SLS 15RS-594 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 146
BY SENATOR ALARIO
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Senator Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka on his distinguished
public service as a district attorney, judge, and senator.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka, State Senator, for his many years
3 of dedicated public service both as a statesman in the Legislature of Louisiana and
4 as an officer of the court and for his many outstanding contributions to the
5 betterment of the state of Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, during his tenure Senator Bob Kostelka has faithfully represented the
7 constituency of Senate District 35, which lies in the "heartland" of the state and composes
8 portions of Jackson, Lincoln, and Ouachita parishes in the north, sections of Winn and Grant
9 parishes, and Rapides Parish to the south; it comprises a culturally diverse cross-section of
10 the state that contains small towns, metropolitan cities, fertile farmland, waterways, and vast
11 forests; and
12 WHEREAS, when elected in 2003, Senator Bob Kostelka had perhaps the most
13 comprehensive legal background of any legislator in criminal law; previous to his election
14 to the Senate, Judge Kostelka had served in the judiciary system of north Louisiana as a
15 district attorney and assistant district attorney for Ouachita Parish, and then was elected to
16 the bench as a district judge presiding over the Fourth Judicial District Court and as an
17 appellate judge elected to the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Second Circuit; and
18 WHEREAS, born in Shreveport, Senator Kostelka attended Centenary College, then
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1 matriculated to Louisiana State University, and then graduated from LSU School of Law in
2 1957; he also received advanced prosecutory training at Northwestern University, School
3 of Law, in Chicago, Illinois; and
4 WHEREAS, he has affiliation credentials in several professional associations that
5 include Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, the American Bar Association, the Association of
6 Appellate Judges, the Louisiana Bar Association, and the Fourth District Bar Association;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, in addition to his keen interest in criminal procedure, Senator Kostelka
9 penned legislation that addresses child support, consumer protection, health care, election
10 reform, education, courts and judicial funding, taxation, and governmental ethics for public
11 officials and employees; and
12 WHEREAS, utilizing his expertise and interests, he garnered Senate assignments to
13 standing committees on Judiciary A as vice chairman, Judiciary C as chairman, Labor and
14 Industrial Relations, Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, Senate and Governmental Affairs,
15 Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and Retirement, and the Select Committee on
16 Vocational and Technical Education; and
17 WHEREAS, at home in Monroe, numerous civic and philanthropic organizations
18 have benefitted from his active participation, such as the Salvation Army as a three-time
19 chairman; for which he received the Citizen of the Year Award, Rotary International,
20 District 6190 as board member and treasurer, the Boy Scouts of America as scout master and
21 district chairman, the YMCA, the Arthritis Foundation, and the Muscular Dystrophy
22 Association acting as past campaign chairman for both nonprofits; and
23 WHEREAS, Bob married the former Felicia Marie Danna and as Mrs. Kostelka, she
24 is his helpmate in all things; Felicia accompanies her husband to the capitol during
25 legislative sessions and frequently attends committee meetings; she is his guiding light and
26 he is her rock; inseparable sweethearts for always; and
27 WHEREAS, as a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, Bob
28 serves his God as a witness to the power of his grace, as an elder of the church, and as a
29 Sunday School teacher; and
30 WHEREAS, Senator Robert Adley, a fellow colleague who has served alongside
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1 Senator Kostelka for twelve years, affectionately referred to him as "my lawyer"; when he
2 advised Senator Adley during debate on a compromise agreement; and
3 WHEREAS, President Andrew Jackson once wrote, "All the rights secured to the
4 citizens under the Constitution are worth nothing, and a mere bubble, except guaranteed to
5 them by an independent and virtuous judiciary"; and
6 WHEREAS, as Senator Bob Kostelka prepares to return to the private sector, he
7 deserves heartfelt acknowledgment for service on the bench as an officer of the court and
8 for those extraordinary strides he has taken to improve the function of state government
9 while serving as an exceptional member of the Louisiana Legislature.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
11 does hereby commend Senator Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka on his years of public service
12 dedicated to the citizens of this state and does hereby express the admiration and gratitude
13 of this body for his exemplary service to both the legislative and judiciary branches of state
14 government.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
16 Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka of Louisiana Senatorial District 35.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
SR 146 Original 2015 Regular Session Alario
Commends Senator Bob Kostelka on his years of dedicated public service.
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