SLS 19RS-70 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 6
BY SENATOR CLAITOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FOIL
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Baton Rouge attorney, Joseph
Patton "Beaver" Brantley IV.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Joseph
3 Patton "Beaver" Brantley IV, a man of many accomplishments and a well-respected
4 attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, Mr. Brantley was born to Joseph Patton Brantley Jr. and Phoebe Frances
6 Brantley on October 6, 1947, in Washington, D.C.; and
7 WHEREAS, the elder Brantleys returned to Baton Rouge and Beaver was educated
8 in school there, and as a freshman in high school, he earned an athletic scholarship to the
9 prestigious Culver Military Academy, an acknowledgment of his prowess in swimming; and
10 WHEREAS, Mr. Brantley eventually left Culver Military Academy and attended
11 Baton Rouge High School, where he swam competitively and set many state records while
12 swimming on the high school team; and
13 WHEREAS, as a competitive swimmer, Beaver swam for Amateur Athletic Union
14 (AAU), the Southern District of AAU, which consists of the states of Louisiana and
15 Mississippi, and in the 1960s, was invited to participate in the Olympic trials; and
16 WHEREAS, while still a relatively young man, Beaver's father died unexpectedly,
17 preventing him from attending the trials and precluding Beaver's dream of competing in the
18 Olympics; and
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SLS 19RS-70 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, throughout his life, Mr. Brantley was known as a person of many
2 interests and accomplishments, one of which was earning, at the tender age of sixteen, his
3 private pilot's license, leading him to fly to the Bahamas and to Hawaii; and
4 WHEREAS, after graduating from Baton Rouge High School in 1966, Beaver
5 Brantley continued his academic career at Louisiana State University and swam
6 competitively for the university; and
7 WHEREAS, Beaver entered LSU law school, received his juris doctor degree in
8 1972 and began his career in law; and
9 WHEREAS, in the course of his career, Beaver Brantley became involved in the oil
10 and gas industry, founding several oil and gas companies and establishing his expertise in
11 oil and gas operational legal issues; and
12 WHEREAS, having attained the highest rating for legal ability and ethics, a rating
13 of AV by Martindale Hubbell, Beaver Brantley testified many times as an expert witness on
14 oil and gas issues and participated in numerous financial, business, and legal development
15 forums at LSU, Tulane University, and Rice University in Houston, Texas; and
16 WHEREAS, Beaver Brantley also had an abiding interest in the approval
17 development of the gaming industry in both Louisiana and Mississippi and was instrumental
18 in establishing that industry; and
19 WHEREAS, through an extensive email network, Beaver kept in daily
20 communication with a vast array of friends and family, bringing laughter and smiles to those
21 fortunate enough to receive these missives; and
22 WHEREAS, despite a busy and successful law practice and numerous business
23 endeavors, Beaver was a truly devoted family man, and he leaves to cherish his memory his
24 wife, Susan Hammett Brantley, and their sons, Brian Hollins Brantley and Joseph Patton
25 Brantley V, their wives and families, including two grandsons, Brant and Bankston Brantley;
26 and
27 WHEREAS, a well-respected and knowledgeable attorney, a devoted family man,
28 a lover of animals, a private pilot, and an engaging friend, Joseph Patton "Beaver"
29 Brantley IV will be sorely missed by his dear family and his legions of friends.
30 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
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SLS 19RS-70 ORIGINAL
1 express the sincere condolences upon the death of Joseph Patton "Beaver" Brantley IV, a
2 man of many accomplishments and a well-respected attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
4 Susan Hammett Brantley, wife of Beaver Brantley.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
SCR 6 Original 2019 Regular Session Claitor
Expresses condolences upon the death of Baton Rouge attorney, Joseph Patton "Beaver"
Brantley IV.
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