HLS 19RS-1128 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 53
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences on the death of Dr. Dana Carpenter
1 A RESOLUTION
2To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Dr. Dana
3 Carpenter.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
5House of Representatives learned of the death on April 12, 2019, of Dr. Dana Carpenter; he
6was seventy-four years old; and
7 WHEREAS, Dana met and married the love of his life, Barbara West; left to cherish
8fond memories are his wife, their son, Patrick, and his wife Christa, daughter, Erin, and
9extended family of siblings and relatives; and
10 WHEREAS, Dana earned a bachelor of science degree in speech and drama and
11English education from Grambling State University in 1967, a master's degree in speech
12education from Northwestern State University in 1970, and in 1977, he earned a Ph.D. in
13curriculum and instruction while simultaneously serving as coordinator of the English,
14speech, and journalism component of the Competency Based Teacher Education Program
15at Kansas State University; and
16 WHEREAS, after he acquired his doctorate, Dr. Carpenter accepted employment in
171977 at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge as an associate professor and
18coordinator in the university's Communication Skills Center with responsibilities for the
19administration of a federally funded Title III program, and thus began a long and successful
20tenure at Southern University; and
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HR NO. 53
1 WHEREAS, from 1986 to 2016, Dr. Carpenter served at Southern University in the
2posts of professor, director of counseling and advisement in the Junior Division, teacher
3quality coordinator, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management in the University
4College, associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, dean of the University College,
5director of the Dual Enrollment, Trio Programs, and COMPASS Testing, interim associate
6vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, and director of Academic Outreach Programs with
7supervision over Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search; at the time of his passing,
8Dr. Carpenter was serving as the assistant to the senior associate vice chancellor for
9Academic Affairs; prior to his duties at Southern University, Dr. Carpenter taught and served
10in the administrations of the Calcasieu Parish school system and Kansas State University;
11and
12 WHEREAS, Dr. Carpenter was an experienced and prolific grant writer who
13obtained funds for tutorial and educational enrichment activities for fourth and fifth graders
14in learning Spanish, desktop newspaper publishing, engineering, architecture, and Louisiana
15culture, and he acquired grants to teach strategies to prevent substance abuse and family
16violence, train first-year principals and assist them with state certification, fund a dropout
17prevention program, and supply the components necessary for after-school and Saturday
18tutorial classes for students in all academic areas; a grant of more than $500,000 also
19provided for a motivation and counseling program and visitation to schools; Dr. Carpenter
20was vigilant in his desire to improve the educational fortunes of students; and
21 WHEREAS, the diligent and vanguard work of Dr. Carpenter garnered much respect
22in the state and was recognized at the highest levels of leadership in Louisiana; in 1996,
23Governor Mike Foster appointed Dr. Carpenter to the Capital Area Human Service District
24Board as an advocate for developmental disabilities, where he served two years as board
25chairman; Dr. Carpenter was elected to the city of Baker school board in 1998, reelected in
262002, and served several years as president and vice president; he was appointed in 1995 to
27the city of Baker Economic Development Commission by Mayor Bobby Simpson; and
28 WHEREAS, the organizations which were proud to claim Dr. Carpenter as a member
29include Phi Delta Kappa; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, of which he was a life
30member and served as polemarch and president; the Krewe of Camelot, Incorporated;
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HR NO. 53
1Citizens for a Better Leland Community; Kiwanis International; the Louisiana School Board
2Association; the American Federation of Teachers; and the Louisiana Chapter of the Autistic
3Society; Dr. Carpenter was named College Teacher of the Year at Southern University in
41992, received the Outstanding Service Award in 1991 from the National Academic
5Advisory Association, and received an Outstanding Developmental Educator's Award for
6the 1989-1990 academic year; and
7 WHEREAS, volumes of books could not contain the vast quantity of events, awards,
8appointments, and works that filled the life of Dr. Dana Carpenter; he was a visionary
9advocate for quality education for all; he worked to promote honesty and integrity in
10government, was a catalyst for the resolution of critical issues faced by students, and he was
11fully engaged in his quest to improve the lives and enhance the economic growth of all of
12the citizens he served; during his career, Dr. Carpenter mentored generations of leaders; his
13impact will forever remain in the Baker and Scotlandville communities in the form of the
14Dr. Dana Carpenter Scholarship that has been established for students in the City of Baker
15School System in his honor.
16 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
17Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the
18death of Dr. Dana Carpenter and does hereby recognize and record for posterity his
19distinguished career of excellence and unyielding advocacy for educational equality.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
21to Representative Barbara West Carpenter.
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)]
HR 53 Original 2019 Regular Session Smith
Expresses condolences on the death of Dr. Dana Carpenter.
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