HLS 23RS-224 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 38
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
CONDOLENCES: Expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death
of Kenneth Louis Odinet, Sr.
1 A RESOLUTION
2To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Kenneth
3 Louis Odinet, Sr.
4 WHEREAS, it is with immense sadness and profound regret that the House of
5Representatives has learned of the death, on December 30, 2022, of former state
6representative and pillar of St. Bernard Parish, Kenneth Louis Odinet, Sr.; and
7 WHEREAS, Kenneth Louis Odinet, Sr., was born in the census-designated area of
8Arabi in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, on October 9, 1930, and was the youngest of five
9children born to Bertrand Louis Odinet and Mary Hammel Odinet; he attended Maumus
10High School and graduated in 1947; and
11 WHEREAS, after high school, Ken enrolled at Louisiana State University, where he
12served as the president of the College of Engineering and graduated in 1951 with a bachelor
13of science degree in petroleum engineering; upon graduating, he received a commission as
14a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army and served in combat during the Korean Conflict;
15and
16 WHEREAS, Mr. Odinet received the Bronze Star and a Korean Presidential Citation
17for his military service in Korea; after receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to
18Louisiana to work as an offshore drilling engineer at Gulf Oil; in 1954, he married Rosemary
19Popich of Buras, Louisiana, and they had thirteen children together; and
20 WHEREAS, Mr. Odinet returned to LSU to continue his education and received a
21master of science in petroleum engineering; after finishing his graduate studies, he worked
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HR NO. 38
1for several years at Popich Marine Construction, Inc., Ingram Contractors, Inc., and Barnett
2Contractors, Inc.; in 1973, he formed his own company, Kenneth L. Odinet and Associates,
3Inc., providing engineering, project management, and inspection services to the oil and gas
4and maritime industries; and
5 WHEREAS, Ken was also incredibly civic-minded and served both St. Bernard
6Parish and the state of Louisiana with honor for many years; he briefly served as the
7executive director of the St. Bernard Parish Water and Sewerage Commission before being
8elected to serve District 103 in the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1987; he
9considered his twenty years of legislative service, representing St. Bernard Parish and New
10Orleans East, both an honor and a privilege, and he took great pride in helping his
11constituents, especially following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina; and
12 WHEREAS, Mr. Odinet was a faithful Christian who sought guidance from God in
13all that he did; he served for many years as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and
14lector at St. Maurice Catholic Church in New Orleans; and
15 WHEREAS, Mr. Odinet was the recipient of numerous awards and honors
16throughout his inspiring life; in 1996, he and his wife were recognized by the LSU Board
17of Supervisors and the LSU Alumni Association for having the greatest number of LSU
18graduates in a single family; they also received the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion from the
19Archdiocese of New Orleans for their outstanding service to the church parish; despite these
20honors, his considered his greatest achievement raising and providing for his thirteen
21children; and
22 WHEREAS, Ken is remembered for his unfailing kindness and generous heart; he
23was always ready and willing to help anyone in need and had a sharp mind and many talents;
24he leaves to cherish his memory his wife Rosemary; sons, Kenneth, Jr., and his wife
25Michelle, Nicholas, and his wife Barbara, John, Bertrand, and his wife Leigh Anne, Robert,
26and his wife Angela, Christopher, and his wife Katherine, and Michael, and his wife
27Lambertina; daughters, Mary Lynn Baumgartner, and her husband Eric, Jude Chabert, and
28her husband Scotty, Sr., Amy, Veronica Koclanes, and her husband George, Rebecca Frey,
29and her husband Keith, and Rosemary "Rodi" Rodriguez, and her husband Ramon; and
30numerous grandchildren; he will be deeply missed but certainly never forgotten.
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HR NO. 38
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
2Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express heartfelt condolences on the death of Ken
3Odinet; does hereby recognize his incredible service to St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans
4East, and the state as a distinguished former member of the Legislature of Louisiana; and
5does hereby extend sincerest wishes that his family, friends, and loved ones find comfort in
6their shared memory of his beautiful 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)]
HR 38 Original 2023 Regular Session Garofalo
Expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of Kenneth Louis
Odinet, Sr.
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