2018 Second Extraordinary Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 25
BY SENATORS CLAITOR, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP,
BOUDREAUX, CARTER, CHABERT, COLOMB, CORTEZ,
DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS,
LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU, MARTINY, MILKOVICH,
MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK, PERRY,
PETERSON, PRICE, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER,
THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the
family and friends of H. David Smith Jr. upon his passing and to mourn the loss of
a former colleague of the Louisiana Senate.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret that the members of the Senate of the Legislature
of Louisiana have learned of the death of Harvey David Smith Jr., former staff attorney, on
May 18, 2018, one day before his seventy-sixth birthday; and
WHEREAS, David Smith was a true southern gentleman, a man brimming with
self-confidence and charisma, who possessed a keen sense of humor and bright smile; and
WHEREAS, David was a jack-of-all-trades who, through diligence and hard work,
succeeded in life; he was as comfortable with manual labor as with legal thought and was
always willing to lend a hand to help a friend; and
WHEREAS, from March 1986 until his retirement from the Senate in February 2007,
David worked tirelessly as a staff attorney for the Senate committees on Senate and
Governmental Affairs, Retirement, Judiciary A, Education, and the Senate Select Committee
on Economy and Efficiency in Government; and
WHEREAS, he was born on May 19, 1942, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the only child
of parents Ollia Mae Britt Sawyer and Harvey David Smith Sr.; and
WHEREAS, a graduate of Glen Oaks High School in Baton Rouge, he matriculated
to Louisiana State University and earned a bachelor of science degree in biology; after
graduation, David had considered a career in dentistry, however his acceptance letter to law
school arrived first; and
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WHEREAS, he received his Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans
College of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1970; and
WHEREAS, David practiced law for more than forty-seven years as a sole proprietor
and as legal counsel to Thompson Meat Packers, the Louisiana Department of Health and
Human Resources (now the Department of Health), the Louisiana Board of Examiners of
Nursing Facility Administrators, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development, Sabine River Authority, Sabine River Division Authority, Red River
Waterway Commission, and the Tech-Vermilion Fresh Water Diversion Canal
Authority; and
WHEREAS, while an undergraduate at LSU, David was a member of the LSU
gymnastics team and he remained very athletic and fitness-oriented throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, he had a passion and enthusiasm for sailboats that precipitated his
membership in the Pontchartrain Yacht Club; David loved the solitude of being on the water,
he enjoyed the independence, the challenges of navigation, the physical demands of being
under sail, and the freedom that time on the water provided him; the seclusion found in
sailing was a time to reflect and to examine one's life; and
WHEREAS, David was an amicable individual with many friends; he was a member
of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity while at LSU, an active parishioner and supporter of Sacred
Heart School where his children and grandchildren attended, and a member of other social
organizations; and
WHEREAS, David had a keen sense of style with a penchant for seersucker suits,
monogrammed shirts, distinctive silk ties, and dirty buck oxford shoes; and
WHEREAS, David cultivated many close friendships at the legislature during his two
decades as a Senate staffer; however, in his last years at the Senate, David developed a
special kinship with Senator Chris Ullo of New Orleans while he served as chairman on
several Senate committees; and
WHEREAS, when Senator Ullo passed away in 2014, David was honored when the
Ullo family asked that he speak during the eulogy; and
WHEREAS, known for his gentle manner and compassionate spirit, David Smith was
admired by all and respected by his contemporaries for his personable demeanor which was
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laced with a special kindness and affection; and
WHEREAS, David is survived by his loving wife of thirty-seven years Sara Rose
King Smith; their three sons, Carter Alan Carroll and his wife Melissa, Britt Kennedy Smith,
and Bradley David Smith; three grandchildren, Richard Aubrey Carroll, David Hurston
Carroll, and Zechariah David Smith; extended family, and many dear friends.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of former Senate staff
attorney, H. David Smith Jr. and does hereby express fond recollections of his service to this
body.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of David Smith.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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