2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 25
BY SENATORS PEACOCK, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP,
BOUDREAUX, BROWN, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR,
COLOMB, CORTEZ, DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI,
HEWITT, JOHNS, LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU,
MARTINY, MILKOVICH, MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE AND
REPRESENTATIVE CARMODY
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of
businesswoman and former Louisiana State Senator, the Honorable Virginia Ruth
Kilpatrick Shehee, and to commend the legacy of public service she leaves to the
people of her community, state, and nation.
WHEREAS, Virginia Shehee passed peacefully from this life on July 6, 2015, less
than one week from her ninety-second birthday; she was a living legend in Shreveport and
a gentlewoman of abundant social grace and civic acumen; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Shehee was a classic lady as well known for her cultural
endeavors as her quick wit and contagious smile; she possessed an innate self-confidence,
pursued many interests, and supported numerous issues and institutions that were very close
to her heart; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Virginia Shehee was an astute business leader in the Ark-La-Tex
region who acted as president and CEO of Kilpatrick Life Insurance and Rose-Neath Funeral
Homes and Cemeteries, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, her exposure to politics began while still a teenager when she spent her
summers employed as a secretary for future governor, Jimmie H. Davis; they shared an
enduring friendship and, years later, she would support the adoption of "You Are My
Sunshine" as the official state song; and
WHEREAS, having served a single term representing Senate District 38 from
1976-1980, Senator Shehee made history as the first woman to serve in the Louisiana Senate
elected on her own merit who did not succeed her spouse; she focused on worthy issues such
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as right-to-work, improved parish roads, and funding for the arts; and even after her tenure
in the Senate, her door remained open to her constituents and any aspiring politicians who
sought her counsel; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Shehee continued to provide expertise in other facets of state
government as a member of the Transition Team on Higher Education for governors Buddy
Roemer and Mike Foster, as cochair of the Transition Committee on Ethics for Governor
Bobby Jindal, as a member of the Louisiana Governor's Mansion Foundation Board of
Directors, and with service on the Judicial Council of the Louisiana Supreme Court; and
WHEREAS, born in Houston, Texas, and reared in Shreveport, Louisiana, Virginia
Shehee was an involved participant in the betterment of Caddo Parish which was enhanced
by ties to her alma maters, C. E. Byrd High School and Centenary College, her family
businesses, and her interests in the arts, education, historic preservation, government,
medical research, economic growth, humanities, and charitable organizations; very few
activities escaped her attention and influence; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Shehee supported numerous causes, in particular, entities
unique to Shreveport such as the Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana State Fair and its
Junior Livestock Show, and the historic preservation of the Strand Theatre, Oakland
Cemetery, and other historic architecture; and
WHEREAS, as an alumna of Centenary College with receipt of a bachelor of art's
degree in English, 1943, an Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2002, and election to its Alumni Hall
of Fame, 1973, Virginia Shehee was honored to serve as a lifetime member of the Board of
Trustees, to witness the addition to the campus of Shehee Stadium and Kilpatrick
Auditorium, and to encourage two generations of her family members to attend this
prestigious institution; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Shehee received honorary degrees and designations from many
state universities; she served on the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors and was
named to the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction; and at LSU-Shreveport she established an
endowed academic chair for Insurance and Financial Service and was named a Distinguished
Business Executive on Campus; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Shehee was well ahead of her time, a trailblazer who broke
through "glass ceilings" in business, government, and community development and
established new precedents as the first woman to become a member of the Omicron Delta
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Kappa honor society, to receive the Community Council Special Humanitarian Award for
Outstanding Service and the Clyde E. Fant Memorial Award for Community Service, and
to be named Business Leader of the Year by the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and
"Mr. Shreveport" by the Optimist Club; and
WHEREAS, in the healthcare community she served as chairman emeritus of the
Biomedical Research Center Foundation of Northwestern Louisiana, where its research
institute was named for Mrs. Shehee in honorable recognition of her tireless guidance and
years of service as its most outstanding volunteer; she was also cited by the Shreveport
Medical Society with receipt of the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement
of Medicine; and she garnered similar awards from the March of Dimes and the Arthritis
Foundation; and
WHEREAS, under her tutelage, Kilpatrick Life Insurance became the largest
domestic life insurer in Louisiana; she served as chairman of the Life Insurers Conference,
Louisiana Insurers Conference, Louisiana Life Insurance Guarantee Association, and as a
board member of the American Council of Life Insurance; and
WHEREAS, economic growth was foremost on her mind to improve the status quo
of northwest Louisiana, and Virginia lent her business savvy to promote the lofty goals of
the Shreveport Committee of One Hundred, Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal, the
Council For a Better Louisiana, and the Louisiana Committee of 100 for Economic
Development; and
WHEREAS, her strong commitment to community spanned cultural, civic, and
academic spheres and was beneficial to multitudes in a myriad of ways; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Shehee was a fervent supporter of the United States Armed
Services and felt privileged to serve on the Board of Trustees for the National D-Day
Museum in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, Senator Shehee was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame
in 2004 and was named a Living Legend by the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting
in 2006; and
WHEREAS, as a person of deep religious conviction, Virginia served as senior
warden in St. Paul Episcopal Church and she humbly received the Benemerenti Medal
bestowed by Pope John Paul II and presented by Bishop William Friend of the Catholic
Diocese of Shreveport for outstanding community service; and
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WHEREAS, for her generosity and vision, she received a host of awards and honors
far too numerous to count; and
WHEREAS, one of her most cherished honors was receipt of the Mary Johnston
Award for Outstanding Service from the Gardens of the American Rose Society; her mother,
Nell Peters Kilpatrick, was instrumental in its establishment in Shreveport; and
WHEREAS, while she was humbled by the accolades she received throughout her
lifetime, she was most proud of her children and her family's contributions to the betterment
of the community; and
WHEREAS, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, William Peyton
Shehee Jr., and is survived by her son, Andrew Michael; daughters, Ann Shane Shehee,
Nell Elizabeth S. Kramer, and Margaret Scott S. Cole; her grandchildren, and a host of
extended family and close friends; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Shehee was a great lady who will be sorely missed by her
community and state and will always be remembered for her love of family, travel, literature,
animals, many passions in life, and accomplishments that were achieved by her own hand
which resulted in a most fascinating and distinguished life.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
extend heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Virginia Ruth Kilpatrick Shehee,
wife, mother, businesswoman, legislator, community leader, volunteer, Christian, patron,
humanitarian, and philanthropist who set an extraordinary standard of graciousness and good
citizenship for all to emulate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to her
son, Andrew Michael Shehee and daughters, Ann Shane Shehee, Nell Elizabeth S. Kramer,
and Margaret Scott S. Cole.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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