SLS 23RS-2271 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 154
BY SENATOR BOUIE
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. upon his
accomplishments.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. upon his many accomplishments.
3 WHEREAS, born in 1936, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr., a native of Gonzales,
4 Louisiana, was born in 1936 to the union of his proud parents Lessie Robinson and Ernest
5 Marcelle Sr.; and
6 WHEREAS, Ernest Marcelle Jr. began working with Reverend T.J. Jimerson in
7 1953, in which he played an integral role in a bus boycott by transporting people to and from
8 work and was successful at integrating the bus system; and
9 WHEREAS, in 1954 he played an integral role in another successful bus boycott to
10 get black bus drivers, a vision which was achieved; and
11 WHEREAS, upon graduation from Prairieville High School in 1955, Reverend Dr.
12 Ernest Marcelle Jr. served in the United States Air Force as an air control technician working
13 on fighter planes; and
14 WHEREAS, after leaving the United States Air Force, Ernest Marcelle Jr. moved to
15 New Orleans, LA where he began working for Shelby Construction Company, starting as
16 a receiving clerk and finishing his tenure as a supervisor of construction in Terrytown; and
17 WHEREAS, from 1963 to 1967 Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. worked for the
18 Boeing Company at their Michoud as a supervisor of the parts department; and
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SLS 23RS-2271 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, in 1967, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. became Louisiana's first
2 black state trooper with the Louisiana State Police where he served until 1976; and
3 WHEREAS, Ernest Marcelle Jr. served as a body guard and driver in various roles,
4 including the detective bureau, Governor John McKeithen's security team and occasionally
5 as a bodyguard for Governor Edwin Edwards; and
6 WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr., an active participant in the National
7 Association of Black Police Officers, organized a local chapter in 1973; and
8 WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. filed a civil lawsuit against the
9 Louisiana State Police for passing him over for promotions, despite being employed with
10 the agency for nine years and by then earned a bachelor's degree in criminology from Loyola
11 University; and
12 WHEREAS, Ernest Marcelle Jr. was summarily terminated, and although he was
13 victorious in his civil lawsuit, the state did not honor the terms of judgment; and
14 WHEREAS, in 2004 Ernest Marcelle Jr. was inducted into the hall of fame in the
15 Line of Duty Museum in New York; and
16 WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr.'s many accomplishments include
17 serving as a board member for the African American Museum in Donaldsonville, Louisiana,
18 being inducted in the hall of fame at the Lion of Judah Museum in New York, volunteering
19 as a chaplain for the Louisiana state prison system, being a member of the disabled veterans
20 of American and served as the president of the counsel of Presidents of the cooperative
21 school club for ten years; and
22 WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. earned a master's degree in theology
23 from the McKinley Theological Seminar in Jackson, Mississippi, and a Doctor of Philosophy
24 degree from the A.P. Clay Bible College, served as an assistant pastor for Prayer Tower
25 Church of God in Christ for a number of years, two years as a Pastor at Jerusalem Church
26 of God in Christ and now an associate pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New
27 Orleans, Louisiana; and
28 WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. received numerous accolades and
29 honors for his civic activism and community service including the Outside Service to the
30 Community award, as well as the Unsung Hero award; and
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SLS 23RS-2271 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. has made significant contributions to
2 our nation, the state of Louisiana, and the community through his service in the Air Force
3 and Louisiana State Police, as well as his leadership in civil rights activism and community
4 organizations; and
5 WHEREAS, Ernest Marcelle Jr.'s groundbreaking achievements as Louisiana's first
6 black state trooper and his numerous accolades and honors for his civic activism and
7 community service serve as an inspiration to future generations; and
8 WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr.'s continued dedication to serving his
9 community as a volunteer chaplain, board member, and associate pastor demonstrates his
10 unwavering commitment to being a public servant and improving the lives of others.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
12 does hereby commend Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. for his many accomplishments and
13 thank him for his service to our country, state, and community.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
15 Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nicholas Davison.
DIGEST
SR 154 Original 2023 Regular Session Bouie
Commends Reverend Dr. Ernest Marcelle Jr. upon his many accomplishments.
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