HLS 23RS-1228 ORIGINAL 2023 Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 44 BY REPRESENTATIVE FIRMENT AND SENATORS B ERNARD AND LUNEAU CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences on the death of Randell Aaron Fletcher 1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION 2To express the condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Randell Aaron 3 Fletcher. 4 WHEREAS, it is with immense sadness and profound regret that the Legislature of 5Louisiana has learned of the passing, on April 12, 2023, of Randell Aaron Fletcher; and 6 WHEREAS, Randell Aaron Fletcher was born in Verda, Louisiana, on July 9, 1935, 7to Aaron and Edna Fletcher; the Fletcher family is one of Grant Parish's oldest pioneer 8families, originally settling in the hills around Verda and Hargis in the late 1700s; and 9 WHEREAS, Randell was a member of the graduating class of 1953 at Verda High 10School; he went on to attend Northwestern State University where he earned bachelor's and 11master's degrees in education; his time as a college student was the only time he had lived 12outside of his beloved Grant Parish; and 13 WHEREAS, Randell married Geraldine Hale, whom he had known since first grade, 14on November 26, 1954; they raised three children, Steve, Becky, and Celeste; and 15 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher began his professional career as a teacher at Colfax High 16School in 1958; he taught for twenty years, during which time he was elected to the Grant 17Parish Police Jury at the age of thirty-five; he stepped away from teaching in 1978 to run for 18the office of tax assessor, which he won handily at the age of forty; and 19 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher faithfully served Grant Parish for twenty years before 20voluntarily stepping down to focus on mission work; he made sixteen trips to various Latin 21American countries to help spread the gospel; and Page 1 of 2 HLS 23RS-1228 ORIGINAL HCR NO. 44 1 WHEREAS, Randell's most prolific characteristic was his incredible faith; he joined 2Verda Baptist Church in 1948 and faithfully served the church as a deacon from 1957 until 3his passing; he was the church's treasurer for decades and organized many mission trips; and 4 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher played a pivotal role in the meteoric growth of Bank of 5Montgomery, which saw the expansion of its footprint across central Louisiana and into 6Texas after Randell succeeded his father on the board in 1990; and 7 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher was an incredibly civic-minded individual who served his 8community in every manner that he was capable of; he sat on the Red River Waterway 9Commission and was appointed by the governor to sit on the Grant Parish board of election 10supervisors; he represented his community and parish on numerous other boards and 11commissions; and 12 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher's survivors include his wife of sixty-eight years, Geraldine 13Hale Fletcher; son, Steve Fletcher; daughters, Becky Reeder and Celeste Fletcher, and her 14husband John Wardlow; grandchildren, Kristen Tarver, and her husband Adam, Joshua 15Fletcher, Carrie Butler, and her husband Blake, Heather Herron, and her husband Joe, Zach 16Reeder, and his wife Samantha, and Leanne Foreman, and her husband Clay; and great- 17grandchildren, Indy Ammons, Luke Butler, Allie Butler, Seth Herron, Kate Herron, Rhett 18Reeder, Brady Foreman, and Camille Foreman; and 19 WHEREAS, Randell Aaron Fletcher was a pillar of Grant Parish; he will be deeply 20missed by all who knew him, but his legacy will live on. 21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 22express heartfelt condolences on the death of Randell Aaron Fletcher and does hereby extend 23sincerest wishes that his family, friends, and loved ones find comfort in their shared 24memories of his life. 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 44 Original 2023 Regular Session Firment Expresses the condolences of the legislature on the death of Randell Aaron Fletcher. Page 2 of 2