2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 203
BY SENATORS CORTEZ, ABRAHAM, ALLAIN, BARROW, BERNARD,
BOUDREAUX, BOUIE, CLOUD, FESI, FIELDS, FOIL, HARRIS,
HENRY, HENSGENS, HEWITT, JOHNS, LAMBERT, LUNEAU,
MCMATH, MILLIGAN, FRED MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL,
MORRIS, PEACOCK, PETERSON, POPE, PRICE, REESE, SMITH,
TALBOT, WHITE AND WOMACK
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
Louisiana upon the death of Timothy James Prather.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members and staff
of the Louisiana Senate learned of the death of former Senate Counsel and director of the
Governmental Affairs Division, Timothy James Prather, on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at
the age of fifty-nine; and
WHEREAS, Tim was born in Mamou and raised in Lafayette where he attended first
grade with Senate President Patrick "Page" Cortez and later graduated from Lafayette High
School and University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at
Lafayette), and worked as an emergency medical technician for Acadian Ambulance Service
before enrolling at Southern University Law Center in the fall of 1986; and
WHEREAS, while pursuing his law degree, Tim fixed his sights on his smart,
vivacious classmate Dalora Salter, who became his study partner during school and would
later become his bride, mother of his children, and the love of his life; and
WHEREAS, Tim began working for Judiciary C committee of the Senate in 1991
and over the next three decades he would staff numerous other standing and special
committees and was promoted to Senate Counsel in 2000 and division director of the
Governmental Affairs Division in 2008; and
WHEREAS, among his many professional contributions to the Senate, Tim is most
recognized for his work and training on Amendment Room processes which are still
followed today and his lead staffing on the Senate's Commission on Streamlining
Government; and
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WHEREAS, due to health concerns and the added stress of public service during the
pandemic, in July of 2020, Tim retired from the Senate, concluding a career spanning
twenty-nine years and filled with an abundance of friends and precious memories to start the
next chapter of his life; and
WHEREAS, upon his retirement Tim planned to relocate and live out his days with
his family away from the city, surrounded by livestock and fresh produce, where he would
be free to indulge in his favorite hobbies including practicing Jujitsu, riding his motorcycle,
flying a plane, scuba diving and snorkeling, and traveling in search of the tastiest link of
boudin or the perfect pair of boots; and
WHEREAS, above all, Tim was a devoted family man; he loved spending time with
his wife and best friend, Dalora Salter, and his beloved children, Samantha and Timothy, in
whom he took tremendous pride and who were the source of much joy in his life; and
WHEREAS, Tim will be missed profoundly by his family and the many other people
whose lives he touched with his easy smile and compassion, stories, laughter, and joie de
vivre; and
WHEREAS, with the death of Timothy James Prather, the state has lost one of her
finest sons, a man who will be remembered by all who were lucky enough to know him,
including the members of his Senate family, all of whom mourn the loss of this wonderful
man who served this institution and this state so well.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
hereby expresses its sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Timothy James
Prather, recognizes and records for posterity his long and storied tenure with the Senate, and
expresses enduring gratitude for his career devoted to public service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
wife, Dalora Salter.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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