SLS 221ES-152 ORIGINAL
2022 First Extraordinary Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 8
BY SENATORS CATHEY AND MORRI S
CONDOLENCES. Expresses sincere condolences upon the death of former Louisiana State
Senator Willie E. Crain Sr.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 passing of former Louisiana State Senator, Willie Eugean Crain Sr., to acknowledge
4 his lifelong commitment to public service, and to note his many contributions made
5 on behalf of the state of Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, it is with great sorrow of spirits and sadness of hearts that the members
7 of the Louisiana Senate learned of the passing of former Louisiana State Senator Willie
8 Eugean Crain Sr., at the age of seventy-nine, on February 12, 2022; and
9 WHEREAS, the middle child of twelve children, Willie Crain was born on
10 November 7, 1942, to his loving parents, Edward, a farmer and Baptist preacher, and Gussie
11 Lee Crain; and
12 WHEREAS, he was a born leader and his achievements began at a young age; he was
13 the Captain of the Oak Grove Fighting Tigers football team, an All-District Linebacker, and
14 was named Mr. Oak Grove High School; and
15 WHEREAS, in addition to high school extracurricular activities, Willie Crain worked
16 for KWCL Radio Station in Oak Grove as a disc jockey, where he met the love of his life,
17 Dorothy Fuller; and
18 WHEREAS, after graduating from Oak Grove High School, Willie Crain married
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1 Dorothy Fuller, enlisted in the United States Air Force, and moved across the globe to his
2 duty station in Pakistan to serve as a sergeant in the intelligence division; and
3 WHEREAS, while serving his country, he pursued higher education at Centenary
4 College, Louisiana Tech University, and Northeast Louisiana University, now known as the
5 University of Louisiana at Monroe; and
6 WHEREAS, Dorothy and Willie Crain eventually settled in Monroe, Louisiana,
7 where their five children were raised and he began his career in the automobile business, first
8 opening his own leasing company and then his own dealership, Crain
9 Chevrolet-Olds-Pontiac, in Rayville, Louisiana; and
10 WHEREAS, Willie Crain was an active member of his community and served
11 tirelessly for the benefit of others; and
12 WHEREAS, he was a member of the Scottish Rite and the Bayou Desiard Optimist
13 Club where he served as president; he was a longtime, faithful member of Lakeshore Baptist
14 Church where he taught Sunday School to the youth for many years; he also coached many
15 of his children's sports teams and proudly served as the NLU, now ULM, Athletic Booster
16 Club President and was a very colorful commentator for the football radio broadcast; and
17 WHEREAS, from his humble beginnings and throughout his life, Willie Crain's drive
18 to succeed was guided by his servant's heart; and
19 WHEREAS, his political career began when he was elected as a police juror for
20 Ouachita Parish, where he served as jury president, and during his tenure on the police jury,
21 he was responsible for creating the East Ouachita Recreation District and countless other
22 advancements for Ouachita Parish; and
23 WHEREAS, in 1988, Willie Crain became the Louisiana State Senator for District
24 33; he was a visionary and it was his thoughtfulness, intelligence, and charisma that helped
25 him successfully navigate the legislative process like no other at the time; and
26 WHEREAS, he served on several committees during his first term and as a freshman
27 senator was selected to be the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Municipal
28 Affairs; and
29 WHEREAS, Willie Crain was instrumental in enacting legislation that secured
30 funding for countless projects across the state, including the ULM Library, Forsythe
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1 Extension, the Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Louisiana
2 Cotton Museum; and
3 WHEREAS, his influence while serving in the Senate was tremendous and he
4 cherished the honor of being selected "Legislator of the Year" on many occasions; and
5 WHEREAS, to put it simply, Willie Crain did a lot of good for a lot of people and
6 his positive impact on Louisiana, especially in Senate District 33, will be felt for generations
7 to come; and
8 WHEREAS, when his time in the Louisiana Senate came to an end, Willie Crain
9 founded Louisiana Consulting and Planning and worked diligently as a consultant to obtain
10 funding for municipalities and rural areas of Northeast Louisiana; and
11 WHEREAS, Willie Crain leaves behind an incredible legacy of a successful
12 businessman and devoted public servant, but his greatest legacy of all is his family to whom
13 he taught the importance of kindness, compassion, leadership, service, hard work, family,
14 and faith; and
15 WHEREAS, Willie Eugean Crain Sr. was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two
16 years, Dorothy Fuller Crain; daughter, Traci Crain Cleveland; parents, Edward and Gussie
17 Lee Crain; brothers, Mack Crain and Frank Crain; sisters, Janett Wingo, and Linda Finley;
18 father- and mother-in-law, R.E. and Claudine Prine Fuller; brothers- and sister-in-law, Billy
19 Fuller, Clyde Fuller, and Jeanette Fuller Hale; and
20 WHEREAS, left to cherish his memory are his sons, Gene Crain and wife, Missy,
21 and Scott Crain and wife, Mandy; daughters, Tammy Crain Waldrop and Tana Higdon and
22 husband, Creg; son-in-law, David Cleveland; thirteen grandchildren; eleven
23 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews; and
24 WHEREAS, Willie Crain was a loving father to Tammy Crain Waldrop, our friend
25 and Senate Researcher and special condolences are extended to Tammy and her family; and
26 WHEREAS, Willie Eugean Crain Sr. was larger than life and leaves behind a
27 tremendous legacy as a devoted family man, businessman, and public servant and he will be
28 forever missed by all those who knew and loved him.
29 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
30 does hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the family of Willie
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1 Eugean Crain Sr., acknowledge his lifelong commitment to public service, and note his
2 many contributions made on behalf of the state of Louisiana.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
4 family of Willie E. Crain Sr.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Ridge.
DIGEST
SR 8 Original 2022 First Extraordinary Session Cathey
Expresses condolences upon the death of former State Senator Willie Eugean Crain Sr.
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