SLS 16RS-47 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 45
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of attorney and former state
senator, Joe C. LeSage Jr.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the passing of the
3 Honorable Joe C. LeSage Jr., jurist, civic leader, and former state senator and to
4 commend the legacy of public service that he leaves to the community of Shreveport
5 and the state of Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that the Legislature of Louisiana has learned of
7 the death of Joe C. LeSage Jr., a distinguished gentleman, legal counsel, civic leader,
8 legislator, and former chairman of the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors, who
9 passed from this life on September 22, 2015, just short of his eighty-seventh birthday; and
10 WHEREAS, Joe LeSage Jr. was a true southern gentleman with an engaging
11 demeanor who through diligence and hard work experienced success in nearly every
12 endeavor; and
13 WHEREAS, Joseph Carnahan LeSage was reared in Homer in Claiborne Parish, the
14 only child born to Joe Sr. and Avalyn Taylor LeSage; and
15 WHEREAS, in high school Joe excelled in both academics and athletics; he enrolled
16 at Louisiana State University and attained a Bachelor of Science degree in commerce; he
17 played quarterback for the LSU Fighting Tigers in 1948 and lettered in the sports of football,
18 track, and golf; and
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SLS 16RS-47 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, in 1952, Joe graduated with a Jurist Doctorate from the Paul M. Hebert
2 Law Center at LSU, was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor
3 Society and Gamma Eta Gamma Law Fraternity, and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar; and
4 WHEREAS, during the Korean Conflict he enlisted in the United States Army, was
5 attached to the Ordnance Corps in weapons procurement, and also served in the Judge
6 Advocate General (JAG) Corps as counsel; and he was attached to the Department of
7 Defense and stationed at The Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; and
8 WHEREAS, after honorable discharge from military service, Joe LeSage began his
9 law practice in earnest and soon advanced to partner in a prestigious firm that would become
10 known as Booth, Lockard, Politz, and LeSage; and
11 WHEREAS, Joe LeSage was a well-respected trial attorney involved in civil and
12 criminal litigation; his depth of legal knowledge and expertise led to his induction into the
13 LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center Hall of Fame; and
14 WHEREAS, his professional affiliations included the Louisiana Trial Lawyers
15 Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; and
16 WHEREAS, Joe LeSage Jr. acted as an integral part of the community willingly
17 donating his time and talent to all manner of civic, social, and religious pursuits; and
18 WHEREAS, Joe LeSage Jr. served one term from 1968 until 1972 in the Louisiana
19 State Senate elected from the First District; his legislative committee assignments included
20 the Senate committees on Education as vice chairman, Finance, and Judiciary B, and he
21 served as a member of the Louisiana Legislative Council; and
22 WHEREAS, his philanthropy was boundless and he held longtime affiliation with
23 Holiday in Dixie, Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors, Inc., the Shreveport Sports Foundation, the
24 Metropolitan Board, and the YMCA; and
25 WHEREAS, LSU held an extraordinary place in his heart and the university system
26 benefitted from his guidance in a myriad of ways, including two separate appointments to
27 the LSU Board of Supervisors from 1956 until 1968 and again from 1992 until 1998 with
28 the distinction of being the youngest member ever appointed at twenty-seven years of age;
29 he served as its chairman from 1964 until 1966; and perhaps his most profound influence
30 was the establishment of two renowned institutions of higher learning, LSU-Shreveport and
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1 the LSU Medical School at Shreveport, now known as the LSU Health Science Center
2 Shreveport; and
3 WHEREAS, this singular vision of Joe LeSage Jr. was the genesis of what is now
4 an intricate health research complex that serves the health care needs of the Ark-La-Tex
5 region, provides educational opportunities in every specialty, and trains future generations
6 of medical professionals; and
7 WHEREAS, as a humble servant of God and a man of unfaltering faith, Joe LeSage
8 was a member of the Broadmoor Baptist Church for over fifty years; and
9 WHEREAS, in his twilight years Joe C. LeSage Jr. expressed a contentment with the
10 milestones and achievements in life, his enduring friendships, his family ties, and his faith
11 in God; looking back, Joe was quite satisfied with his book of life - his bucket list was
12 complete; and
13 WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Sherry Anne LeSage, and
14 survived by the love of his life, Dolores F. LeSage, his wife of thirty-five years, daughters
15 Susan Virginia LeSage, Deborah Word Jackson, and Sondra Word Jordan; extended family,
16 and dear friends; and
17 WHEREAS, Joe C. LeSage Jr. was a individual of great strength and intellect, a
18 gracious man devoted to public service who has left an indelible mark on the city of
19 Shreveport and the state of Louisiana, who envisioned its potential for economic growth, and
20 who managed his challenges with zeal and candor tempered with immense love of family
21 and compassion for his fellow man.
22 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
23 express its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the Honorable Joe C. LeSage
24 Jr., jurist, civic leader, and former Louisiana state senator.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
26 celebrate his extraordinary life and commend the rich legacy that Joe C. LeSage Jr. leaves
27 to the benefit of future generations and acknowledges a life well-spent in the service to his
28 country, his community, his state, and his God.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
30 daughter, Susan Virginia LeSage.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 45 Original 2016 Regular Session Peacock
Expresses condolences upon the passing of Joe C. LeSage Jr. of Shreveport.
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