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2026 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 30
BY SENATORS MORRIS, ABRAHAM, ALLAIN, BARROW, BOUDREAUX, CARTER,
CONNICK, EDMONDS, FESI, HARRIS, HENRY, HENSGENS,
HODGES, JACKSON-ANDREWS, JENKINS, KLEINPETER,
LAMBERT, MCMATH, MILLER, MYERS, OWEN, PRESSLY,
PRICE, SELDERS, WHEAT AND WOMACK
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
Louisiana upon the death of the Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka, former
district attorney, judge, and Louisiana state senator, and to commend his legacy of
many years of dedicated public service.
WHEREAS, the Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka passed away peacefully on
the morning of January 10, 2026, aged ninety-two, surrounded by love and leaving behind
the legacy of a life well-lived; and
WHEREAS, Bob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather,
a respected jurist and public servant, and a man whose strength, integrity, and warmth left
a lasting mark on all who knew him; and
WHEREAS, he was a gentleman of abundant grace and civic acumen who was
guided throughout his life by a deep sense of duty, fairness, and commitment to doing what
was right; and
WHEREAS, Bob was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, attended Centenary College,
matriculated to Louisiana State University, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the
Louisiana State University School of Law in 1957; and
WHEREAS, he dedicated much of his life to public service, as the district attorney
and district court judge for the 4th Judicial District Court for Ouachita and Morehouse
parishes, as a judge on the Louisiana 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal from 1998 to 2003, and
ultimately as a Louisiana state senator from 2003 to 2016, possessing perhaps the most
comprehensive legal background of any legislator; and
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WHEREAS, utilizing his expertise and interests, Senator Kostelka garnered
assignments to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs as chairman, the
Committee on Judiciary C as chairman, the Committee on Judiciary A as vice chairman, and
seats on the committees on Labor and Industrial Relations, Revenue and Fiscal Affairs,
Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and Retirement, as well as the Select
Committee on Vocational and Technical Education; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his keen interest in governmental affairs and criminal
procedure, he authored legislation that addressed child support, consumer protection, health
care, election reform, education, courts and judicial funding, taxation, and governmental
ethics for public officials and employees; and
WHEREAS, his integrity, legal wisdom, and principled leadership earned Bob a
nomination by President George H. W. Bush to the United States District Court for the
Western District of Louisiana in 1992, reflecting the deep respect he commanded throughout
his career; and
WHEREAS, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 2022,
honored for his life and career of service by his peers; and
WHEREAS, Bob was affiliated with numerous professional associations, including
Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, the American Bar Association, the Association of Appellate
Judges, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Fourth District Bar Association, and the
Louisiana State Law Institute; and
WHEREAS, beyond his professional accomplishments, he was, above all else, a
family man who remained steadfastly the "man of the house," a protector and provider
whose presence brought a sense of security, steadiness, and love; and
WHEREAS, at home in Monroe, numerous civic and philanthropic organizations
benefitted from Bob's active participation, including the Salvation Army as a three-time
chairman, for which he received the Citizen of the Year Award; Rotary International,
District 6190, as board member and treasurer; the Boy Scouts of America as scout master
and district chairman; the YMCA; and the Arthritis Foundation and Muscular Dystrophy
Association, acting as past campaign chairman for both nonprofits; and
WHEREAS, as a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, he
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served as a witness to the power of God's grace, as an elder of the church, and as a Sunday
school teacher; and
WHEREAS, Bob found deep joy in travel, especially journeys out West, where the
mountains and open skies of Montana held a special place in his heart and reflected his own
spirit of grounded and enduring strength; and
WHEREAS, he was a warm and devoted husband and father, who led by example
and instilled values of integrity, hard work, and faithfulness in his family; and
WHEREAS, Bob was married to the former Felicia Marie Danna, his helpmate in
all things, who accompanied him to the Louisiana State Capitol during legislative sessions
and served as his guiding light, as he served as her rock; inseparable sweethearts always; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his beloved wife, Felicia; his children: Kathryn
Lemoine, William "Bill" Kostelka (Donna), Carol Gros (Terry), and Claire Texada (Chase);
his grandchildren: Evan Kostelka (Caroline), Katie Collandreau (Pierre), and Collins Marie
Texada; his great-grandchildren: Cooper, Molly, Carter, Eleanore, and Madeleine; and many
extended family members and friends who will miss him deeply and remember him always;
and was preceded in death by his first wife, Bobbie, son, Cliff, sister, Billie, and countless
friends and associates; and
WHEREAS, Bob leaves behind a remarkable legacy, not only in the justice he upheld
and the service he gave, but in the lives he touched at home and beyond, and his family and
friends will forever cherish his wisdom, steady guidance, stories, and the love that anchored
them through generations; and
WHEREAS, his family can take comfort in knowing that he lived a full and
honorable life, that he now rests in peace, reunited with those who went before him, and that
his legacy will continue to live on through the family he loved, the values he passed down,
and the countless lives he influenced through his service and example.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the
Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka, husband, father, jurist, statesman, community leader,
and generous volunteer, who set an extraordinary standard of graciousness and good
citizenship for all to emulate.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of the Honorable Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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