ENROLLED
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 151
BY REPRESENTATIVES ANDERS, ABRAHAM, ABRAMSON, AMEDEE, ARMES,
BACALA, BAGLEY, BAGNERIS, BARRAS, BERTHELOT, BILLIOT, BISHOP,
BOUIE, BROADWATER, CHAD BROWN, TERRY BROWN, CARMODY,
CARPENTER, GARY CARTER, ROBBY CARTER, STEVE CARTER, CHANEY,
CONNICK, COUSSAN, COX, CREWS, CROMER, DANAHAY, DAVIS,
DEVILLIER, DWIGHT, EDMONDS, EMERSON, FALCONER, FOIL,
FRANKLIN, GAINES, GAROFALO, GISCLAIR, GLOVER, GUINN, HALL,
JIMMY HARRIS, LANCE HARRIS, HAVARD, HAZEL, HENRY, HENSGENS,
HILFERTY, HILL, HODGES, HOFFMANN, HOLLIS, HORTON, HOWARD,
HUNTER, HUVAL, IVEY, JACKSON, JAMES, JEFFERSON, JENKINS,
JOHNSON, JONES, JORDAN, NANCY LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY, LEBAS,
LEGER, LEOPOLD, LYONS, MACK, MAGEE, MARCELLE, MARINO,
MCFARLAND, MIGUEZ, DUSTIN MILLER, GREGORY MILLER, MORENO,
JAY MORRIS, JIM MORRIS, NORTON, PEARSON, PIERRE, POPE, PRICE,
PUGH, PYLANT, REYNOLDS, RICHARD, SCHEXNAYDER, SCHRODER,
SEABAUGH, SHADOIN, SIMON, SMITH, STAGNI, STEFANSKI, STOKES,
TALBOT, THIBAUT, THOMAS, WHITE, AND ZERINGUE
A RESOLUTION
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Alan Ray "Al" Ater, who
formerly served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and
secretary of state.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Louisiana House of Representatives have learned of the death of Alan Ray "Al" Ater on
Sunday, May 21, 2017, at the age of sixty-three; and
WHEREAS, a native of Decatur, Illinois, and a longtime resident of Ferriday,
Louisiana, Mr. Ater was a respected and admired individual who made a tremendous impact
on this state; and
WHEREAS, Al Ater was born on December 15, 1953, as the youngest of the five
children of Donald Edward Ater and the former Ruth Lavonne Chapman; his family moved
to Louisiana, and he graduated in 1971 from Huntington High School in Ferriday, and then
attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches; and
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WHEREAS, first and foremost, Al Ater was a farmer and steward of the land; his
Lakeland Planting Company farmed corn, cotton, soybeans, and rice in several parishes of
northeast Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, Al Ater was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives,
where he served until 1992; he used every opportunity as an able and productive legislator
to serve the people of Catahoula, Concordia, and Tensas parishes and all of his fellow
citizens in an honorable and dedicated manner; and
WHEREAS, as the state representative for District No. 21, Mr. Ater served diligently
as a member of several committees, including the House Committee on Agriculture, the
House Committee on Enrollment, the House Committee on House and Governmental
Affairs, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on
Transportation, Highways and Public Works, of which he served as vice chairman; he also
served on the House Legislative Services Council; and
WHEREAS, opting not to run for reelection after his second term in the legislature,
Mr. Ater returned to the private sector; in 2001, he was named Secretary of State Fox
McKeithen's first assistant; he then worked as first deputy in the Department of Insurance
for a year before returning to the secretary of state's office; in 2005, following Mr.
McKeithen's death, Mr. Ater served as secretary of state; and
WHEREAS, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita struck the state while Mr. Ater
served in this office, and he was widely praised for his handling of complex election issues
in the aftermath of these historic storms; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, Mr. Ater was deservingly recognized for his accomplishments
and contributions as a public servant when he was inducted into the Louisiana Political
Museum and Hall of Fame, and the following year, he retired from public service in order
to focus on his primary passions of farming and family; and
WHEREAS, throughout the course of his life and career, Mr. Ater generously shared
his time, talents, and expertise through his work with the Louisiana Tourism Development
Commission, the Governor's Advisory Council on Disability Affairs, the Concordia Parish
Farm Bureau, Catalyst Energy in Vidalia, the Louisiana School Employees' Retirement
System, the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Second Injury Board, the International
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Association of Corporation Administrators, and the National Association of Secretaries of
State; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ater was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Edward and
Lavonne Ater, and his sister, Kay Ater Goeggle; he is survived by his wife of thirty-two
years, Susie Beard Ater; his children, Whitney Lauren Ater, Thomas Ater, and Elliott Ater;
his grandsons, Soren Riker, Kai Riker, and Benton Ater; his granddaughters, Maya Fuentes
and Graciela Fuentes; his siblings, Donald Ater, Lynette Ater Tanner, and Edward Ater; and
numerous nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, the death of Mr. Ater has left a great void and created a genuine sense
of sorrow in all who knew him, including the members of the House family, all of whom
mourn the loss of this wonderful man who served his state and this institution so well; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ater will never be forgotten, leaves a rich and unique legacy, and
is greatly missed by the many citizens whose lives he touched.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the
death of Alan Ray "Al" Ater; does hereby recognize and record for posterity his notable
accomplishments and singular contributions during his eight-year tenure as a member of the
Louisiana House of Representatives and his distinguished service as secretary of state; and
does hereby extend enduring appreciation for this wonderful man who will forever bring
pride and honor to his family, his community, and his state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Al Ater.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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