2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 164
BY SENATOR GATTI
A RESOLUTION
To commend Robert "Bobby" E. Marlow on the occasion of his retirement as an educator
after nearly fifty years in the profession.
WHEREAS, Mr. Bobby Marlow, a native of Natchez, Mississippi, was born to James
Anthony Marlow Sr. and Thelma Ford Marlow on December 29, 1945, the youngest of five
children, and he was educated in the public schools in his home state, graduating from
Adams County High School in 1964; and
WHEREAS, Bobby Marlow considers the greatest influence in his life, other than
his parents, his junior high school teacher and coach, Robert M. Dearing, who was a role
model and an inspiration for Mr. Marlow to become an educator; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from high school, Mr. Marlow accepted a football
scholarship to play football at Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, now known as
Copiah-Lincoln Community College, in Wesson, Mississippi, and in 1966 he enrolled at the
University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi from which he graduated in
1968 with a bachelor's degree; and
WHEREAS, Bobby Marlow made the move from his native Mississippi to Louisiana
in 1968 when he accepted his first teaching position at Morgan City High School in Morgan
City, Louisiana, where he taught until 1971; and
WHEREAS, in August 1971, Mr. Marlow accepted a teaching and coaching position
at Parkway High School in Bossier City, Louisiana, making a permanent move to North
Louisiana and remaining at Parkway through 1986; and
WHEREAS, while teaching through the school year, Bobby Marlow also attended
classes at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, where he received a master's degree in
education in 1980; and
WHEREAS, at the beginning of the 1986-1987 academic year, Mr. Marlow moved
to Elm Grove Middle School, in Elm Grove, Louisiana, as assistant principal under the
tutelage of principal Ken Kruithof, serving in that capacity until 1991; and
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WHEREAS, becoming principal after having served as assistant principal of the Elm
Grove Middle School since 1986, was the next logical step in his career and Mr. Marlow
accepted the principalship in 1991, serving until 2010; and
WHEREAS, Elm Grove Elementary was established in 2010, taking the primary
grades to a separate campus and Bobby Marlow made the final move of his academic career
to become the principal of the new elementary school, serving until his retirement at the
conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Marlow married Alice Ferguson Marlow and the two are the
parents of a lovely daughter, Lori Harper, and they enjoy interacting with their grandchildren
Jill, Rob, and Ali; and
WHEREAS, because of his long and successful tenure at Elm Grove Elementary,
Bobby Marlow was principal when all of his grandchildren attended the school, a
particularly special circumstance; and
WHEREAS, the Marlows have led a busy life in the community while Mr. Marlow
has been involved in his academic career, particularly being active members of Bellaire
Baptist Church with Mr. Marlow serving as deacon from 1985 until the present and as a
Sunday school teacher; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Marlow maintains membership in the Louisiana Association of
School Executives, the Bossier Association of Principals, and is a lifetime member of the
Louisiana High School Athletic Association; and
WHEREAS, on the last day of the 2016-2017 school year, students, faculty, and staff
of Elm Grove Elementary school said goodbye to their beloved principal amid hugs, cheers,
and not a few tears; and
WHEREAS, commenting on his time in Bossier schools, Bobby Marlow stated,
"Bossier Parish is just a wonderful place to be, its been a family-like atmosphere...and its
been a great run"; and
WHEREAS, all those at Elm Grove Elementary agreed with this assessment and sent
their longtime principal off with best wishes for a retirement filled with love and much time
with his family; and
WHEREAS, after decades of working hard as a dedicated teacher, coach, and school
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administrator and giving back to his community through his commitment to his church and
numerous professional organizations, in addition to his family responsibilities,
Bobby Marlow has earned a long and enjoyable retirement filled with family and friends.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Robert "Bobby" E. Marlow on the occasion of his retirement as an
educator after nearly fifty years in the profession.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Mr. Bobby Marlow.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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