SLS 21RS-2576 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 203
BY SENATOR CORTEZ
CONDOLENCES. Expresses the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Louisiana Senate
on the death of Timothy James Prather.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
3 Louisiana upon the death of Timothy James Prather.
4 WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members and staff
5 of the Louisiana Senate learned of the death of former Senate Counsel and director of the
6 Governmental Affairs Division, Timothy James Prather, on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at
7 the age of fifty-nine; and
8 WHEREAS, Tim was born in Mamou and raised in Lafayette where he attended first
9 grade with Senate President Patrick "Page" Cortez and later graduated from Lafayette High
10 School and University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at
11 Lafayette), and worked as an emergency medical technician for Acadian Ambulance Service
12 before enrolling at Southern University Law Center in the fall of 1986; and
13 WHEREAS, while pursuing his law degree, Tim fixed his sights on his smart,
14 vivacious classmate Dalora Salter, who became his study partner during school and would
15 later become his bride, mother of his children, and the love of his life; and
16 WHEREAS, Tim began working for Judiciary C committee of the Senate in 1991
17 and over the next three decades he would staff numerous other standing and special
18 committees and was promoted to Senate Counsel in 2000 and division director of the
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SLS 21RS-2576 ORIGINAL
1 Governmental Affairs Division in 2008; and
2 WHEREAS, among his many professional contributions to the Senate, Tim is most
3 recognized for his work and training on Amendment Room processes which are still
4 followed today and his lead staffing on the Senate's Commission on Streamlining
5 Government; and
6 WHEREAS, due to health concerns and the added stress of public service during the
7 pandemic, in July of 2020, Tim retired from the Senate, concluding a career spanning
8 twenty-nine years and filled with an abundance of friends and precious memories to start the
9 next chapter of his life; and
10 WHEREAS, upon his retirement Tim planned to relocate and live out his days with
11 his family away from the city, surrounded by livestock and fresh produce, where he would
12 be free to indulge in his favorite hobbies including practicing Jujitsu, riding his motorcycle,
13 flying a plane, scuba diving and snorkeling, and traveling in search of the tastiest link of
14 boudin or the perfect pair of boots; and
15 WHEREAS, above all, Tim was a devoted family man; he loved spending time with
16 his wife and best friend, Dalora Salter, and his beloved children, Samantha and Timothy, in
17 whom he took tremendous pride and who were the source of much joy in his life; and
18 WHEREAS, Tim will be missed profoundly by his family and the many other people
19 whose lives he touched with his easy smile and compassion, stories, laughter, and joie de
20 vivre; and
21 WHEREAS, with the death of Timothy James Prather, the state has lost one of her
22 finest sons, a man who will be remembered by all who were lucky enough to know him,
23 including the members of his Senate family, all of whom mourn the loss of this wonderful
24 man who served this institution and this state so well.
25 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
26 hereby expresses its sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Timothy James
27 Prather, recognizes and records for posterity his long and storied tenure with the Senate, and
28 expresses enduring gratitude for his career devoted to public service.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
30 wife, Dalora Salter.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sam Senate.
DIGEST
SR 203 Original 2021 Regular Session Cortez
Expresses condolences upon the death of Timothy James Prather.
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