2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 36
BY SENATOR JOHNS
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of
Colonel Bernard H. McLaughlin Jr.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the passing of Colonel Bernard H. "Bernie"
McLaughlin Jr. on February 28, 2021, at age sixty-nine, after a brief but hard-fought battle
with acute myeloid leukemia; and
WHEREAS, born in Darby, Pennsylvania, on September 19, 1951, Bernie was raised
in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and often spoke about growing up with the children of NASA's
scientist and astronauts; and
WHEREAS, the McLaughlin family home was situated on the beach and his early
ambition was to be a professional surfer, an idea he would laughingly say his parents did not
encourage; and
WHEREAS, gifted in both academics and athletics, he was an AAU swimmer,
winning many awards and honors and it was this combination that brought him to Louisiana
as a member of Louisiana State University's swim team; and
WHEREAS, while at LSU, Bernie was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity,
was an honors graduate, received a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science, earned
a Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert School of Law, and was a member of the LSU Law
Review; and
WHEREAS, he worked offshore during the summers of his college and law school
years as a means to pay his tuition and living expenses; and
WHEREAS, Bernie also managed the LSU Athletic Department's academic tutoring
program which provided him with an athletic scholarship to attend law school; and
WHEREAS, he moved to Lake Charles in 1976 to work with Oliver Stockwell, who
would become his mentor, and was later named a partner at Stockwell Sievert Law Firm; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Stockwell introduced Bernie to duck hunting which would become
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one of his lifelong passions; he rarely missed an opportunity to spend time hunting in the
marshes of Cameron Parish; and during duck season, it was not unusual to find Bernie
shooting a limit in the blind at daybreak then appearing in court dressed in a suit and tie by
10 A.M.; and
WHEREAS, he loved the practice of law and received Martindale-Hubbell's AV
rating, a peer-reviewed designation indicating the highest level of professionalism; and
WHEREAS, Bernie found his perfect niche when he moved to a practice as a
full-time mediator and spent countless hours preparing for each mediation, taking great pride
in doing all he could to bring each case to a resolution; and
WHEREAS, he held himself to the highest standard and gave his foremost effort on
each of the nearly four thousand cases he mediated through the years; and
WHEREAS, Bernie was acknowledged as an excellent mediator but an even better
person, a warrior but was always a gentleman; and
WHEREAS, he loved three things: his country, the practice of law, and most
importantly, his family; and
WHEREAS, Bernie was a great storyteller, a professional, and always spoke with
such pride about his wife, his two sons, and their accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, he was a mentor, friend, and role model to many in the legal
community; and
WHEREAS, throughout his life, Bernie believed that, "A man's highest honor is to
do his duty for his country"; and
WHEREAS, he accepted a commission as a Judge Advocate in the Louisiana Army
National Guard and his devotion to his country, state, and fellow Guardsmen was
unparalleled; and
WHEREAS, Bernie served during Operation Desert Storm and in 2004 was selected
to be part of the special task force during Operation Iraqi Freedom that assisted in creating
the Iraqi court system, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star; and
WHEREAS, over his years in the Guard, he was also awarded the Meritorious
Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign
Medal, Global War on Terrorism Served Medal, NATO Service Medal, among others; and
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WHEREAS, Bernie was a graduate of the Judge Advocate General School, U. S.
Army Combined Arms, and Service Staff College and U.S. Army Command, and General
Staff College and was awarded the Royal Thai Army parachute badge, Russian parachute
badge, Israeli Defense Forces parachutist badge, and the Royal Jordanian Army parachute
badge; and
WHEREAS, his service in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina garnered the
attention of author Douglas Brinkley who included Bernie's experiences in his bestselling
book The Great Deluge; and
WHEREAS, those who served with him coined the term "Combat JAG" to describe
Bernie because he so loved the excitement of the infantry; and
WHEREAS, Bernie was a member of the Krewe of Contraband, Krewe of Barataria,
and was honored as a Duke by the Krewe of Mystique; and
WHEREAS, he was an avid dog lover, owning many English Setters, Irish Setters,
Gordon Setters, and American Water Spaniels through the years; and
WHEREAS, Bernie was P.O.S.T. certified and served as a volunteer member of the
Welsh, Louisiana Police Department; and
WHEREAS, he loved his life in Southwest Louisiana and the special bond he had
with so many friends and often spoke about how he had lived his life to the fullest and
reminded us that in the end, the only regrets are chances not taken; and
WHEREAS, Bernie was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Bernard McLaughlin
Sr.; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife of twenty-eight years, Elizabeth Spiller
McLaughlin; their sons, Connor Jordan and Stratton Foy McLaughlin; his mother, Charlotte
Foy McLaughlin; and siblings Patti Cummins (Joe), Cathy Champion (Ken), Dr. Michael
McLaughlin (Donna), Charlotte McLaughlin, and Alicia Loving (Jon); many nieces and
nephews, as well as his beloved English Setter, Taser; and
WHEREAS, Bernard H. McLaughlin Jr., an attorney, a judge, a soldier, a family
man, and a leading citizen of Lake Charles, Louisiana, leaves a legacy of excellence and
commitment to his family, his faith, the law, his state, and the nation which marks a long
life, well lived; and
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WHEREAS, the strength of our communities and the overall vitality of American
society depend, in great measure, upon men like Bernard H. McLaughlin Jr. who use their
talents and resources to leave a legacy to benefit future generations.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
acknowledge the remarkable life and the unique and special contributions and
accomplishments of Bernard H. McLaughlin Jr., record for posterity the extraordinary
dedication and commitment to the law and to his country that he displayed throughout his
life, and extend sincere condolences to his family upon the occasion of his death.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Elizabeth Spiller McLaughlin.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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