2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 202
BY SENATOR LONG
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Dr. Christopher John Rich, a longtime resident of Alexandria, Louisiana,
and a widely respected community member.
WHEREAS, Dr. Rich was born to Ralph and Jean Gillis Rich in Uniontown,
Pennsylvania, on February 29, 1956, and died at his home in Alexandria, Louisiana, on
January 19, 2019; and
WHEREAS, a native of San Antonio, Dr. Christopher Rich was a three-year varsity
athlete in football as an offensive lineman at LSU from 1976-78 and earned Academic
All-Southeastern Conference honors in 1977 and 1978; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rich completed his undergraduate degree at LSU in Baton Rouge,
followed by a Doctor of Medicine degree from the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans,
and his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at LSU in 1988; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, Dr. Rich completed his MBA at the University of Tennessee
School of Business; and
WHEREAS, from 1988 through 2011, Dr. Christopher Rich was managing partner
of Mid State Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center in Alexandria, Louisiana, retiring from
clinical practice in 2010; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure as managing partner, Mid State received the honor of
#1 in Orthopaedics for the state of Louisiana in 2004 and 2007 by HEALTHGRADES, "The
Healthcare Quality Experts"; and
WHEREAS, as an integral part of the NSU sports medicine program, Dr. Christopher
Rich served as the Director of Sports Medicine and head team physician for the
Northwestern State Demons from 1990 until 2010; and
WHEREAS, he has served in a voluntary consulting role with the NSU team
Page 1 of 4 SR NO. 202 ENROLLED
physicians, sports medicine staff, and athletic administration in monitoring and addressing
various medical and health-related issues that have become prominent in intercollegiate
athletics; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rich also played a role in promoting best practices and
evidence-based medicine, as well as stewardship of financial resources related to medical
care for the NSU Athletic Department. Dr. Rich was named and honored with induction for
the Distinguished Service Award at Northwestern State University; and
WHEREAS, during Dr. Christopher Rich's tenure at NSU, over five hundred athletes
sustained injuries that required surgery and the Mid State Team had an incredible rate of
return to full sports competition of 99%; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rich's practice specialized in sports medicine, arthroscopy of the
shoulder and knee, and knee reconstruction; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rich was recognized by his peers with induction into the Louisiana
Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 2005; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, Dr. Rich received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the
Louisiana Orthopaedic Association; and
WHEREAS, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisiana
Orthopaedic Association for his service with this organization; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Christopher Rich was a founding member of Alexandria's "High
School Physical Day", that serviced all local high school athletes to determine whether it's
safe for the athlete to participate in a certain sport; and
WHEREAS, Mid State Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine renamed the annual
tradition of serving local high school athletes "Chris Rich High School Physical Day"; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rich served on the University Academic Medical Board with board
oversight of business operations and management of the new 1.6 billion dollar LSU Medical
Center in New Orleans and served as the medical director for the state of Louisiana Office
of Worker's Compensation Administration from 2011 - 2015; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Christopher Rich was board certified by the American Board of
Orthopaedic Surgery, with a successful recertification in 2012; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rich was a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Page 2 of 4 SR NO. 202 ENROLLED
Surgeons, past president of the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association in 2010, a member of the
American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine, and a charter/founding member of the
Louisiana Sports Medicine Society; and
WHEREAS, Christopher Rich and his wife of thirty-five years, Vickie, raised their
three children, Jeffrey Rich (and his wife Kim Rich), Margaret Rich Burton (and her
husband, Will Burton), and Stacie Rich Keller (and her husband, David Keller) in a religious
and loving family; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Christopher Rich served his community proudly and was a member
of the Calvary Baptist Church where he and Vickie were active and strove to live their lives
walking in Christian faith; and
WHEREAS, he was an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, helping to raise monetary
donations for local charities and nonprofit groups that touched thousands of lives; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Christopher Rich was active in the community socially and
politically, and he and Vickie particularly loved to host parties and enjoyed the pleasure of
countless friends; and
WHEREAS, a favorite pastime of Dr. Christopher Rich's when not working,
entertaining, or spending time with his family, was traveling to various locations with Vickie
to explore a city or country's culture and history; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Christopher Rich's visitation and funeral were held at Calvary
Baptist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, with Dr. David Brooks and Brother Anthony
Mangun officiating; and
WHEREAS, as a man devoted to his family, his church, his business, and his
community, Dr. Christopher Rich was a distinguished member of his community; one
committed to leaving the world and Alexandria, Louisiana, a better place than when he
found it, and his legacy is one of being committed to all endeavors in life, to faith in his
church, and to love of family.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express the sincere condolences upon the death of Christopher J. Rich, MD,
MBA, a longtime resident of Alexandria, Louisiana, and a widely respected member of the
community.
Page 3 of 4 SR NO. 202 ENROLLED
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
wife and children.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 4 of 4