SLS 21RS-3756 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 253
BY SENATORS ABRAHAM AND JOHNS
CONDOLENCES. Expresses sincere condolences upon the deaths of John and Jennie Lee
Falgout.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 deaths of John Murphy Falgout Sr. and Jennie Lee Falgout.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
5 Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the passing of Jennie Lee Falgout on
6 May 25, 2021, and John Murphy Falgout Sr. on June 7, 2021; and
7 WHEREAS, Jennie Lee Bruno Falgout born on January 23, 1931, in Erath,
8 Louisiana, to Edna and Dallas Bruno and grew up in Vinton, Louisiana, prior to moving to
9 and living the majority of her life in Lake Charles, Louisiana; and
10 WHEREAS, while her great calling and strength was that of a wife, mother, and
11 grandmother, she cared greatly for her own education and the education of others; and
12 WHEREAS, she attended Southwest Louisiana Institute (now University of
13 Louisiana-Lafayette) where she earned a bachelor's degree in education and McNeese State
14 University where she earned a Masters of Guidance and Counseling; and
15 WHEREAS, she carried her love for education and others into a successful career
16 teaching business, typing, and shorthand for several years at Vinton High School; and
17 WHEREAS, she later became the High School guidance counselor at Moss Bluff
18 High School and LaGrange High School, where she retired after thirty-two years of
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1 faithfully serving her students and colleagues; and
2 WHEREAS, Mrs. Falgout was a member of St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Lake
3 Charles, Louisiana, and her love for her family, her devotion to God, and her ongoing
4 commitment to education could not be separated from her deep Catholic faith; and
5 WHEREAS, whether she was baking her irresistible chocolate cake, stirring her
6 unbeatable rice and gravy, threading a sewing needle, or giving thoughtful advice to one of
7 her children or grandchildren, Jennie Lee's virtues were visible to all and can be seen in the
8 generations of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and
9 WHEREAS, John Murphy Falgout Sr., a native of Delcambe, Louisiana, was born
10 January 6, 1928, to Aurelie Joseph Falgout and Agnes Marie Babineaux; and
11 WHEREAS, at age eighteen, he joined the Navy and served overseas in Tsingtao,
12 China, on the USS Sierra; he was later stationed in San Diego, California, where he excelled
13 at playing football for Destroyer Pacific (Des Pac); and
14 WHEREAS, after being honorably discharged from the Navy, he continued his
15 education and took his football skills to Southwestern Louisiana Institute where he met his
16 beautiful bride of seventy years, Jennie Lee Falgout; and
17 WHEREAS, at SLI, John earned a B.S. in Education and set football receiving
18 records that stood for many years, signed a contract with the New York Giants, was later
19 inducted into the USL Football Hall of Fame, and was honored by USL in 1987 with the
20 Outstanding Alumni Award for the Class of 1952; and
21 WHEREAS, he then furthered his education and earned a master's degree in
22 Education Administration from McNeese State University; and
23 WHEREAS, in 1953, John began an extended and successful career as a teacher,
24 coach, and school principal spanning from Abbeville to Vinton to Lake Charles High
25 School; and
26 WHEREAS, after retiring as Principal of LCHS, he continued to serve Calcasieu
27 Parish as an elected School Board member for twenty plus years where he proudly served
28 as vice president and president, and later president, of the Louisiana State School Board; and
29 WHEREAS, in 1980, his hard work continued into a fulfilling second career as a
30 consultant for Garber Industries; and
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1 WHEREAS, John Falgout's passion, virtue, and dedication can be found in the
2 countless stories told by those whose lives he touched; and
3 WHEREAS, John was an active member of St. Margaret Catholic Church, Knights
4 of Columbus (3rd and 4th degree), the Louisiana School Board Association, National School
5 Board Association, Southwest Louisiana Principal's Association, Louisiana Principals'
6 Association, Calcasieu Education Association, Louisiana Education Association, National
7 Education Association, State and National Principals Association, TPA, and Woodmen of
8 the World Organizations, and National Association of Secondary School Principals
9 Association, as well as being active in the Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana, and Calcasieu
10 school athletic associations; and
11 WHEREAS, he served in the Air Force Reserves and retired at the rank of Captain;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, throughout his life he demonstrated a strong faith in God, love for his
14 family, and an unwavering commitment to education and athletics; and
15 WHEREAS, whether he was boiling crawfish, barbecuing, playing golf, or joking
16 and kidding with his friends and family, John instilled his virtues so they may be carried on
17 in the generations of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and
18 WHEREAS, Jennie Lee was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Estelle
19 McCarthy; John was preceded in death by his beloved wife; his parents; and five siblings,
20 Herman, Howard, Frank, Mable, and Myrtis; and
21 WHEREAS, Jennie Lee was survived by her husband and two sisters, Janet Breaux
22 and Muriel Guidry; John was survived by a sister Lillian LeBlanc; and they both were
23 survived by five children and their spouses: Charlene Falgout, Yvonne Chafin (Scott Chafin
24 Sr.), John Falgout Jr. (Kristin Falgout), Paul Falgout (Karla Falgout), and Terry Falgout,
25 along with eighteen grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren; and
26 WHEREAS, the passing of John and Jennie Lee Falgout has left a substantial void
27 and a sense of loss in the people whose lives they touched, and their memory will live
28 forever in the hearts of all those who knew and loved this truly wonderful couple.
29 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
30 does hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolence to the family of John and
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1 Jennie Lee Falgout on the occasion of their deaths.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to their
3 children, Charlene Falgout, Yvonne Chafin, John Falgout Jr, Paul Falgout, and
4 Terry Falgout.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 253 Original 2021 Regular Session Abraham
Expresses condolences upon the deaths of John Murphy Falgout Sr. and Jennie Lee Falgout.
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