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