[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 73 (Friday, May 21, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S6083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNITION OF DR. CHARLES IRVIN HUDSON

 Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, like so many of the people who 
were fortunate enough to know him, I was deeply saddened to learn of 
the passing of a dear friend and true leader, Dr. Charles Irvin Hudson. 
Dr. Hudson, known to many affectionately as ``Doc,'' died unexpectedly 
May 7, 2004, at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA, at 
the age of 72.
  Doc Hudson was an educator and community leader in St. Landry Parish 
for nearly 50 years. He demonstrated his commitment to education by 
serving as a high school mathematics teacher for 10 years and later as 
the principal of two elementary schools, for which he received numerous 
awards and honors.
  But Doc Hudson was equally committed to public service, and served 
his community as an elected official for nearly 30 years. First elected 
to the Opelousas City Council in 1974, he was to serve for three 
consecutive 4-year terms before becoming deputy secretary for the 
Louisiana State Department of Transportation and Development from 1984-
88. Doc Hudson was then elected to the Louisiana House of 
Representatives in 1991 where he served till his passing.
  Throughout his remarkable career, Doc worked tirelessly for the 
people of St. Landry Parish and the State of Louisiana. He fought for 
both decency and accountability in our schools, worked to improve the 
quality of life for everyone in District 40, and developed warm, 
quality relationships with all who met him.
  It was my privilege to have worked very closely with Doc on a number 
of occasions and to benefit from the wisdom of his counsel and the 
breadth of his understanding. I am honored to have known and learned 
from a man of such high moral character.
  Representative Hudson will be remembered for his nearly 30 years of 
service in public life and 20 years as an educator, and for the great 
value he placed on developing relationships with people. He rooted his 
work in his personal experiences with the people affected by the 
issues. His dedication to people will stand as a legacy from which 
future generations will learn.
  On behalf of the entire State of Louisiana, I pay tribute to this 
courageous statesman and convey my most respectful condolences to his 
family and to all who knew him.

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