2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 100
BY SENATORS CORTEZ, ABRAHAM, ALLAIN, BARROW, BOUDREAUX, BOUIE,
CARTER, CATHEY, CLOUD, CONNICK, DUPLESSIS, FESI,
FIELDS, FOIL, HARRIS, HENRY, HENSGENS, HEWITT, JACKSON,
KLEINPETER, LAMBERT, LUNEAU, MCMATH, MILLIGAN, FRED
MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL, MORRIS, PEACOCK, POPE,
PRICE, REESE, SMITH, STINE, TALBOT, TARVER, WHITE AND
WOMACK
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Honorable Louie Bernard on his forty-four years of dedicated public
service to the state of Louisiana and to express enduring gratitude for his outstanding
contributions made on behalf of his constituents of the parishes of Grant,
Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, and Winn.
WHEREAS, Senator Louis C. "Louie" Bernard is one of seven children born to
Henry and Jessie Bernard in Natchitoches, Louisiana; he attended Natchitoches High School
and is a proud graduate of Northwestern State University; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bernard began his career in public service as Secretary of the
Natchitoches Parish Police Jury where he served for sixteen years before running for Clerk
of Court of Natchitoches Parish; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bernard served twenty-four years as Clerk of Court of
Natchitoches Parish; while serving as the clerk of court, Senator Bernard served as the
President of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association from 1999 to 2000 and again from
2010 to 2011; and
WHEREAS, while serving as the Clerk of Court for Natchitoches Parish, Senator
Bernard was known for the integrity he brought to the office, the positive relationships he
fostered with judges, staff, and attorneys, and his recruitment of local Northwestern State
University students for positions at the court; and
WHEREAS, often in attendance at festivals, parades, and events, Senator Bernard
readily shows how much he dearly loves the people of Natchitoches Parish; and
WHEREAS, being the ever eloquent, silver-tongued devil he is, Senator Bernard is
always in demand as the master of ceremonies of countless parish, state, and national events;
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and
WHEREAS, as part of the immense pride he has in serving the people of
Natchitoches Parish, he also uses his gift with words, whether spoken or with the stroke of
a pen, to console many families during life's difficult times; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bernard retired as the Clerk of Court of Natchitoches Parish in
2016, and his service was celebrated at the Louisiana Clerks of Court annual retirement
luncheon in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, after a brief rest, Senator Bernard desired to continue his public service
and in 2020, he filed to be a candidate for the Louisiana State Senate District 31 seat
representing Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, and Winn Parishes; and
WHEREAS, on Monday, January 13, 2020, in the Louisiana State Senate Chamber,
Senator Bernard took the oath of office and was officially seated as the State Senator from
Louisiana Senate District 31; and
WHEREAS, a humble man with dry wit and a sense of humor, Senator Bernard
brought with him to the Louisiana State Senate the same desire and dedication to serve the
constituents who elected him to the office and serve all citizens of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, a natural problem solver, Senator Bernard focuses on details and is open
to sit at the table and work with others to address their concerns; and
WHEREAS, Senator Bernard's committee assignments include Senate Committee
on Insurance, serving as the vice chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
Aquaculture, and Rural Development, Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways, and
Public Works, Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, as an interim member,
Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay, and Legislative Audit Advisory
Committee; and
WHEREAS, in June of 2022, Senator Bernard announced that he would not be
seeking reelection; the completion of his term as state senator will end forty-four years of
dedicated and distinguished public service; and
WHEREAS, family is extremely important to Senator Bernard and he plans to spend
his time with his wife, Gayle, sons, Brandon and Clay, daughter, Anne, and his four
grandchildren, and many hours watching his grandchildren play ball; and
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WHEREAS, Senator Louie Bernard will continue to be an active member of the
Natchitoches community; he is a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in
Natchitoches and an active alumnus of Northwestern State University where he diligently
works with the collegiate sponsor of Phi Beta Lambda, the collegiate version of Future
Business Leaders of America, to ensure that students that come from all over the state are
successful at Northwestern State University.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend the Honorable Louie Bernard for his years of distinguished public
service to the state of Louisiana and expresses enduring gratitude for his outstanding
contributions made on behalf of the constituents of the parishes of Grant, Natchitoches,
Rapides, Red River, Sabine, and Winn.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby express enduring gratitude to Senator Bernard for his service to the citizens of
Louisiana and extend to him the most sincere wishes for many years of success and
happiness in all of his future endeavors.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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