HLS 16RS-3636 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 116
BY REPRESENTATIVES MARCELLE, STEVE CARTER, AND FOIL
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of Maury Drummond
1 A RESOLUTION
2To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of former
3 director of the Louisiana Naval War Memorial and the U.S.S. Kidd Veterans
4 Memorial and Museum, Maury Drummond.
5 WHEREAS, the members of the House were saddened to learn of the death on
6Sunday, May 1, 2016, of Maury Drummond; and
7 WHEREAS, for twenty-two years at the helm of the Louisiana Naval War Memorial
8and the U.S.S. Kidd Veterans Memorial and Museum, Mr. Drummond implemented
9programs and exhibits that lured tourists to Baton Rouge, making the Kidd the gold standard
10for ship exhibits; and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. Drummond's love of history and interest in model ship building led
12him from the insurance industry to his first post as second executive director of the
13museums, and once there, Mr. Drummond convinced veterans to donate their memorabilia
14and model makers to share their scaled-down ships, bringing vitality and viability to the
15exhibits; and
16 WHEREAS, naval groups in Washington were prompted by Mr. Drummond to help
17plan the walk-through reconstruction of the U.S.S. Constitution, and he put his promotional
18skills to good use, finding sponsors to help pay for new museum offerings; and
19 WHEREAS, such innovative ideas as allowing children to spend the night aboard the
20Kidd, families celebrating Independence Day aboard the ship, and prevailing upon veterans
21of naval destroyers to visit the exhibits and to reminisce were developed and implemented
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HR NO. 116
1by Mr. Drummond and greatly increased the visitor traffic to the U.S.S. Kidd and the
2Louisiana Naval War Memorial; and
3 WHEREAS, a consummate fundraiser, Mr. Drummond convinced the captains and
4curators of other ships to visit Baton Rouge: the nineteenth century sailing ship Elissa graced
5the Mississippi waters near the U.S.S. Kidd, and a reproduction of Christopher Columbus's
6Pinta and more modern vessels sailed into Baton Rouge; these exhibits increased ticket sales
7and allowed the memorial, which received no state funding, to stay in operation; and
8 WHEREAS, the staff of the museums recall Mr. Drummond as the heart of the
9memorial; his departure at the age of seventy-four leaves a profound sense of sadness but
10his years as director will be fondly remembered by all who knew and loved him.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
12Legislature of Louisiana does hereby extend deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and
13former colleagues of Maury Drummond and does hereby express hopes that his legacy will
14live on.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
16to the family of Maury Drummond.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 116 Original 2016 Regular Session Marcelle
Expresses sympathy upon the death of former La. Naval War Memorial and U.S.S. Kidd
director Maury Drummond.
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