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