ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 12
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEVILLIER
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To designate the city of Eunice as the Home of Clovis Crawfish.
WHEREAS, Clovis Crawfish is a widely beloved literary character created by the
late author Mary Alice Fontenot, a native of Eunice, Louisiana; his name was inspired by
Clovis Durio, the late police chief of Eunice; and
WHEREAS, Clovis Crawfish, first appearing nearly sixty years ago in Clovis
Crawfish and His Friends, is featured in eighteen books, published in both English and
French, that have been read and deeply enjoyed by generations of children in Louisiana and
beyond; and
WHEREAS, in addition to being a native of Eunice, Mrs. Fontenot taught
kindergarten in the city and was appreciated by her students and their parents for her
dedication to and heartfelt care of the children; she encouraged their love of reading and
learning and instilled in them a love of stories and characters; and
WHEREAS, Clovis Crawfish holds a very special place in the annals of Louisiana
history and particularly the history of Acadiana; many of the characters in the Clovis
Crawfish books take their names from real Eunice citizens, and as Mrs. Fontenot explained,
"Clovis Crawfish is my way of preserving the Acadian culture and the French culture"; and
WHEREAS, in 1999, in recognition of her contributions as the creator of the Clovis
Crawfish books, Louisiana Public Broadcasting honored Mary Alice Fontenot as a
"Louisiana Legend"; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, Mary Alice Fontenot was inducted into the Order of Living
Legends, sponsored by the Acadian Museum in Erath, and House Resolution No. 44 of the
2003 Regular Session of the Legislature commended her for this honor; and
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WHEREAS, Clovis Crawfish is a universally known and treasured literary character
and brings great pride and distinction to the city of Eunice; and
WHEREAS, on July 10, 2018, the governing board of the city of Eunice adopted a
resolution that formally requests designation by the Legislature of Louisiana of the city of
Eunice as the Home of Clovis Crawfish; and
WHEREAS, the city of Eunice shall forever be the birthplace of Clovis Crawfish and
therefore rightfully should be designated by the legislature as the Home of Clovis Crawfish.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
designate the city of Eunice as the Home of Clovis Crawfish.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the mayor of Eunice and the family of Mary Alice Fontenot.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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