SLS 23RS-1993 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 122
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
COMMENDATIONS. Recognizes and commends Patrick Fontenot for his leadership,
public service, and many years with Williams Progressive Life and Accident Insurance
Company.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To recognize and commend Patrick Fontenot for his leadership, public service, and many
3 years with Williams Progressive Life and Accident Insurance Company.
4 WHEREAS, Patrick Fontenot was born to Dudley and Melba Fontenot on March 17,
5 1946, in Opelousas, Louisiana, where he has lived for the majority of his life; and
6 WHEREAS, Patrick Fontenot graduated from Holy Ghost School in Opelousas in
7 1963; he studied business administration and management at Southern University in Baton
8 Rouge from 1963 to 1965, and studied business administration and management at Xavier
9 University in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1969 to 1970; and
10 WHEREAS, Mr. Fontenot served in the United States Air Force from 1964 through
11 1968 and was honorably discharged with a rank of sergeant; and
12 WHEREAS, while living in New Orleans from 1968 through 1981, Mr. Fontenot had
13 three children, Chris, Michelle, and Rachael, with his first wife, and in July 1977, he married
14 Patricia Martin Fontenot, with whom he had two more children, Marcelle and Christine; and
15 WHEREAS, for twelve years while growing his family, Mr. Fontenot held several
16 positions with Delta Airlines in New Orleans; serving in the areas of ramp, fuel, passenger,
17 and control agent; and
18 WHEREAS, in April of 1981, Patrick returned to Opelousas with his family and
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 122
SLS 23RS-1993 ORIGINAL
1 began a career with Williams Progressive Life and Accident Insurance Company (Williams
2 Progressive) as debit agent; and three years later in 1984, he was named district manager for
3 Williams Progressive, followed by another promotion to executive vice president of the
4 company in 1987; and
5 WHEREAS, in 1999, Patrick's dedication to Williams Progressive and his
6 extraordinary abilities propelled him to the positions he continues to hold twenty-four years
7 later of chief executive officer and president of the company; and
8 WHEREAS, during his active business career in Opelousas, Patrick also found time
9 to serve on numerous boards and commissions, including the Opelousas/St. Landry Chamber
10 of Commerce, Acadiana Workforce Solutions Board of Directors, Opelousas Downtown
11 Development Board, First Federal Savings and Loan of Opelousas, Teche Federal Savings
12 Bank, and as the chairman of the board of United Bank and Trust Company of New Orleans;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, Patrick has been appointed to several prestigious positions, including
15 the Southern University Board of Supervisors from 1990 through 1997, serving as board
16 chair in 1994 and 1995, and the Louisiana Insurers Conference board for ten years, serving
17 two years as chairman; and
18 WHEREAS, during Patrick's lengthy career in public service, he has been appointed
19 to numerous positions of consequence, many as a citizen working on government issues and
20 including the following: the Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission; the Opelousas Rural
21 Economic and Community Development Loan committee; the Acadiana Railroad
22 Development District; the Solid Waste Recycling committee for St. Landry and Evangeline
23 Parishes; the Opelousas Citizen Advisory committee; the Opelousas Industrial Inducement
24 committee; and the Economic Development Task Force of the Louisiana chapter of the
25 National Conference of Black Mayors; and
26 WHEREAS, Patrick led many of these endeavors, including having served as the
27 president of Zydeco Housing, a nonprofit organization that provides decent, safe, and
28 affordable homes for very low-to-moderate income families; as an interim member of the
29 St. Landry Parish School Board; and as chairman of the Opelousas Parks and Recreation
30 Commission baseball committee; and
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 122
SLS 23RS-1993 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Patrick maintained membership in Phi Beta Sigma, Rotary
2 International, and Frontiers International, and from the St. Landry Parish Democratic Party,
3 he has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and is a Hall of Fame inductee;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, with decades of service to family, work, and community, Patrick
6 Fontenot has worked tirelessly to improve his city and the entire Acadiana area and is
7 worthy of recognition for his efforts.
8 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
9 does hereby recognize and commend Patrick Fontenot for his leadership, public service, and
10 many years with Williams Progressive Life and Accident Insurance Company.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
12 Patrick Fontenot.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Dawn Romero Watson.
DIGEST
SR 122 Original 2023 Regular Session Boudreaux
Recognizes and commends Patrick Fontenot for his leadership, public service, and many
years with Williams Progressive Life and Accident Insurance Company.
Page 3 of 3