SLS 19RS-1536 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 230
BY SENATOR HEWITT
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Lena R. Torres for her many years of public service.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Lena R. Torres for her many years of public service and numerous
3 extraordinary accomplishments.
4 WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens and the Senate of the Legislature
5 of Louisiana recognize Lena R. Torres for her many years of public service and
6 extraordinary accomplishments; and
7 WHEREAS, Lena Randazzo Torres is the daughter of the late Petrina Livaccari and
8 Sam Randazzo who were both descendants of Palermo, Italy; and
9 WHEREAS, she is a graduate of Maumus High School and a graduate of Soule'
10 Business College; and
11 WHEREAS, she was a loving and devoted wife to the love of her life, the late
12 Sidney D. Torres, is a committed mother and cherished grandmother, great-grandmother,
13 relative and friend whose love of family and friends is of the utmost importance in her life;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, her long and illustrious career in public service has spanned over
16 seventy years, beginning and ending in the St. Bernard Clerk of Court's Office 1940 to 1946,
17 moving to the Louisiana County Agricultural Extension Division from 1946 to 1956,
18 becoming Chief Deputy Clerk of Court from 1956 to 1988, and being appointed Clerk of
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1 Court upon the death of her husband and Clerk of Court Sidney D. Torres Jr.; and
2 WHEREAS, she was elected Clerk of court for the Parish of St. Bernard in 1988, was
3 reelected five times, and served until her retirement in 2012; and
4 WHEREAS, Lena is an exemplary and highly admired citizen of Louisiana who has
5 worked tirelessly on a multitude of business, civic, community, political, and religious
6 causes throughout her life; and
7 WHEREAS, she has been active and involved in numerous organizations: the
8 St. Bernard Society for Crippled Children, St. Bernard Business and Professional Women's
9 Club (Charter Member), St. Bernard Battered Women's Association, Louisiana Clerks of
10 Court Association, National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks,
11 International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Elected Officials and Treasurers, Suburban
12 Woman's Club, Arabi Lions Women's Auxiliary, Chalmette Medical Center Auxiliary, Serra
13 Club of St. Bernard (Charter Member), American Association of Retired Persons,
14 Kiwanis Club, The Elenian Club, Canary Island Descendants Association, Los Islenos
15 Cultural & Heritage Society, and the St. Bernard Parish Retired Teachers Association; and
16 WHEREAS, her honors and awards are vast and include receiving the Alliance for
17 Good Government Past President's Award, Legislator of the Year in 1989, the Appreciation
18 Award from Chalmette Strutters in 1994, the Strength in Age Award from Louisiana State
19 University Medical Center in 1998, the Community Involvement Award for 1998-1999,
20 Chamber of Commerce C. "Bud" Colomb Award in 2001, Civic Recognition Award, St.
21 Bernard Business & Professional Women's Lifetime Achievement for Public Service to the
22 People of St. Bernard Parish in 2002, and received a certificate of Special Recognition for
23 52 years of dedicated service from the Louisiana Center for Women & Government; and
24 WHEREAS, she served on the Board of Directors at St. Bernard Bank & Trust from
25 1988 to 1997, as chairman of the St. Bernard Chapter March of Dimes in 1989, the Louisiana
26 Clerks of Court Association, Insurance Committee from 1994 to 1996, and 1999 to 2001,
27 the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association, board of directors from 1990 to 1992, and
28 1999 to 2001, Louisiana Clerks of Court Association, Ct. Appeal Liaison Committee from
29 1999 to 2001, as grand marshal at the Arabi School Mardi Gras Parade in 1994, as grand
30 marshal at San Pedro Pescador 50th Year Boat Blessing in 1997, as master of ceremonies
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1 for the St. Bernard Catholic Church Caldo/Gumbo Festivadid in 1999, as hostess for
2 Cinemagic in 2000, St. Bernard Parish Choruses as honorary chairperson of Annual Sweet
3 Times in St. Bernard in 2001, Benefit Family Services of St. Bernard Children's Service
4 Fund, and as honorary hostess for Family Services of St. Bernard Children's Fund in 2001;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, Lena R. Torres was selected Woman of the Year by St. Bernard
7 Business & Professional Women's Club for 1993-1994, Woman of Fashion, Men of Fashion,
8 Prix d'Elegance in 1993; and
9 WHEREAS, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Men of Fashion, Women of
10 Fashion, Prix d'Elegance in 2002, and into the Hall of Fame-Louisiana Center for Women
11 in Government and Business, Sports Hall of Fame, American Italian Society in 2002; and
12 WHEREAS, Lena R. Torres was recognized in 2009 by the Louisiana State Senate
13 and House of Representatives in Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 153 and House
14 Resolution No. 135 for her many years of invaluable public service to the citizens of
15 St. Bernard Parish; and
16 WHEREAS, she is a staple and St. Bernard Parish fixture who deserves to be
17 honored and respected for her commitment to public service, community involvement, and
18 positive impact she has bestowed on her community, parish, and the state of Louisiana; and
19 WHEREAS, not only is Lena R. Torres respected and admired in her professional
20 life for her charm, integrity, and compassion, but she is also beloved by those in her personal
21 life; and
22 WHEREAS, because of her numerous accomplishments in public and private life,
23 she will forever be remembered by all the people whose lives she has touched, and the joy
24 she leaves in the hearts of all those who have the honor of knowing her; and
25 WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
26 and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure upon people like
27 Lena Torres, who devote and dedicate their life and time to public service and who use their
28 considerable talents and resources to benefit future generations.
29 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
30 does hereby extend congratulations and commends Lena R. Torres on her many years of
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1 outstanding public service and her numerous contributions to her community and her state,
2 recognize her for her many extraordinary accomplishments, and wish her much success in
3 all her future endeavors.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
5 Lena R. Torres.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
SR 230 Original 2019 Regular Session Hewitt
Commends Lena R. Torres for her many years of public service and numerous extraordinary
accomplishments.
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