ENROLLED 2024 Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 90 BY REPRESENTATIVE WYBLE A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION To commend Don Spiers on a lifetime of public and community service to Bogalusa, Washington Parish, and the state of Louisiana. WHEREAS, Don Spiers was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana; he received his early education at Long Avenue Elementary School and graduated from Bogalusa High School; after graduating, he married his high school sweetheart, Georgia Garris; and WHEREAS, Don enlisted to serve in the Army National Guard, on his seventeenth birthday, in 1954; during his military career, he rose through the ranks from private recruit to personnel sergeant; he graduated from the Army National Guard Officer Candidate School and became a commissioned officer and platoon leader; his service concluded in 1966; and WHEREAS, Don completed three semesters at Southeastern Louisiana University before leaving to take a job with the Bogalusa Fire Department; at just nineteen years old, he was elected by his fellow firefighters to represent them as a member of the civil service board and convinced the fire chief and commissioner of safety to shift the fire department duty schedule to twenty-four hours on duty and forty-eight hours off duty; and WHEREAS, Don was elected as secretary of the Louisiana Professional Firefighters Association at twenty-four years old, and he served in this position until his retirement from the Bogalusa Fire Department; he retired with twenty years of service to the department and fourteen years with the association, and he was named secretary emeritus upon his retirement; and WHEREAS, Mr. Spiers received a Louisiana real estate broker license in 1952, and he grew his business into the largest real estate and construction company in Washington Parish; from 1952 until 2001, he constructed nearly four hundred homes in the area; and Page 1 of 2 HCR NO. 90 ENROLLED WHEREAS, Mr. Spiers was invited to serve on the board of directors of Washington Bank in December 1976, and he served as chairman of the board in 1985; he also served as a director at the bank until its merger with Hancock Bank in 1994; and WHEREAS, Don helped found the Magic City Carnival Association with his friend Jack Wempe, and he served as the krewe's captain for forty-three years; the association has grown to more two-hundred members who present an annual parade with fifty-five authentic carnival floats; he retired as captain after leading the 44th Magic City Carnival Association Parade in 2024 and was named captain emeritus; and WHEREAS, Don Spiers is a pillar of the Bogalusa community who is most deserving of the highest recognition for his civic mindedness and life of service. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Don Spiers on a lifetime of public and community service to Bogalusa, Washington Parish, and the state of Louisiana and does hereby extend sincerest wishes that he continue to prosper in all of his endeavors and enjoy good health for many more years to come. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 2 of 2