2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 98
BY SENATOR BROWN
A RESOLUTION
To commend and recognize the achievements of Jinel J. Sawyer Sr., including his service
to his state and his country, on the occasion of his retirement.
WHEREAS, Jinel J. Sawyer Sr. was born on November 24, 1953, in New Orleans,
Louisiana, to Sam and Flora Bell Sawyer, the fourth of eight children; and
WHEREAS, he is married to Shaun Ross Sawyer and they have two children, Renata
Renee and Jinel Jr., one grandson, De'Quincey Gipson, and one adopted daughter, Taylor
Schonberg Sawyer; and
WHEREAS, Jinel J. Sawyer Sr. was educated in the Assumption Public School
System, graduating from Assumption High School in 1971; graduated from Spencer
Business College in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1972 with an associate degree in Business
Administration; attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, and the
University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana, majoring in Business
Administration; and graduated from Federated Tax School in Chicago, Illinois, in 1995; and
WHEREAS, his first job was as an eight-year old lawn/farm hand; then as a
newspaper boy at twelve, selling the Grit newspaper and The Louisiana Weekly; worked
from twelve to seventeen as a stock clerk and gas attendant at Cedar Grove General
Merchandise; and at age nineteen was assistant manager at Johnson Enterprise, a chain of
convenience stores in New Orleans, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Jinel J. Sawyer Sr. served in the United States Air Force for four years,
from 1972-1976 attaining the rank of E4, Sergeant, his military career beginning in 1972 at
Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, where he went through his basic training, and
after basic training he attended printer systems operator training school at Good Fellow Air
Force Base in San Angelo, Texas; he was later stationed at Kelly Air Force Base, San
Antonio, Texas; and Karamursel, Turkey; and while at Kelly Air Force Base, went on
temporary duty assignments to Anchorage, Alaska; Osaka, Japan; Manila, Philippines; and
Honolulu, Hawaii; and
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WHEREAS, from 1978 to 1990, he worked various management and supervisor
positions in fast food and petroleum chemical industries, including Church's Fried Chicken,
Morton Salt, and Penrod Oil Offshore Division; and
WHEREAS, Jinel J. Sawyer Sr. worked in the 1990 and 2000 Census as an
enumerator and from 1990 to 2016 served the United States Postal Service as a rural carrier
in Donaldsonville, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, he is a registered Independent leaning strong towards the values of the
Democratic Party and has worked in numerous local, state, and national elections since 1978
in voter registration projects and getting out the vote; and
WHEREAS, Jinel J. Sawyer Sr. is a lifelong member of St. Mark Baptist Church in
Labadieville, Louisiana; was ordained as a deacon in 1984 at Good Hope Baptist Church in
Jeanerette, Louisiana; and is currently serving nine years as Chair Deacon and Trustee at St.
Mark Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, he is a former member of Assumption Parish Chapter of the NAACP,
a current member of the National Rural Letter Carrier Association, and a current member
of Raymond Stafford Post 513 American Legion in Thibodaux, Louisiana, having served as
financial officer from 1997 to 2013.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend and recognize the achievements of Jinel J. Sawyer Sr., including his
service to his state and his country, on the occasion of his retirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Jinel
J. Sawyer Sr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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