2020 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 70
BY SENATORS JOHNS, ABRAHAM, ALLAIN, BARROW, BERNARD, BOUIE,
CARTER, CATHEY, CLOUD, CONNICK, CORTEZ, FESI, FIELDS,
FOIL, HARRIS, HENSGENS, HEWITT, LUNEAU, MCMATH,
MILLIGAN, FRED MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL, PEACOCK,
POPE, PRICE, REESE, SMITH, TALBOT, TARVER, WARD, WHITE
AND WOMACK
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of
Dr. Henry Gremillion, DDS, MAGD, Dean of the LSU Health New Orleans School
of Dentistry.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the passing of Dr. Henry Gremillion, on May 18,
2020; and
WHEREAS, a Louisiana native, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bascom Gremillion,
adopted at the age of seven months from an orphanage in north Louisiana and raised in
Cottonport, a small Louisiana farming community with a population of about two thousand
people; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from the LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry
in 1977, Dr. Gremillion opened a practice in Cottonport where he saw patients from all
walks of life – his neighbors, children in the Head Start Program, members of the
Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe, and nursing home residents; and
WHEREAS, his service to his community went far beyond taking care of their oral
health as he was a volunteer firefighter, a member of the local school board, and a member
of the city council where he sought to implement community fluoridation and move forward
with reapportionment to address the disparity in representation; and his many contributions
were publicly recognized when he was named 1989 Cottonport Citizen of the Year; and
WHEREAS, the quest to learn more to improve the quality of life for his patients led
to a two-year craniofacial pain fellowship at the University of Florida College of Dentistry
(UFCD), and, instead of being a stepping stone to return to private practice back home in
Louisiana, the fellowship led him to academic dentistry; and
WHEREAS, rising through the academic ranks, Dr. Gremillion was named the
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Parker E. Mahan Endowed Professor of Orofacial Pain in the Department of Orthodontics
and was a member of the dental staff of Shands Teaching Hospital; he also served as the
director of the UFCD Parker Mahan Facial Pain Center and its fellowship program in
craniomandibular dysfunction; and
WHEREAS, he returned to LSU in 2008 as the sixth dean since the founding of the
school of dentistry and the only alumnus to hold the position, and continued the school's
recovery from the devastation that followed Hurricane Katrina; he guided sorely needed
renovations to improve the learning environment for students; the preclinical laboratories
now rival those at any school anywhere; he enhanced patient care and research by
completing the only new building on the dental school campus since it was founded, the $31
million Allen A. Copping, DDS Advanced Clinical Care and Research Building which
opened in 2018; and
WHEREAS, he led the state's only school of dentistry and the only one in the country
with degree programs in dentistry, dental hygiene, and dental laboratory technology, but was
most proud of his students and often spoke of their "giving nature"; he delighted in helping
them with their community service projects like Give Kids a Smile Day and Adopt an Angel
where you could see him wheeling bikes into elevators down to the lobby for pick up by the
Salvation Army truck; and
WHEREAS, one of the programs closest to Dr. Gremillion's heart was the Summer
Enrichment Program, the purpose of the program being to diversify dentistry by identifying
and preparing students from underrepresented minority and disadvantaged backgrounds to
be competitive for application to, and then succeed in, dental school and in so doing,
changed the complexion of the dental school; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gremillion's many honors include LSU Health New Orleans School
of Dentistry Alumnus of Year in 2001, the school's highest alumnus award, and the
University of Florida College of Dentistry Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2007; and
WHEREAS, a beloved educator, the Florida Dental Association honored him as the
Florida Dental Educator of the Year in 2002 and 2006; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gremillion received the Louisiana Academy of General Dentistry
Career Service Award in 2003 and a 2007 Distinguished Professor by the University of
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Florida Blue Key Society; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the American Academy of General Dentistry honored Dr.
Gremillion with the prestigious Theodore V. Weclew Award for contributions to the
education of general dentists and, in 2009, the Dawson Academy honored him with its
Career Service Award; in 2010, he received the American Academy of Orofacial Pain
Service Award, and in 2015, was awarded the Pierre Fauchard Gold Medal, presented
annually to a dentist in the United States who has made outstanding contributions to the
progress and standing of the dental profession; one of the international dental honor
organization's most prestigious and exclusive awards; and
WHEREAS, he was a member of the American Dental Association, Louisiana Dental
Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental
Fraternity, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Pain Society, International
Association for the Study of Pain, American Equilibration Society, American Association
for Dental Research and International Association for Dental Research; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gremillion was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the
American Dental Education Association, the sole national organization representing
academic dentistry; and
WHEREAS, despite his national stature, Dr. Gremillion easily related to people from
all walks of life as students, faculty, patients, members of the community, elected officials,
and local, state, and national leaders all found him approachable, respectful, caring, engaged,
and down to earth; and
WHEREAS, he was a dedicated doctor, a nationally recognized educator, and a
visionary leader at local, state, and federal levels who inspired countless dental students
throughout his time as dean of the state's only dental school and whose vision steered the
school through expansions and renovations so that students can practice their skills in the
most advanced preclinical labs in America; and
WHEREAS, his contributions to the dental profession in Louisiana and nationally
are unparalleled; he leaves a legacy of professional standards, high ideals, integrity, quality
education, and service that will continue to shape dental practice for generations to come;
and
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WHEREAS, with his passing dental education has lost a true gentleman, scholar,
leader, and friend, and an incredible man, educator, and visionary; and
WHEREAS, his passion for the betterment of his beloved profession was powerful
and sincere; he truly understood, and more importantly, valued the relationships between the
school, the students, and the dental professionals; he worked tirelessly to make sure his
students had the proper education, exposure, and experience to share in his vision of
supporting all Louisiana communities; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gremillion is survived by his wife of forty-five years, Karleen
Mackey Gremillion; daughters Erin G. Jackson (Brad) and Lindsay G. Maples (Andy); and
sons Alan Gremillion (Sarah) and Scott Gremillion (Wendy); as well as ten grandchildren;
and
WHEREAS, he was one of the most respected in the world in his field of facial pain,
who was loved by all for his love of sharing his knowledge and his kind demeanor, a mentor
to many as a dentist and a loving person who will be dearly missed by his family, friends and
colleagues.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Dr. Henry Gremillion, does
hereby extend posthumous honor and tribute to Dr. Henry Gremillion for a distinguished
career of excellence which was marked by his uncompromising endeavor to improve the
LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry, the practice of dentistry, and the welfare of
his fellow citizens, and to make Louisiana a better place to live, and does hereby recognize
and record his singular and momentous contributions and achievements which will long be
remembered and will long continue to be a source of pride for his family, his friends, and
the state of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Karleen Mackey Gremillion and family.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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