ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 16
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRASS
A RESOLUTION
To commend John C. Brass for his educational and civic accomplishments.
WHEREAS, John C. Brass is a retired educator and former high school basketball
coach who is also a pillar of the St. James Parish community; he is married to Jacquelyn
Jackson Brass, and they have two children, Ingrid Nicole Brass and Representative
Kendricks "Ken" Brass, and three grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Coach Brass is a 1963 graduate of Franklin Parish Training School,
where he was the captain of the school's basketball team and president of his graduating
class; he attended Southern University where he received a bachelor of science in education
in 1967, a master of education in 1973, and a master's plus thirty graduate hours in 1975; and
WHEREAS, Coach Brass first worked as a social studies teacher and basketball
coach at Union Central High School in Columbia, Louisiana, in 1967; after just one year, he
answered the call to defend his country by joining the United States Army and was stationed
in Fort Wainwright, Alaska; while there, he taught at Fort Wainwright Education Center in
Fairbanks, Alaska, and worked there until he was discharged in 1970; he achieved the rank
of Sergeant E-5 Personnel Specialist during his time in the army; and
WHEREAS, Coach Brass began his thirty-nine-year career in the St. James Parish
Public School System in August 1970; he first worked as a social studies teacher and head
basketball coach at St. James High School, and in 1987, he accepted the role of assistant
principal of the school; in 1991, he was named principal of St. James Jr. High School, where
he served for ten years; and
WHEREAS, Coach Brass served as a principal on special assignment at Lutcher
High School from 2001 until 2002; his final position was as principal of St. James Parish
Career Technology Alternative Center, where he served from 2002 until his retirement in
2009; on March 24, 2010, he was appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to serve on the board
of commissioners of the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District; and
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WHEREAS, Coach Brass is an incredibly civic-minded individual; in addition to
teaching, he also served as the organizer and director of the St. James Parish Biddy
Basketball Program, chairman of the St. James Parish Housing Authority Board, a member
of the St. James Parish Recreation Board, and as a deacon at First Community Antioch
Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Coach Brass is most deserving of the highest recognition for his
incredible accomplishments and for his unrelenting dedication to the service of his
community.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend John C. Brass for his educational and civic
accomplishments; does hereby further recognize Coach Brass's commitment to providing
for the youth in his community through education and athletics; and does hereby extend
sincerest wishes that his inspiring example of community service be followed by all
Louisianians.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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