SLS 23RS-1751 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 100
BY SENATOR CORTEZ
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Senator Louie Bernard for his forty-four years of
dedicated public service.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Honorable Louie Bernard on his forty-four years of dedicated public
3 service to the state of Louisiana and to express enduring gratitude for his outstanding
4 contributions made on behalf of his constituents of the parishes of Natchitoches,
5 Rapides, Red River, Sabine, and Winn.
6 WHEREAS, Senator Louis C. "Louie" Bernard is one of seven children born to
7 Henry and Jessie Bernard in Natchitoches, Louisiana; he attended Natchitoches High School
8 and is a proud graduate of Northwestern State University; and
9 WHEREAS, Senator Bernard began his career in public service as Secretary of the
10 Natchitoches Parish Police Jury where he served for sixteen years before running for Clerk
11 of Court of Natchitoches Parish; and
12 WHEREAS, Senator Bernard served twenty-four years as Clerk of Court of
13 Natchitoches Parish; while serving as the clerk of court, Senator Bernard served as the
14 President of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association from 1999 to 2000 and again from
15 2010 to 2011; and
16 WHEREAS, while serving as the Clerk of Court for Natchitoches Parish, Senator
17 Bernard was known for the integrity he brought to the office, the positive relationships he
18 fostered with judges, staff, and attorneys, and his recruitment of local Northwestern State
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1 University students for positions at the court; and
2 WHEREAS, often in attendance at festivals, parades, and events, Senator Bernard
3 readily shows how much he dearly loves the people of Natchitoches Parish; and
4 WHEREAS, being the ever eloquent, silver-tongued devil he is, Senator Bernard is
5 always in demand as the master of ceremonies of countless parish, state, and national events;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, as part of the immense pride he has in serving the people of
8 Natchitoches Parish, he also uses his gift with words, whether spoken or with the stroke of
9 a pen, to console many families during life's difficult times; and
10 WHEREAS, Senator Bernard retired as the Clerk of Court of Natchitoches Parish in
11 2016, and his service was celebrated at the Louisiana Clerks of Court annual retirement
12 luncheon in New Orleans; and
13 WHEREAS, after a brief rest, Senator Bernard desired to continue his public service
14 and in 2020, he filed to be a candidate for the Louisiana State Senate District 31 seat
15 representing Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, and Winn Parishes; and
16 WHEREAS, on Monday, January 13, 2020, in the Louisiana State Senate Chamber,
17 Senator Bernard took the oath of office and was officially seated as the State Senator from
18 Louisiana Senate District 31; and
19 WHEREAS, a humble man with dry wit and a sense of humor, Senator Bernard
20 brought with him to the Louisiana State Senate the same desire and dedication to serve the
21 constituents who elected him to the office and serve all citizens of Louisiana; and
22 WHEREAS, a natural problem solver, Senator Bernard focuses on details and is open
23 to sit at the table and work with others to address their concerns; and
24 WHEREAS, Senator Bernard's committee assignments include Senate Committee
25 on Insurance, serving as the vice chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
26 Aquaculture, and Rural Development, Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways, and
27 Public Works, Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, as an interim member, and,
28 Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay; and
29 WHEREAS, in June of 2022, Senator Bernard announced that he would not be
30 seeking reelection; the completion of his term as state senator will end forty-four years of
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1 dedicated and distinguished public service; and
2 WHEREAS, family is extremely important to Senator Bernard and he plans to spend
3 his time with his wife, Gayle, sons, Brandon and Clay, daughter, Anne, and his four
4 grandchildren, and many hours watching his grandchildren play ball; and
5 WHEREAS, Senator Louie Bernard will continue to be an active member of the
6 Natchitoches community; he is a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in
7 Natchitoches and an active alumnus of Northwestern State University where he diligently
8 works with the collegiate sponsor of Phi Beta Lambda, the collegiate version of Future
9 Business Leaders of America, to ensure that students that come from all over the state are
10 successful at Northwestern State University.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
12 does hereby commend the Honorable Louie Bernard for his years of distinguished public
13 service to the state of Louisiana and expresses enduring gratitude for his outstanding
14 contributions made on behalf of the constituents of the parishes of Natchitoches, Rapides,
15 Red River, Sabine, and Winn.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
17 hereby express enduring gratitude to Senator Bernard for his service to the citizens of
18 Louisiana and extend to him the most sincere wishes for many years of success and
19 happiness in all of his future endeavors.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Kathy Liberty.
DIGEST
SR 100 Original 2023 Regular Session Cortez
Commends Senator Louie Bernard for his forty-four years of dedicated public service.
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