2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 182
BY SENATOR FOIL
A RESOLUTION
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
to the family and friends of James Coleman on the occasion of his passing.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Legislature and the citizens of Louisiana have learned of the passing of James Malcolm
Coleman on May 20, 2023, at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, James Malcolm Coleman was born on November 19, 1935, in Vinton,
Louisiana, to Leo George Coleman and Clara Gaudet Coleman; and
WHEREAS, James Coleman earned his bachelor of science in geology in 1958, and
his doctorate in 1966, from Louisiana State University (LSU); and
WHEREAS, James' career of more than forty-five years was one of high scientific
and administrative achievement; he was a world expert on deltaic sedimentation and riverine
processes, and he was LSU's only member of the National Academy of Engineering; and
WHEREAS, as a graduate student, James began studying the Mississippi River delta
in the 1960s and with his background, extended his work through field research in
Malaysia's Klang River delta, Pakistan's Ganges-Brahmaputra River system, the Arctic delta,
and the Ord and Burdekin Rivers of Australia; and
WHEREAS, James directed an investigation of worldwide delta variability funded
by the Office of Naval Research and served as co-chief scientist on the 1988 Deep Sea
Drilling Project, Leg 96, in the Gulf of Mexico, and this project ultimately led to greater
exploration by petroleum companies for oil and gas in deep water fan deposits; and
WHEREAS, after his promotion to full professor in 1975, James accepted his first
administrative post, director for the Coastal Studies Institute; and
WHEREAS, from 1985 to 1989, James served as chair of the LSU Department of
Geology and Geophysics and head of the School of Geosciences, and from 1989 to 1997, he
served as LSU's executive vice chancellor; and
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WHEREAS, in 1998, he retired from LSU and returned to the Coastal Studies
Institute as a Boyd Professor, LSU's highest academic rank which he received in 1980; and
WHEREAS, James earned many awards and prestigious honors during his career
including the Shepard Medal for Excellence in Marine Geology, the Outstanding Educator
Award from the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, the Russian Kaptisa Gold
Medal of Honor for contributions to petroleum sciences, and was elected to the Russian
Academy of Natural Sciences; and
WHEREAS, in 2000, James was appointed by President George W. Bush to the U.S.
Commission on Ocean Policy and served on Governor Bobby Jindal's Commission on
Coastal Restoration and Conservation; and
WHEREAS, James was invited to be a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa
Phi, an organization promoting academic excellence in all fields of higher education, was
a member of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, and served as chairman of the board of the
American Red Cross; and
WHEREAS, James is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Travis Alexander
Coleman, their two children, Thomas Malcolm Coleman and Sarah Coleman Fletcher,
daughter-in-law, Patti Huck Coleman, and grandson, James Wesley Coleman.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of
James Malcolm Coleman.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Travis Alexander Coleman.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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