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