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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 137
BY SENATOR PETERSON
A RESOLUTION
To commend and congratulate Kenneth "Ken" and Gwendolyn "Gwen" Carter on fifty years
of marriage.
WHEREAS, in August 1961, Ken had the pleasure of meeting the young lady who
would become the very best thing that would ever happen to him, and
WHEREAS, while attending a statewide high school interscholastic event at
Southern University Ken had the pleasure of meeting the former Gwen Carter; and
WHEREAS, at the young and impressionable ages of seventeen and sixteen Ken and
Gwen made lingering impressions on each other; and
WHEREAS, the couple already shared the same last name, so it was inevitable that
the New Orleans natives entered into holy matrimony on May 15, 1965, at Saint Monica
Catholic Church in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, the two went on to become prominent figures politically, within the
business community, and among civic affairs; and
WHEREAS, Gwen was a leader in the tourism and travel industry in New Orleans,
having founded the Greater New Orleans Multi Cultural Tourism Network and the USA
Travel Agency; and
WHEREAS, she also was the owner of Cajun Mardi Gras and a Sunglass Hut housed
in Louis Armstrong International Airport; and
WHEREAS, Ken was sworn in on May 4, 1985, as the first African American elected
Tax Assessor in the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, he later became the first African American to serve as president of the
statewide Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, presently known as the Louisiana
Association for Justice; and
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WHEREAS, to their union three daughters were born, Tara Carter Hernandez, who
is married to D'Juan Hernandez, Senator Karen Carter Peterson who is married to Dana
Peterson, and Eileen Carter; and
WHEREAS, Ken and Gwen cherish the apples of their eyes, their three
grandchildren, Jessica, Christopher, and Aidan; and
WHEREAS, since Hurricane Katrina, Ken and Gwen have primarily resided in The
Bluffs in Saint Francisville, Louisiana, while maintaining a residence in their beloved
hometown of New Orleans.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend and congratulate Kenneth and Gwendolyn Carter on fifty years of
marriage and wish them many more years of marital bliss.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Mr.
and Mrs. Kenneth M. Carter.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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