the most horrific circumstances;
in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Gordon Burgess exemplified self-reliance, altruism,
and dedication; he took command of recovery efforts at the Emergency Operations Center,
and he lived on the premises for one month, not to return home until the parish had regained
a measurable portion of basic services and utilities; and
WHEREAS, it is said that behind every great man is an even greater woman;
Margaret Morgan Burgess, his wife of sixty-one years, stood by his side through this crisis,
cooking two meals per day for volunteers and emergency responders while Gordon worked
out the logistics of acquisition and distribution of supplies to those in need; they faced this
struggle like any other, together as a team; and
WHEREAS, his diligence has brought to fruition numerous projects such as the
Florida Parishes Arena, two additional parish health units, animal control facilities,
award-winning environmental landfill management, Smart 911, housing assistance, and
enhanced law enforcement capabilities; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Burgess is most content when he is "working for the people",
no matter what that undertaking may be; fellow public servants seek his counsel on difficult
issues of the day, and Gordon remains a patient mentor for novice statesmen to foster their
interest in government and to school them on the finer points of diplomacy; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Burgess honorably served his country assigned to a Nike
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Missile installation while in the United States Army and also served four years on active
reserve status in the Louisiana National Guard; and
WHEREAS, Gordon and Margaret are active members of the First Baptist Church
in Independence where he serves as deacon and she serves in the music ministry; and the
couple was honored to be chosen to reign as Oyster King and Oyster Pearl at the 2013 Amite
Oyster Festival; and
WHEREAS, his qualities of tenacity, energy, compassion, sincerity, and generosity
of spirit have served him well in public life; after thirty-two years, Gordon Burgess still
maintains the trust and respect of his staff, colleagues, and constituency; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Burgess exemplifies all the finest qualities of a proficient,
parochial government leader who continuously pursues the best interests of those he serves;
his effective leadership and exemplary accomplishments are reflected in the economic
prosperity and well-being that the parish now enjoys.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Parish President Gordon Burgess on his performance of invaluable
public service for the grateful citizens of Tangipahoa Parish, the state of Louisiana, and the
nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby express its sincerest appreciation for his lifetime of dedication and leadership and
sincerely extends best wishes for success and happiness in the next chapter of his life.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Honorable Gordon Burgess, president of Tangipahoa Parish.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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