HLS 18RS-3476 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 84
BY REPRESENTATIVES DANAHAY, ABRAHAM, ARMES, DWIGHT, FRANKLIN,
GUINN, HENSGENS, AND HILL AND SENATORS JOHNS, MORRISH, AND
JOHN SMITH
COMMENDATIONS: Commends James C. "Jim" Beam for providing journalistic
coverage of the Louisiana Legislature for fifty years
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To commend James C. "Jim" Beam for fifty years of journalistic coverage of the Legislature
3 of Louisiana.
4 WHEREAS, James C. "Jim" Beam was born in Cameron, Louisiana, on October 7,
51933, and is a lifelong resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and
6 WHEREAS, Jim graduated from LaGrange High School in 1951; he earned a
7bachelor of arts in social studies from McNeese State University in 1955 and a master of arts
8in American history from Louisiana State University in 1962; and
9 WHEREAS, after graduating from McNeese State University, Jim served his country
10in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957 before returning home to teach in the
11Calcasieu Parish school system from 1958 to 1961; and
12 WHEREAS, in 1960, Mr. Beam began his long and distinguished career at the Lake
13Charles American Press as a part-time sports reporter, and he became a full-time reporter
14in 1961; and
15 WHEREAS, Mr. Beam became the city editor of the newspaper in 1965, and in 1968,
16he covered for the first time the state's legislative session, which he has been covering ever
17since; and
18 WHEREAS, from 1982 through 1992, Mr. Beam served as coexecutive editor of the
19newspaper, and from 1992 until 1999, he served as executive editor; and
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HCR NO. 84
1 WHEREAS, although officially retired from his position of editor since 1999,
2Mr. Beam continues to cover the Louisiana Legislature and write editorials for the American
3Press; and
4 WHEREAS, Jim has won numerous awards for his writing from the Louisiana Press
5Association, the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press, the Louisiana Medical Society, and
6others throughout the decades; and
7 WHEREAS, in 2000, Jim Beam was selected by the Advertising and Press Club to
8be the first "Lake Area Legend", was awarded the Hector San Miguel Memorial Award for
9Outstanding Achievement in Journalism in 2010, and was inducted into the Louisiana
10Political Hall of Fame in 2017; and
11 WHEREAS, in addition to political columns, Jim has also published several
12collections of work, including Positively Beaming and A Matter of Trust; and
13 WHEREAS, James "Jim" Beam brings pride to the Southwest Louisiana region as
14the first journalist from Southwest Louisiana to be inducted into the Louisiana Political
15Museum and Hall of Fame; and
16 WHEREAS, Jim Beam is an institution in Louisiana politics known for his steadfast
17commitment to the highest journalistic ideals, and he has earned the unceasing admiration
18of the citizens of the state of Louisiana, whose knowledge and understanding of Louisiana
19politics and culture have been enriched immeasurably by his singular talents and dedication.
20 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
21commend James C. "Jim" Beam, a native Louisianian and a preeminent and respected
22journalist, for providing journalistic coverage of the Louisiana Legislature for fifty years.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
24James C. Beam.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 84 Original 2018 Regular Session Danahay
Commends James C. "Jim" Beam for providing journalistic coverage of the Louisiana
Legislature for 50 years.
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