SLS 19RS-1767 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 146
BY SENATOR MILKOVICH
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences to House of Representatives member, Barbara
Carpenter, upon the recent death of her husband, Dana Carpenter.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death
3 of Dana Carpenter, PhD, a Southern University administrator and husband of
4 Louisiana House of Representatives member, Barbara West Carpenter, PhD.
5 WHEREAS, Dana Carpenter was born to O.C. and Mary Payton Carpenter, their
6 sixth child, on January 8, 1945, in Natchitoches, Louisiana; and
7 WHEREAS, Dana Carpenter attended public schools in Natchitoches Parish where
8 he was a scholarly leader; being diligent about his studies, he graduated from Central High
9 School with highest honors and moved to further his studies at Grambling State University;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, at Grambling, Dana Carpenter excelled academically and graduated
12 with a bachelor of science degree in speech, drama, and English education; and
13 WHEREAS, Dana Carpenter went on to study at Northwestern State University in
14 his home town of Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he earned a master of arts degree in speech
15 education with an emphasis on teaching, administration, and supervision; and
16 WHEREAS, Dana Carpenter's terminal degree came from Kansas State University
17 in Manhattan, Kansas, where he earned a PhD in curriculum, instruction, and higher
18 education; and
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1 WHEREAS, Dana Carpenter came from a religious Christian family and he took his
2 love of his wife and family to be a reflection of that faith and he was devoted to them,
3 especially his wife, state representative Barbara West Carpenter, PhD and to their children,
4 Erin and Patrick; and
5 WHEREAS, one of Dr. Carpenter's greatest strengths was in modeling a love for
6 learning, and all who were fortunate enough to cross his path, particularly as his student,
7 were much the better for knowing or being taught by him; and
8 WHEREAS, Dr. Carpenter's teaching career took him to the Calcasieu Parish School
9 System where, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, he taught speech and drama to high school
10 students whose lives were greatly influenced by his deep love for learning and his guiding
11 and encouragement of their own educational experiences; and
12 WHEREAS, even beyond his classrooms, Dr. Carpenter garnered a reputation as a
13 gifted and talented teacher, and Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, recruited
14 him to join the university; and
15 WHEREAS, upon arriving at the campus in Baton Rouge, Dr. Carpenter immediately
16 affiliated with the Richardson Chapel Church of God in Christ, seeking a home church to
17 nurture his soul in his new surroundings; and
18 WHEREAS, at Southern University, Dr. Carpenter became a tenured full professor,
19 no small achievement in the competitive world of academia; and
20 WHEREAS, in his career at Southern University, Dr. Carpenter held a variety of
21 positions, including associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, associate vice chancellor
22 for enrollment management, director of academic outreach programs, and Dean of
23 University College, all essential positions for the academic reputation of the university; and
24 WHEREAS, Dana Carpenter, PhD, also served the profession of education in a
25 variety of roles, including as an inaugural member of the City of Baker school board, to
26 which he was elected in 1999, and this initial board oversaw the establishment of the system,
27 separating from the East Baton Rouge Parish schools in 2003, and he went on to serve three
28 terms as board president; and
29 WHEREAS, Dana Carpenter, PhD, was an immensely talented scholar, educator, and
30 administrator who influenced the lives of hundreds of students in the Lake Charles schools,
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1 at Southern University, and the City of Baker schools, leaving a legacy of people who see
2 themselves with a broader horizon to which to aspire because Dr. Carpenter ensured that his
3 students knew that their intellectual grasp could reach beyond the immediate and that they
4 could live to serve and to inspire others to reach their full potential, academically and as
5 adults in any role they chose for themselves.
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
7 does hereby express sincere condolences upon the death of Dana Carpenter, PhD, a Southern
8 University administrator and husband of Louisiana House of Representatives member,
9 Barbara West Carpenter, PhD.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
11 Representative Barbara West Carpenter and her family.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
SR 146 Original 2019 Regular Session Milkovich
Expresses condolences upon the death of Dana Carpenter, PhD, a Southern University
administrator and husband of Louisiana House of Representatives member, Barbara West
Carpenter, PhD.
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