HLS 22RS-1109 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 30
BY REPRESENTATIVE FONTENOT AND SENATOR F ESI
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences on the death of Earl Joseph Thibodaux
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To express the condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana on the death of Earl Joseph
3 Thibodaux.
4 WHEREAS, Earl Joseph Thibodaux was born in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on
5February 1, 1955; he was the fourth of seven children born to the union of F.E. and Flo
6Thibodaux; and
7 WHEREAS, Earl possessed all of the qualities of a leader from an early age; his
8entrepreneurial drive motivated him to earn money by selling bicycle parts to his friends and
9pumping gas, stocking shelves, and delivering groceries at his family's grocery store; he was
10also a highly active and involved student at E.D. White High School, where he served on the
11student council and was among the starting offensive linemen on the varsity football team;
12and
13 WHEREAS, while in high school, Mr. Thibodaux met the love of his life, Ann
14Soignet, and proposed to her at their senior prom; they married on December 28, 1973, the
15anniversary of their first date; and
16 WHEREAS, the Thibodauxs relocated to Columbus, Georgia, after Earl enlisted in
17the United States Army; he served his country and was honorably discharged in 1976; and
18 WHEREAS, Mr. Thibodaux returned to Louisiana after his service, and he earned
19a degree in business administration from Nicholls State University; he owned and operated
20a Montgomery Ward location before beginning a decades-long career in long-term
21healthcare; and
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HCR NO. 30
1 WHEREAS, shortly after Earl embarked on his new career, the Thibodauxs
2welcomed their daughter, Julie, into the world; Mr. Thibodaux lived to make his daughter
3happy and always made sure to remind her that she was his pride and joy; he cherished
4bragging about her completing law school at Loyola University in New Orleans; and
5 WHEREAS, the majority of Mr. Thibodaux's career in long-term healthcare was
6spent with currently-named Pathway South, LLC; he began in 1985 and became president
7of operations in the early 2000s; he was known to treat colleagues as an extension of his
8family and was affectionately known as "Mr. T" or "Papa T"; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Thibodaux was a genuine friend and a dedicated member of the
10Thibodaux community; he regularly volunteered in both his community and the surrounding
11areas; his civic involvement included volunteering as an advisor to the E.D. White Key
12Club/Kiwanis organization, serving as a commentator at St. Joseph Cathedral, serving as a
13board member and retreat captain emeritus for Manresa House of Retreats, and serving as
14a member and chairman of the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Nursing Facility
15Administrators; and
16 WHEREAS, Mr. Thibodaux loved spending time with family and friends, visiting
17Walt Disney World, fishing at Six Forks Camp in Port Gibson, and playing cards with his
18brothers; in 2015, he experienced "one of the highlights of his life" by being named the 63rd
19King of the Krewe of Christopher, an organization with which his family had long-standing
20involvement; and
21 WHEREAS, Earl Joseph Thibodaux is survived by his wife, Ann Soignet Thibodaux;
22daughter, Julie Thibodaux; Nicholas Poché, who is like an adopted son to the Thibodauxs;
23and his siblings, Gene Thibodaux, and his wife Janet, Brenda Arceneaux, and her husband
24Steve, Eustis Thibodaux, and his wife Claudette, Denise Boudreaux, and her husband Mark,
25Jimmy Thibodaux, and Suzette Pickering, and her husband Billy; and
26 WHEREAS, Mr. Thibodaux leaves a truly beautiful legacy of unshakeable love and
27commitment to his wife, daughter, and siblings; he will be profoundly missed by his family
28and all those whose lives were improved by his generous spirit; he will be deeply missed.
29 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
30express heartfelt condolences on the death of Earl Joseph Thibodaux; does hereby recognize
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HCR NO. 30
1Mr. Thibodaux for his unrelenting dedication to his hometown of Thibodaux and the entire
2state of Louisiana; and does hereby extend sincere hopes that his family, friends, and former
3colleagues find comfort in their many shared memories of his life.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
5family of Earl Joseph Thibodaux.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 30 Original 2022 Regular Session Fontenot
Expresses the condolences of the legislature on the death of Earl Joseph Thibodaux.
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