SLS 23RS-2301 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 197
BY SENATOR CORTEZ
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Diane O'Quin for her many years of service to the
Louisiana Senate.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Diane O'Quin on her many years of exemplary service to the Louisiana Senate.
3 WHEREAS, Diane Aguillard O'Quin was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to
4 Howard and Julia Aguillard on January 28th in a year that was not that long ago; and
5 WHEREAS, Diane was raised in Rougon, Louisiana, and graduated from Rougon
6 High School earning many academic accolades; following high school, Diane moved to
7 Baton Rouge to attend Spencer Business College; and
8 WHEREAS, in 1966, she married the handsome Billy O'Quin and their union was
9 blessed with daughter, Doreen O'Quin Brasseaux, and son, Shane O'Quin; and
10 WHEREAS, prior to her employment by the Senate, Diane worked for the Baton
11 Rouge law firm Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson and worked two stints at the attorney general's
12 office under the former Attorney General William J. Guste, whom she ALWAYS referred
13 to as "the General"; and
14 WHEREAS, in 1981, she was hired by the Senate as secretary to Ollive R. Maxey,
15 a senior staff attorney; in 1982, her responsibilities were expanded to add secretary to the
16 Senate Committee on Finance and then expanded again to provide secretarial support to
17 another senior attorney Tom Poche; she commendably juggled all three assignments for
18 several years; and
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1 WHEREAS, when Ollive Maxey and Tom Poche retired in 1984, Diane provided
2 secretarial support to the two newly named senior attorneys, Diane Burkhart and Riley
3 Boudreaux; and
4 WHEREAS, during the 1988-1992 term, Diane transferred from the Senate
5 Committee on Finance to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and
6 International Affairs working with Chairman Senator Lawson Swearingen; in 1990, when
7 Senator J.E. Jumonville replaced Senator Swearingen as chairman, Diane continued in her
8 role as the committee's secretary; and
9 WHEREAS, in 1992, she was assigned to the Senate Committee on Insurance,
10 teaming up with Senator Greg Tarver with whom she continued to work until her first
11 retirement from the Senate in 2002, and with whom she continues to maintain a friendship
12 dear to both of them; and
13 WHEREAS, during her two decades with the Senate, Diane diligently worked her
14 assigned tasks, consistently offered help to her colleagues, and used her knowledge and
15 experience to improve work processes; on occasions too numerous to count, she volunteered
16 her assistance to Proofing, working late into the night only to be back at work to staff her
17 committee hours later; she carefully considered and initiated many of the ideas for process
18 improvements that were implemented; and she became an integral part of the organization
19 committees for Senate events such as inaugurations, hosting of conventions, and Christmas
20 and sine die parties; and
21 WHEREAS, always drawn to the beat of music, Diane's love of dance and her
22 demonstration of that love at numerous Senate functions earned her the endearing title of
23 "Queen of the Jitterbug"; and
24 WHEREAS, even after her retirement, Diane continued as a session employee and
25 committee secretary for Senator Tarver for the 2002 and 2003 sessions and as a session
26 employee for Senate Documents and Records for the 2004 and 2005 sessions; and
27 WHEREAS, in 2006, Diane was hired by the Secretary's office as the assistant
28 journal clerk on the front desk, and three years later, she was promoted to primary journal
29 clerk; and
30 WHEREAS, after almost two decades working the front desk, Diane will retire again
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1 from the Senate at the conclusion of the 2023 Regular Session; and
2 WHEREAS, Diane's tremendous work ethic, eagerness to learn, and attention to
3 detail has served the Senate well for the past four decades; her public service has also led to
4 lifelong friendships and many hilarious and precious moments; and
5 WHEREAS, Diane is a voracious reader, excellent cook, loyal wife, beloved mother
6 and grandmother, devoted friend, and always ready to be whisked away to the next
7 adventure; she and her husband of fifty-six years Billy have traveled extensively around the
8 world and nothing makes her happier than being surrounded by family, particularly
9 grandchildren Sarah, Caitlyn, Brady, and Emily, and the newest addition, great-grandchild
10 and namesake Julia Claire; and
11 WHEREAS, it is now time for her second, well-deserved retirement from the Senate
12 and the start of her next adventure in life.
13 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
14 does hereby commend Diane O'Quin for her many years of service to the Senate and offers
15 heartfelt wishes for success in all her future endeavors and health and happiness in the years
16 to come.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
18 Diane O'Quin.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Dawn Romero Watson.
DIGEST
SR 197 Original 2023 Regular Session Cortez
Commends Diane O'Quin for her many years of service to the Louisiana Senate.
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