SLS 19RS-17 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 24
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the passing of Duane Ebarb, disabilities
advocate from Shreveport.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 passing of Duane K. Ebarb of Shreveport, a kind and caring individual who worked
4 tirelessly as a champion for the rights of the disabled as a consultant, public servant,
5 educator, administrator, and friend.
6 WHEREAS, Duane Kenneth Ebarb passed peacefully from this life on Thursday,
7 September 6, 2018, at the age of sixty-nine; and
8 WHEREAS, he was an exuberant and lifelong crusader for the concerns of the
9 physically handicapped, mentally disabled, and the elderly; he improved the quality of life
10 for disabled individuals, in particular, through the enhanced availability and ready access of
11 public services, housing, education, and economic opportunity; and
12 WHEREAS, Duane Ebarb experienced firsthand the obstacles and limitations placed
13 upon the physically disabled by society having been wheelchair-bound after experiencing
14 a spinal cord injury as a young adult; and
15 WHEREAS, during his lifetime Duane had a far-reaching effect on the removal of
16 barriers that inhibited the access of the handicapped to all manner of public services and
17 opportunities; and
18 WHEREAS, a graduate of Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, Duane rose to the
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SLS 19RS-17 ORIGINAL
1 rank of colonel in Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and was the top ranked cadet
2 in Caddo Parish; and
3 WHEREAS, after graduation, Duane looked forward to military service and
4 volunteered for the United States Marine Corps; an unfortunate accident left him paralyzed
5 and prevented his service, however, he was a patriot and remained a strong supporter of
6 those who served in the military; and
7 WHEREAS, he faced life fearlessly and did not let anyone or anything stand in his
8 way; he led a full life instilled with ambition and fortitude to follow his dreams and become
9 a contributing member of the community; and
10 WHEREAS, Duane Ebarb persevered despite his disabilities to complete a bachelor
11 of arts degree from LSU-S in 1978; and
12 WHEREAS, his tenure as a support services advocate included positions as a
13 member of the board of directors of the New Horizons Independent Living Center, president
14 of the Shreveport Mayor's Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities, and region leader
15 of Louisiana Citizens for Action Now (LaCAN); and
16 WHEREAS, Governor John Bel Edwards appointed him to serve on the board of the
17 Northwest Louisiana Human Services District as a proponent for individuals with
18 developmental disabilities; and
19 WHEREAS, Duane was honored with receipt of the Governor's Outstanding
20 Leadership in Disabilities Ken Vince Memorial Award in 2008 and received Mayor Cedric
21 Glover's Award for Excellence in Leadership in Disabilities in 2009; and
22 WHEREAS, Duane also served on the board of directors for ThinkFirst of the
23 Ark-La-Tex, an organization that promotes injury prevention education; and
24 WHEREAS, Duane Ebarb was a frequent spokesman for the rights of the disabled;
25 he advocated the tenets of independent living and lobbied local and state lawmakers
26 concerning the availability of community-based support services for the disabled; and
27 WHEREAS, with his affable demeanor Duane Ebarb acted as the catalyst to "keep
28 in touch" with his Woodlawn High School classmates; he was that connection who kept
29 everyone informed and involved over the decades since graduation; and
30 WHEREAS, his accomplishments, both great and small, may seem incidental to the
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SLS 19RS-17 ORIGINAL
1 able-bodied, however, to the physically challenged these improvements were uplifting and
2 life-changing, particularly for adults with disabilities who sought to live independently; and
3 WHEREAS, Duane was an active member of Christ United Methodist Church and
4 served on numerous committees; at his funeral the Reverend Mark Goins eulogized that he
5 was an individual who loved large and lived out loud and whose determination knew no
6 disability; and
7 WHEREAS, Duane Ebarb embraced a certain joie de vivre, the joy of life that was
8 reflected in his belief that his physical limitations were lessened by the capacity of his mind
9 to dream and his heart to love; and
10 WHEREAS, Duane shall be fondly remembered for his unselfish acts of kindness,
11 determination, and his lifetime of significant contributions of improved accessibility and
12 support services afforded to the disabled citizens of his community and state.
13 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
14 express sincere condolences on the passing of Duane K. Ebarb of Shreveport, an advocate
15 for those individuals with disabilities and a person blessed with an immeasurable capacity
16 for empathy for his fellow man.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
18 mother, Elaine Ebarb.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 24 Original 2019 Regular Session Peacock
Expresses condolences upon the passing of Duane Ebarb, disabilities advocate from
Shreveport.
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