HLS 25RS-1343 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 58
BY REPRESENTATIVE EMERSON
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Luther A. Burney on the occasion of his retirement
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Luther A. Burney on the occasion of his retirement.
3 WHEREAS, Luther A. Burney was born on October 9, 1938, in Alto, Louisiana, to
4Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Burney, and he attended school in Monroe, Louisiana; in high school, he
5served as president of the senior class and the school choir and was a member of the mixed
6vocal ensemble; he graduated from high school in 1956; and
7 WHEREAS, Luther attended Northeast Louisiana State College in Monroe, where
8he studied music education with a concentration in voice and graduated in 1961; he was the
9school's only student used as a soloist in the 1961 presentation of Handel's "Messiah"; after
10graduating, he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas; and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. Burney has dedicated his musical talents in service to his faith,
12working as a minister of music in numerous Baptist churches throughout Louisiana and
13Texas; he began his career in music ministry at Ridge Avenue Baptist Church of West
14Monroe, Louisiana, and served from 1956 to 1961; he worked as the minister of music and
15education at Caddo Heights Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana; and
16 WHEREAS, while attending seminary in Ft. Worth, Mr. Burney served as the
17minister of music and youth at First Baptist Church in Jacksboro, Texas; he served as the
18minister of music and youth at Beckley Hills Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, until 1967;
19and
20 WHEREAS, Luther returned to Louisiana in 1967 and joined First Baptist Church
21of Lafayette, where he began a thirty-eight year tenure as the minister of music and
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HR NO. 58
1administration; during his tenure, the music ministry was composed of sixteen music groups
2with a total enrollment of more than six hundred individuals from preschoolers to senior
3adults; for over twenty years, he spearheaded large annual productions at the Cajundome and
4the Heymann Performing Arts Center, including "The Living Christmas Tree" and
5"Symphony of Song", which featured nationally recognized artists; his youth choirs
6performed across the United States and in Mexico, Canada, England, and Germany, and the
7adult choir toured in China; and
8 WHEREAS, in 2005, Mr. Burney took on the role of assistant to the pastor and
9minister to senior adults and served in this capacity until his retirement this year; and
10 WHEREAS, Mr. Burney is a charter member of the Centurymen, a group of
11ministers of music selected by the Radio and Television Commission to record and represent
12Southern Baptists; the group toured China in the fall of 1983; he was elected to the executive
13board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1988, and he was awarded the Distinguished
14Service Award by the School of Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological
15Seminary; and
16 WHEREAS, Luther is married to Marilynn McCormick; they have three sons, Perry,
17Mike, and Chris, and six grandchildren, Lindsey, Erin, Korie, Brandi, Brandon, and
18Nicholas; and
19 WHEREAS, Luther A. Burney is a truly inspiring individual who is most deserving
20of the highest recognition for dedicating sixty-nine years to music ministry.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
22Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Luther A. Burney on the occasion of his
23retirement and does hereby extend sincerest wishes that he continue to prosper in all of his
24endeavors and enjoy good health as he begins a new journey in retirement.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 58 Original 2025 Regular Session Emerson
Commends Luther A. Burney on the occasion of his retirement.
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