HLS 22RS-2715 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 82
BY REPRESENTATIVES ECHOLS AND THOMPSON
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences on the death of William "Bill" Morgan
Davenport
1 A RESOLUTION
2To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of William
3 "Bill" Morgan Davenport.
4 WHEREAS, it is with immense sadness and profound regret that the House of
5Representatives has learned of the death, on April 14, 2022, of William "Bill" Morgan
6Davenport; and
7 WHEREAS, William Morgan Davenport was born on April 30, 1940, and he was
8raised in the village of Mer Rouge, Louisiana, which was first settled in 1804 by his
9ancestor, Josiah Davenport; and
10 WHEREAS, Bill graduated from Mer Rouge High School and then attended the
11University of Mississippi; while at Ole Miss, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order
12social fraternity, and he recounted his college years with the utmost fondness; and
13 WHEREAS, after graduating from Ole Miss, Mr. Davenport joined the United States
14Army and National Guard; after serving, he returned to his hometown where he and his
15brother, Joe Davenport, III, formed Davenport Bros., a partnership that operated substantial
16agricultural holdings; and
17 WHEREAS, Bill and his brother also shared responsibility over another business
18venture they undertook, the Andrews Morgan Farming Partnership; the two worked together
19until Joe's passing in 2010; seven years after his brother's death, Bill partially retired from
20farming; and
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HR NO. 82
1 WHEREAS, Mr. Davenport was a unique individual who lived by his own personal
2beliefs; he will be remembered as a man who was exceptionally reluctant to embrace
3modernity and often expressed his yearning for a return to the world of his youth; he never
4touched a keyboard over the course of his eighty-two year life and was especially averse to
5conversations over the phone, preferring instead to write letters to his friends and family; and
6 WHEREAS, Bill was as beloved for his generosity as he was known for his frugality;
7he was an impeccably polite gentleman who was capable of out-swearing a sailor, especially
8in his older years; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Davenport found his "knockout beauty" in a Monroe, Louisiana-
10born woman named Leila Stevens who grew up in Bronxville, New York; he lovingly
11referred to Leila as "his favorite Yankee" and recalled that "when they hit the dance floor,
12that's what sealed the deal"; the two married on August 15, 1970, and built a home in Mer
13Rouge where their union was blessed with two daughters; and
14 WHEREAS, William "Bill" Morgan Davenport leaves to cherish his memory his
15daughters, Heather Davenport McCastlain, and her husband Cal, and Leila Davenport Ross,
16and her husband Buff; and four grandchildren, William Davenport McCastlain, Margeaux
17Stevens McCastlain, William Davenport Ross, and Barlow Mitchell Ross; and
18 WHEREAS, Bill possessed a genuine "iron will" that was most evident during his
19successful battles with cancers in an eighteen-month period; he fought valiantly his whole
20life and passed with true gratitude and peace; he will be deeply missed but certainly not
21forgotten.
22 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
23Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express heartfelt condolences on the death of William
24"Bill" Morgan Davenport and does hereby extend sincere wishes that his family and friends
25find comfort during this difficult time.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
27family of William "Bill" Morgan Davenport.
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HR NO. 82
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)]
HR 82 Original 2022 Regular Session Echols
Expresses condolences on the death of William "Bill" Morgan Davenport.
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