SLS 18RS-853 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 45
BY SENATOR GATTI
CONDOLENCES. Express condolences upon the death of Matthew Burroughs.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 death of Matthew Burroughs.
4 WHEREAS, it is with a great and profound sadness that the Senate of the Legislature
5 of Louisiana has learned of the death of Matthew Burroughs on March 8, 2018, after a
6 lengthy illness at the age of thirty-four; and
7 WHEREAS, he was born on January 12, 1984, in Bossier City, Louisiana to David
8 and Carolyn Burroughs; and
9 WHEREAS, Matt was an honors graduate of Airline High School and the Louisiana
10 Scholars' College at Northwestern State University, and he earned his Juris Doctor from the
11 Paul M. Hebert School of Law at Louisiana State University; and
12 WHEREAS, he practiced law for six years working primarily with child advocacy
13 helping children find pathways to hope in their future; and
14 WHEREAS, after receiving a call to the ministry in the United Methodist Church,
15 he became a student at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University
16 where he was only one semester from completing his Master of Divinity; and
17 WHEREAS, Matt Burroughs was an exemplary and highly admired citizen of
18 Louisiana who worked tirelessly on a multitude of business, civic, political, and religious
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SLS 18RS-853 ORIGINAL
1 causes throughout his short life; and
2 WHEREAS, Matt was blessed with many true and special friends who loved and
3 supported him; they often said "to know Matt was to love him"; he lived a life of honor and
4 dignity, always with a smile, a kind word, and a heart of compassion; and
5 WHEREAS, he was an Eagle Scout, a nationally ranked wheelchair tennis player,
6 he taught business law at Bossier Parish Community College, volunteered at the homeless
7 shelter, served as President of the Perkins Student Association, and was currently serving
8 as a pastoral intern at Grace Community United Methodist Church; and
9 WHEREAS, two ministries Matt loved and supported were Common Ground, a food
10 and support ministry through Grace Community United Methodist Church in Shreveport,
11 and the Prayer Garden at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana; caring
12 and service to others was always Matt's focus and purpose in life; and
13 WHEREAS, because of his numerous accomplishments in public and private life,
14 the death of Matthew Burroughs has left a void in his community and his state and is a
15 tremendous loss to all his many friends and family; and
16 WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
17 and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon the dedication
18 of young men like Matthew Burroughs who used his considerable talents and resources to
19 serve others and who worked hard to make a difference not only for this generation but for
20 all of our future generations.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
22 does hereby honor the life and service of Matthew Burroughs and acknowledges his
23 enormous contributions to the improvement of the status of his state, his city, and his
24 community, does hereby recognize him as an extraordinary man who will long be
25 remembered, and does hereby pay tribute to his remarkable young legacy, which will live
26 long in the hearts of the many people whose lives he touched.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
28 family of Matthew Burroughs.
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SLS 18RS-853 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
SR 45 Original 2018 Regular Session Gatti
Expresses condolences upon the death of Matthew Burroughs.
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