SLS 19RS-1954 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 248
BY SENATOR MILLS
SENATE. Commends Senate Attorney Tom Wade on the occasion of his retirement.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Thomas F. Wade for his loyal dedication to the legislative and judicial matters
3 of the state of Louisiana resulting from his forty-five years of exemplary public
4 service and to congratulate him upon the occasion of his well-deserved retirement.
5 WHEREAS, it is with deep appreciation that the Senate of the Legislature of
6 Louisiana recognizes the innumerable contributions made by Tom Wade as a consummate
7 legal professional; and
8 WHEREAS, presently, Tom serves as Senate Counsel and as Director of the Legal
9 Affairs Division which encompasses Senate committees on Judiciary A, Judiciary B, and
10 Judiciary C; and
11 WHEREAS, previously, Tom served as senior staff attorney for the Senate
12 committees on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, Health and Welfare, Senate and
13 Governmental, Labor and Industrial Relations, Judiciary C, and Natural Resources; and
14 WHEREAS, Tom has served as assistant attorney general in the Louisiana
15 Department of Justice under the administrations of two attorneys general, William J. "Billy"
16 Guste Jr. and Richard P. Ieyoub Sr.; and
17 WHEREAS, while in the office of attorney general, his responsibilities included the
18 divisions of civil law and litigation (as deputy director) with emphasis on construction
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1 litigation (as section chief), tort liability, risk management, and public service ad valorem
2 taxation; and
3 WHEREAS, Thomas Fluitt Wade was born November 9, 1948, to parents, the
4 Reverend Thomas Magruder Wade III and Alma Fluitt Wade; and
5 WHEREAS, perhaps Tom was destined to become an attorney and work for the
6 legislature; his father and grandfather were attorneys and his great-grandfather was elected
7 as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives; and as a teenager, Tom served as
8 a page in the House; and
9 WHEREAS, his father was both an attorney and an Episcopal priest, while his
10 mother was dad's talented helpmate who sang in the choir, played the church organ, and
11 responded with grace and enthusiasm to the many duties and demands of a priest's wife;
12 Tom and his sister, Roberta, grew up as "preacher's kids", so they were always on their best
13 behavior; and
14 WHEREAS, Tom received a bachelor of arts degree in pre-law with a minor in
15 history from Louisiana State University, and he then attended Paul M. Hebert Law Center;
16 however, his pursuit of a law degree was interrupted by his military service in the Louisiana
17 Army National Guard at Fort Polk; he later returned to earn a juris doctor degree in 1974;
18 and
19 WHEREAS, upon recommendation of Professor George Pugh at LSU Law School,
20 Tom secured a position as law clerk at the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit in Lake
21 Charles to assist Chief Judge J. Cleveland Fruge and Judge Cecil C. Cutrer; and
22 WHEREAS, Tom then served as an assistant district attorney for the Sixth Judicial
23 District Court, Tensas Parish; and
24 WHEREAS, he gained extensive trial experience in state district court, United States
25 District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, United States Bankruptcy Court for the
26 Middle District of Louisiana; and appellate experience before the Louisiana Courts of
27 Appeal in the First, Second, and Third circuits, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the United
28 States Court of Appeal in the Fifth Circuit; and
29 WHEREAS, his professional affiliations include the Louisiana Trial Lawyers
30 Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association; and
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1 WHEREAS, Tom met Marsha Mason while both were staff attorneys at the
2 Louisiana State Senate; it was nearly "love at first sight"; he remains taken by her beauty and
3 intelligence; they have been married for thirty-four years and are blessed with three lovely
4 daughters, Katherine, Leslie, and Heather; and one granddaughter, Sydney; and Tom still
5 considers himself to be the luckiest man in the world; and
6 WHEREAS, they are faithful members of St. James Episcopal Church; Tom
7 currently serves on the Committee on Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and
8 has served in numerous elected and volunteer roles at St. James Church and at the Episcopal
9 Diocese of Louisiana; and
10 WHEREAS, Tom and Marsha celebrate the lighter side of life as Mardi Gras revelers
11 and members of the Spanish Town Royal Mystic Krewe of Generic Yo-Yos; and
12 WHEREAS, Tom shall be sorely missed by his co-workers for his in-depth
13 discussions on almost any subject, his easy-going demeanor, and for his sincere kindness,
14 enigmatic smile, and genuine friendship; and
15 WHEREAS, Tom Wade embodies all of the finest characteristics of a public servant;
16 his professional expertise, impartiality, and tireless work ethic have proved essential to the
17 smooth internal operations of the legislative process; and
18 WHEREAS, his breadth of institutional knowledge of civil and criminal law, his
19 scrutiny of the latest judicial rulings and how those results may affect local, state, and federal
20 governments, and his willingness to assist and mentor those who are new to the committee
21 process reflect elements of his character that are admired by both legislators and staff
22 members alike; and
23 WHEREAS, in retirement, Tom and Marsha plan to continue their travels to the
24 British Isles, particularly Scotland and Ireland, throughout Europe, and to many other
25 foreign locales; and
26 WHEREAS, a voracious reader, Tom shall wile away numerous afternoons with a
27 good book or two; and
28 WHEREAS, in the days that follow, Tom Wade shall fondly recall memories and
29 significant events from the past, the rarefied environment that is state government, and the
30 colorful cast of characters that have graced the halls of the Legislature of Louisiana.
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SLS 19RS-1954 ORIGINAL
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
2 does hereby commend the distinguished career in public service of Thomas F. Wade.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
4 hereby recognize the myriad of contributions he has made on behalf of this august body and
5 the state of Louisiana.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
7 hereby extend best wishes to Tom Wade on all his future endeavors.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
9 Thomas F. Wade.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SR 248 Original 2019 Regular Session Mills
Commends Senate Attorney Tom Wade for his public service and on the occasion of his
retirement.
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