HLS 201ES-397 ORIGINAL
2020 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 37
BY REPRESENTATIVE HODGES
COMMENDATIONS: Commends General Troy H. Middleton posthumously for his
contributions to his state and nation
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend General Troy H. Middleton posthumously for his contributions to his state and
3 nation.
4 WHEREAS, the late General Troy H. Middleton, who served in the United States
5Army during both World War I and World War II and as president of Louisiana State
6University, played a vital role in preserving democracy and freedom and was an exemplar
7of service whose memory continues to inspire those who have come after him; and
8 WHEREAS, General Middleton's service at Louisiana State University spanned the
9greater part of the twentieth century; upon arriving at LSU in 1930, he was responsible for
10training cadets in the ROTC program; prior to World War II, he served as dean of men,
11administrative dean, vice president, and comptroller, helping to lead LSU through many
12challenging times in its history; and
13 WHEREAS, General Middleton returned to active duty early in World War II and
14made extraordinary contributions as a commander, serving his country with great valor and
15earning the undying respect and appreciation of his fellow soldiers and Americans; and
16 WHEREAS, General Middleton was a hero of the Second Battle of the Marne in
17World War I and in World War II the invasion of Sicily, the invasion of Italy, Normandy,
18Brest, and Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge; he also discovered the first Nazi
19concentration camp and exposed it to the world; and
20 WHEREAS, after World War II, General Middleton returned to his role as
21comptroller at LSU, and in 1951, he accepted the position of president of LSU; his tenure
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HR NO. 37
1as president was marked by tremendous growth, including the building of a new library; in
21962, General Middleton retired from LSU as president emeritus; and
3 WHEREAS, after his retirement, in 1965, Governor McKeithen selected General
4Middleton to chair the Commission on Human Relations, Rights, and Responsibilities, a
5commission designed to address race relations in Louisiana; and
6 WHEREAS, in 1973, the Middleton Collection of Memorabilia was dedicated at
7LSU; housed in the university's library, the collection included pictures, letters, citations,
8awards, plaques, a uniform, riding boots, a saber, and other artifacts and documents; these
9items were later moved to the university archives in the old Hill Memorial Library on
10campus; General Middleton was very proud of his part in helping the long-needed new
11library to be built during his presidency, and in 1978, two decades after its formal dedication
12ceremony, the LSU Board of Supervisors officially named the LSU library the "Troy H.
13Middleton Library"; and
14 WHEREAS, in addition to his numerous military medals, including the Victory
15Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Honor, American Theater Medal, and
16World War II Medal, General Middleton was the deserving recipient of many honors and
17awards, including the honorary degree of doctor of laws from LSU, the Annual Brotherhood
18Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and being named by the
19Louisiana Association of Broadcasters as Louisianian of the Year, to name just a few; and
20 WHEREAS, Louisiana owes a profound debt of gratitude to General Middleton, a
21deeply admired member of the Greatest Generation; and
22 WHEREAS, General Troy H. Middleton merits a special measure of posthumous
23commendation for the pride and honor that he will forever bring to his family, Louisiana
24State University, the state of Louisiana, and the United States of America.
25 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
26Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend General Troy H. Middleton posthumously
27for his contributions to his state and nation and does hereby express heartfelt appreciation
28for his enduring legacy of patriotism and service.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
30family of General Troy H. Middleton.
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HR NO. 37
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 37 Original 2020 First Extraordinary Session Hodges
Commends Gen. Troy H. Middleton posthumously for his contributions to his state and
nation.
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