SLS 24RS-3826 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 73
BY SENATOR FOIL
CONDOLENCES. Expresses sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of
Frank Paul Simoneaux on the occasion of his passing.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana to the
3 family and friends of Frank Paul Simoneaux upon the occasion of his passing.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
5 Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the passing of Frank Paul Simoneaux, who departed
6 this life peacefully at his home on May 8, 2024, at the age of 90; and
7 WHEREAS, Frank Paul Simoneaux was married to the love of his life, Marie
8 Lancaster Simoneaux, for almost sixty-three years, and together they built a loving and
9 supportive family; and
10 WHEREAS, born in Brusly St. Vincent, Louisiana, Frank Paul Simoneaux attended
11 Nichols Junior College before enrolling at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1954, where
12 he demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to public service; and
13 WHEREAS, after serving two years in the United States Army, he returned to LSU
14 and graduated from the LSU Law School in 1961, embarking on a distinguished legal career;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, Frank returned to active military duty, was promoted to captain, and
17 transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps., completing thirty years of Reserve and
18 National Guard service before retiring with the rank of colonel; and
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SLS 24RS-3826 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, beginning his legal career in Lake Charles, Frank later joined the Baton
2 Rouge law firm Breazeale, Sachse, and Wilson in 1963, where he continued to practice law
3 with distinction; and
4 WHEREAS, his political career commenced in 1972 when he was elected to the
5 Louisiana House of Representatives, serving three terms and becoming a founding member
6 of the Young Turks, a group of legislators dedicated to reforming the legislative process; and
7 WHEREAS, in 1980, Representative Simoneaux was unanimously elected House
8 Speaker pro tempore, and he earned widespread respect for his integrity, bipartisan
9 collaboration, and legislative achievements, including modernizing marriage equality,
10 lobbying reform, oil and mineral rights reform, and the removal of unconstitutional Jim
11 Crow era state laws; and
12 WHEREAS, known for his scholarly and courteous demeanor, he was lauded by
13 colleagues as well as the press; named Best Legislator for four consecutive years by the
14 political magazine Gris Gris, noting both his ability to work across the aisle and his
15 unwavering integrity; and
16 WHEREAS, in 1982, Governor David Treen appointed him Secretary of Natural
17 Resources, and in 2008, he was elected by the House to the Louisiana Board of Ethics, where
18 he was selected chair by its members; and
19 WHEREAS, Frank was a founding member of the Bocage Racquet Club, where he
20 remained an active tennis player well into his eighties, and he founded the Greater Baton
21 Rouge Hope Academy, serving children with various disabilities; and
22 WHEREAS, he was a member of Cadets of the Old War Skule and was inducted into
23 the LSU Law School Hall of Fame and the LSU Hall of Distinction; and
24 WHEREAS, his devotion to his wife, family, and Catholic faith was paramount in
25 his life, and he leaves behind a legacy of service, commitment, and love.
26 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
27 express the sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Frank Paul
28 Simoneaux upon the occasion of his passing and does hereby commend his exemplary life
29 and dedicated public service.
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SLS 24RS-3826 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Dawn Romero Watson.
DIGEST
SCR 73 Original 2024 Regular Session Foil
Expresses sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana to the family and
friends of Frank Paul Simoneaux upon the occasion of his passing.
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