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2026 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 76
BY SENATOR SEABAUGH
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To commend Dewain Strother on being inducted into the 2026 class of the Louisiana Sports
Hall of Fame.
WHEREAS, each year the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, Louisiana
collaborates with the Louisiana Sports Writers Association in selecting a limited number of
sports figures who embody the character, skill, talent, and accomplishment worthy of being
named to the Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class includes
Dewain Strother; and
WHEREAS, Dewain Strother, a native of Oakdale who was raised in Rapides Parish,
has dedicated his life to the development of young athletes and students, serving the
community of Sabine Parish for nearly five decades as a teacher, coach, and educational
leader; and
WHEREAS, as a student-athlete, Dewain Strother distinguished himself on the
basketball court as a member of the 1965 state championship team at Plainview High
School, where he developed the passion and discipline that would define his life's work; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Northwestern State University, Dewain Strother
embarked upon a distinguished career in education and coaching that would leave an
indelible mark on generations of students and athletes; and
WHEREAS, Strother began his coaching career in 1982 at Florien High School,
where he founded the girls' basketball program and guided the Florien Lady Black Cats to
unprecedented success over a forty-year coaching career; and
WHEREAS, over the course of those four decades, Strother compiled an
extraordinary overall record of 1,235 victories and 395 losses, becoming the all-time leader
in Louisiana in girls' basketball coaching wins and ranking second nationally at the time of
his retirement following the 2022–2023 season; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership, the Florien Lady Black Cats qualified for the state
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tournament thirty-nine times and advanced to the state semifinals twenty-one times,
including during his final season when his team posted an outstanding 29–3 record and again
competed among the state's elite programs; and
WHEREAS, Strother led Florien to six state championships and five state runner-up
finishes, establishing the Lady Black Cats as one of the most respected and consistently
successful programs in Louisiana high school basketball; and
WHEREAS, his coaching excellence was widely recognized throughout the state as
he was named Class B Coach of the Year five times and earned district coach of the year
honors on twenty-four occasions; and
WHEREAS, Strother's contributions extended beyond basketball as he served as
athletic director at Florien High School for more than thirty years and also coached the
school's softball and golf teams, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to student athletics
and extracurricular development; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his coaching duties, Strother devoted forty-nine years to
education as a teacher at Florien High School and was recognized for his dedication to
students when he was named Sabine Parish Teacher of the Year for the 1982–1983 academic
year; and
WHEREAS, among the most meaningful moments of his storied career was the
opportunity to coach his two granddaughters during his final season, fulfilling a promise he
made to remain on the sidelines until their graduation; and
WHEREAS, even in retirement, Strother's passion for mentoring young athletes
remained steadfast, and in 2026 he returned to coaching in an assisting role under his former
player, Angela Anthony, who succeeded him as head coach of the Lady Black Cats,
exemplifying his enduring devotion to the program and the students he served; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his extraordinary career and lasting contributions to
high school athletics, Strother was inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of
Fame in 2023; and
WHEREAS, through his leadership, integrity, and unwavering dedication to the
development of young people, Dewain Strother has left a profound and lasting legacy in
Louisiana high school athletics and education.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Dewain Strother on being inducted into the 2026 class of the Louisiana Sports
Hall of Fame.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Dewain Strother.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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