SLS 20RS-952 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 44
BY SENATOR FOIL
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Denver Loupe.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 death of Denver Loupe, PhD, longtime 4-H leader and expert in sugarcane science.
4 WHEREAS, Denver Loupe was born on February 4, 1927, on a farm near Burnside,
5 Louisiana, in Ascension Parish to parents, Stephney Loupe and Linda Marie Gaudin Loupe;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, he was predeceased by his wife of sixty-eight years, Ferne Kemp Loupe
8 and the couple raised two children, Stephen and Stephenie; and
9 WHEREAS, Denver Loupe graduated from Gonzales High School, in Gonzales,
10 Louisiana, in 1944 and attended Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, Louisiana; and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. Loupe served his country in the United States Navy during World
12 War II, from 1944 to 1946; and
13 WHEREAS, upon returning from service, Denver Loupe attended Louisiana State
14 University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
15 Vocational Agriculture Education in 1949; and
16 WHEREAS, after graduating from LSU, he taught Vocational Agriculture, first at
17 Gonzales High School and, later, at Dutchtown High School; and
18 WHEREAS, Mr. Loupe was named County Agent in St. James Parish in 1952, the
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SLS 20RS-952 ORIGINAL
1 same year that he settled, permanently, in Baton Rouge and he was promoted to Sugarcane
2 Specialist in 1954; and
3 WHEREAS, Denver Loupe returned to LSU to continue his education and received
4 his Masters Degree in Agricultural Extension Education in 1957 and his PhD in Botany and
5 Plant Pathology in 1961; and
6 WHEREAS, he continued his work with the LSU AgCenter as the division leader in
7 plant science in 1972 and was named the director of that division in 1978; and
8 WHEREAS, Denver Loupe retired from his forty-one years of dedication to the LSU
9 AgCenter on June 30, 1993, having served as Vice-Chancellor of the AgCenter and Director
10 of the Cooperative Extension Service; and
11 WHEREAS, Denver and Ferne Loupe established and endowed the "Denver and
12 Ferne Loupe Fellowship" which is endowed in the LSU Foundation, a lasting legacy to a
13 beloved institution; and
14 WHEREAS, throughout his career, Dr. Loupe was a member of twenty-two
15 professional organizations and was considered an international authority in sugarcane
16 production and science; and
17 WHEREAS, Denver Loupe received numerous awards from youth groups,
18 agricultural associations and community organizations for his outstanding contributions to
19 all three aspects of his career; and
20 WHEREAS, he was deeply committed to serving the youth of Louisiana and the
21 nation through his involvement in 4-H, beginning with his involvement as a member of
22 Ascension Parish 4-H; and
23 WHEREAS, 4-H is a U.S. based network of youth organizations, founded in 1902,
24 whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field
25 of youth development"; and
26 WHEREAS, Dr. Loupe was the first president of the Louisiana 4-H Foundation
27 which was established during his tenure as state director of 4-H, he served as a board
28 member of the National 4-H Council and in 1983, he was recognized by National 4-H for
29 his outstanding service to the 4-H program nationwide; and
30 WHEREAS, throughout his career, Dr. Loupe received over thirty awards for his
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1 service to the people of Louisiana from numerous professional and community organizations
2 highlighting his positive impact in a state where agriculture is the lifeblood of the economy
3 and sugarcane is a primary crop; and
4 WHEREAS, Denver Loupe served as secretary, vice-chairman, and chairman of
5 Southern Region Extension Directors, he was a member of the National Extension
6 Committee on Organization and Policy, and in 1992 he was named Progressive Farmer
7 "1992 Man of the Year", an exceptional honor granted by his peers in agricultural extension
8 around the nation; and
9 WHEREAS, honored by those in his agricultural area of expertise, sugarcane science,
10 Dr. Loupe was elected general secretary of both the International Society of Sugarcane
11 Technologists and of the American Society of Sugarcane Technologists; and
12 WHEREAS, Denver Loupe was an ex-officio member of the Louisiana 4-H
13 Foundation, the Board of Directors of National 4-H Center, and he served as president of
14 Gamma Sigma Delta and was a recipient of their service award; and
15 WHEREAS, as a veteran of WWII, he was a sixty-five year member of LSU's
16 American Legion Boyd/Ewing Post 58 and an active member of the "Cadets of the Ole War
17 Skule"; and
18 WHEREAS, Denver Loupe was awarded LSU's highest honor when in 2007 he was
19 inducted into LSU's Military Hall of Honor; and
20 WHEREAS, throughout his ninety-three years, he was a man of commitment, service
21 and leadership, giving back to Louisiana's youth through 4-H, taking a leadership role in the
22 production and science of one of Louisiana's primary crops, sugarcane, serving in the U.S.
23 Navy, and investing in LSU's future and that of students statewide though an endowment gift
24 to Louisiana State University from Mr. Loupe and his wife, Ferne; and
25 WHEREAS, the contributions of Denver Loupe, PhD, are only summarized here but
26 will continue to be felt and celebrated for years to come.
27 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
28 does hereby express sincere condolences upon the death of Denver Loupe, PhD
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
30 children of Denver Loupe, Stephen, and Stephenie.
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SLS 20RS-952 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
SR 44 Original 2020 Regular Session Foil
Expresses condolences upon the death of Denver Loupe, PhD
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