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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 146
BY SENATORS ALARIO, ADLEY, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME, BROWN,
BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR, CORTEZ, CROWE,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JOHNS, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY, MILLS,
MORRELL, MORRISH, MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK, PERRY,
PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER,
THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka, State Senator, for his many years
of dedicated public service, both as a statesman in the Legislature of Louisiana and
as an officer of the court and for his many outstanding contributions to the
betterment of the state of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, during his tenure, Senator Bob Kostelka has faithfully represented the
constituency of Senate District No. 35, which lies in the heartland of the state and is
composed of portions of Jackson, Lincoln, and Ouachita parishes in the north, sections of
Winn and Grant parishes, and Rapides Parish in the south; it comprises a culturally diverse
cross section of the state that contains small towns, metropolitan cities, fertile farmland,
waterways, and vast forests; and
WHEREAS, when elected in 2003, Senator Bob Kostelka had perhaps the most
comprehensive legal background of any legislator in criminal law; prior to his election to the
Louisiana Senate, Judge Kostelka served in the judiciary system of North Louisiana as a
district attorney and assistant district attorney for Ouachita Parish, and then was elected to
the bench as a district judge presiding over the Fourth Judicial District Court and as an
appellate judge elected to the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Second Circuit; and
WHEREAS, born in Shreveport, Senator Kostelka attended Centenary College,
matriculated at Louisiana State University, and then graduated from LSU School of Law in
1957; he also received advanced prosecutory training at Northwestern University School of
Law, in Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, he has affiliation credentials in several professional associations that
include Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, the American Bar Association, the Association of
Appellate Judges, the Louisiana Bar Association, and the Fourth District Bar Association;
and
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WHEREAS, in addition to his keen interest in criminal procedure, Senator Kostelka
penned legislation that addresses child support, consumer protection, health care, election
reform, education, courts and judicial funding, taxation, and governmental ethics for public
officials and employees; and
WHEREAS, utilizing his expertise and interests, he garnered Senate assignments to
standing committees on Judiciary A as vice chairman, Judiciary C and Senate and
Governmental Affairs as chairman, Labor and Industrial Relations, Revenue and Fiscal
Affairs, Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and Retirement, and the Select
Committee on Vocational and Technical Education; and
WHEREAS, at home in Monroe, numerous civic and philanthropic organizations
have benefitted from his active participation, such as the Salvation Army as a three-time
chairman for which he received the Citizen of the Year Award; Rotary International, District
6190 as board member and treasurer; the Boy Scouts of America as scout master and district
chairman; the YMCA and the Arthritis Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association,
acting as past campaign chairman for both nonprofits; and
WHEREAS, Bob married the former Felicia Marie Danna and, as Mrs. Kostelka, she
is his helpmate in all things; Felicia accompanies her husband to the capitol during
legislative sessions and frequently attends committee meetings; she is his guiding light and
he is her rock, inseparable sweethearts for always; and
WHEREAS, as a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, Bob
serves his God as a witness to the power of his grace, as an elder of the church, and as a
Sunday school teacher; and
WHEREAS, Senator Robert Adley, a fellow colleague who has served alongside
Senator Kostelka for twelve years, affectionately referred to him as "my lawyer" when he
advised Senator Adley during debate on a compromise agreement; and
WHEREAS, President Andrew Jackson once wrote, "All the rights secured to the
citizens under the Constitution are worth nothing, and a mere bubble, except guaranteed to
them by an independent and virtuous judiciary"; and
WHEREAS, as Senator Bob Kostelka prepares to return to the private sector, he
deserves heartfelt acknowledgment for his service on the bench as an officer of the court and
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for those extraordinary strides he has taken to improve the function of state government
while serving as an exceptional member of the Louisiana Legislature.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Senator Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka on his years of dedicated public
service to the citizens of this state and does hereby express the admiration and gratitude of
this body for his exemplary service to both the legislative and judiciary branches of state
government.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka of Louisiana Senatorial District 35.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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