2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 9
BY SENATORS JOHNS, MORRISH AND JOHN SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVES
ABRAHAM, DANAHAY, DWIGHT, FRANKLIN, GUINN,
HENSGENS AND HILL
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To commend Mayor Randy Roach for his years of public service to the city of Lake Charles
and to the state of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, Randy Roach was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and graduated from
LaGrange High School; and
WHEREAS, he earned his undergraduate degree in accounting and his Juris Doctor
from Louisiana State University; and
WHEREAS, from 1985 to 1987, Mayor Roach served as the assistant city attorney
for the city of Lake Charles and represented the city in all phases of the Chennault
Consolidation project; and
WHEREAS, he drafted and presented federal and state legislation and conducted
negotiations with Boeing Aircraft; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 1988, Mayor Roach served two terms as a state
representative in the Louisiana Legislature representing District 36; and
WHEREAS, while in the legislature, he served as a member of the Civil Law and
Procedure and Ways and Means committees, and as chairman of the Natural Resources
committee and the subcommittee on Coastal Restoration; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Roach served on the board of directors of many organizations,
including Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, Samaritan Counseling Center, Louisiana
Council on Child Abuse, Southwest Louisiana Mental Health Advisory Board, Southwest
Legal Aid Society, Amerisafe, First National Bank, Louisiana Municipal Association, and
Southwest Louisiana Red Cross; and
WHEREAS, he was first elected mayor of Lake Charles in 2000 to complete the
remainder of an unexpired term and has since been reelected to four full terms; and
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WHEREAS, Mayor Roach is the longest serving mayor of Lake Charles and has
worked closely with city and parish governments and other agencies to form partnerships
and pool resources to benefit Lake Charles and the entire southwest Louisiana five-parish
area; and
WHEREAS, he was a strong voice for the creation of the Southwest Louisiana
Partnership for Economic Development and worked with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
to create the Lake Charles Ward 3 Recreation Board, resulting in the Multi-sports Complex,
Skate Park, and Adventure Cove; and
WHEREAS, following Hurricane Katrina, Mayor Roach welcomed more than two
thousand evacuees from New Orleans to take refuge in the Lake Charles Civic Center; and
WHEREAS, less than one month later, Hurricane Rita ravaged Lake Charles and
Mayor Roach and other area leaders quickly assembled the Hurricane Rita task force which
immediately began working to repair and rebuild the area; and
WHEREAS, under his administration, 1911 Historic City Hall was established as an
arts and cultural center, the new Transit Center was opened, major enhancements to the Lake
Charles Civic Center were made, and a new Lake Charles City Court building was
constructed; and
WHEREAS, in addition to annual allocations for road improvement projects for each
council district, Mayor Roach began annual allocations for citywide projects such as asphalt
overlay, sidewalk repair and construction, roadway striping, sewer line rehabilitation, and
lift station repairs, and since 2009, approximately six million dollars has been allocated for
drainage improvements; and
WHEREAS, current projects under design or construction include a forty-three
million dollar wastewater treatment plant, Nelson Road water plant improvements, and the
Wastewater Treatment Plant "A" basin repair program; and
WHEREAS, additionally, Millennium Park was rebuilt by volunteers, Veteran
Memorial Park was expanded, the First Lt. Douglas Fournet Memorial was added, and Tuten
Park, Bark du Lac Dog Park, and Riverside Park and Community Center were opened; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Roach was successful in securing two beams from the World
Trade Center and with input from local artists and members of the community, the 9/11
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Memorial was designed and constructed on the lakefront; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership, community events such as Mardi Gras of
Southwest Louisiana, Downtown at Sundown, Live at the Lakefront, Red White Blue and
You, and Light Up the Lake Christmas Festival continue to grow and make Lake Charles a
wonderful place to live, raise a family, and a top tourist destination; and
WHEREAS, he merits the highest commendation for his exemplary public service
and for his outstanding contributions to the state of Louisiana and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
and the overall vitality of American society depends, in great measure, upon the dedication
of people like Mayor Randy Roach who use their considerable talents and Louisiana's rich
resources to promote tourism and increase economic growth for future generations.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Mayor Randy Roach for his distinguished public service to the citizens of Lake
Charles, does hereby recognize and record for posterity his vital contributions and tireless
dedication to the state of Louisiana, and does hereby extend to him best wishes for continued
success and happiness in all of his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Mayor Randy Roach.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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