SLS 17RS-801 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 52
BY SENATOR WARD
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences on the passing of Lawrence J. "Football"
Badeaux.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the passing of
3 Lawrence J. "Football" Badeaux, former mayor and town clerk of the village of
4 Rosedale, Louisiana, and to celebrate the rich legacy of public service and
5 accomplishment that he leaves to his community and state.
6 WHEREAS, it is with great admiration and civic pride that the late Lawrence J.
7 "Football" Badeaux is recognized as the longest serving public official in Louisiana, having
8 held the positions of mayor, town clerk, port commissioner, and notary public, with over
9 sixty years of service; and
10 WHEREAS, Lawrence J. Badeaux possessed a keen sense of fairness, hard work, and
11 civic dedication; he won the confidence of the voters and the respect of local leaders to serve
12 as the town clerk of Rosedale for seventeen years, its mayor for twenty-eight years, and
13 maintenance supervisor for the municipal public works department for six years; and
14 WHEREAS, his diligence brought to fruition numerous municipal projects such as
15 city planning, public utilities, drainage, and the construction of a new Rosedale branch of
16 the Iberville Parish Library; and
17 WHEREAS, Lawrence J. Badeaux never entertained an idle moment; his enthusiasm
18 for life and work was palpable; he was a dynamo of energy; and his effervescence and kind
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1 nature charmed all who met him; and
2 WHEREAS, Mr. Badeaux served as a member and president of the Louisiana Port
3 Commission for sixteen years, as a member of the Louisiana Asset Management Pool for
4 fifteen years, as a board member and customer relations representative for the Louisiana
5 Municipal Association (LMA) in risk management for twenty-four years, and as a notary
6 public for over fifty years; and
7 WHEREAS, Lawrence J. "Football" Badeaux was born on September 8, 1931, to
8 parents Marecelin and Emily Badeaux in Grosse Tete and grew up on the property now
9 known as Angelloz Plantation; and
10 WHEREAS, his diligent work ethic began in his youth with selling newspapers,
11 earning enough money to purchase his first vehicle, a Ford Model-A truck; and he would
12 later have a successful career in sales and own two grocery stores; and
13 WHEREAS, Lawrence Badeaux served his country in the United States Navy during
14 the Korean Conflict and achieved the rank of Machinist's Mate Petty Officer, First Class; and
15 WHEREAS, as a man of unfaltering faith, he was a longtime member of St. Joseph
16 Catholic Church and was a Fourth Degree and Charter Grand Knight of J. D. Amedee
17 Council No. 12068 of the Knights of Columbus; and
18 WHEREAS, the love of his life was Thelma Becnel Badeaux, and they were married
19 sixty-three years at the time of his passing; together they celebrated a life of devotion to each
20 other; their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, eighteen grandchildren, and
21 eighteen great-grandchildren; and
22 WHEREAS, Lawrence wrote his autobiography entitled, "Just Call Him Football",
23 a book that recalled the origin of his nickname; as a youngster of slight stature, his older
24 classmates took pleasure in tossing him in the air like a "football"; and
25 WHEREAS, Lawrence J. "Football" Badeaux was an extraordinary gentleman who
26 clearly demonstrated during his lifetime his dedication to his family, community, state, and
27 nation; and
28 WHEREAS, upon his death on March 24, 2017, the state of Louisiana lost a unique
29 individual who left an indelible mark upon his community and the lives of all those who
30 knew and loved him; and who unselfishly dedicated his life to public service and the
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1 betterment of others.
2 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
3 express sincere condolences upon the passing of Lawrence J. "Football" Badeaux and does
4 hereby pay tribute to his remarkable legacy of public service.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
6 widow, Mrs. Thelma B. Badeaux.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 52 Original 2017 Regular Session Ward
Expresses condolences upon the passing of Lawrence J. "Football" Badeaux.
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