On April 27, 2015, the Louisiana Senate passed a posthumous resolution honoring and recognizing the contributions made by former Bogalusa Councilman McClurie Sampson Sr. to Washington Parish and the state of Louisiana.

On Thursday, June 11, Sampson’s widow, Antoinette Jackson Sampson, Bogalusa City Councilwoman Gloria Kates, and former Councilman Thomas Kates, traveled to Baton Rouge to receive the resolution.

“I received a beautiful belated birthday gift and a dream come true for me and more importantly for my dearly departed husband, the Honorable McClurie Sampson Sr.,” said Antoinette Sampson. “In realizing this special day was not about me, I do give God all the Glory for the life and times of my husband.”

Sampson said the recognition of her husband’s work was deserved.

“It was great. If he had been living, he would have been so happy because he had worked so hard,” Sampson said. “He would have had a smile on his face and his chest stuck out.”

McClurie Sampson passed away on Aug. 25, 2012, at the age of 82.

Sampson said her husband’s focus was on the youth.

“He was all about the children. He tried so hard to get the Boys and Girls Club on its feet,” Sampson said. “For the some reason, the community wasn’t with him to get it here. He died working to get the Boys and Girls Club here. That was his whole focus. He wanted it for the whole parish.”

Sampson said her husband eyed various projects to benefit the city.

“My husband was for Louisiana Highway 3241 coming from Bush. I know he also wanted transportation likes buses for Bogalusa,” Sampson said. “He was for the YMCA on Avenue U to be open.”

She said her husband worked diligently for children and senior citizens.

“He told me all the time these kids need help,” she recalled. “He wanted tutors and mentoring programs for the kids.”

Sampson was a two-term councilman.

“He was for everything as long as it was right,” Antoinette Sampson said.

Various committees and organizations Sampson worked with included Selective Service Board, advisor for LSU Bogalusa Medical Center, Planning and Zoning Commission, United Way, Downtown Development Foundation, NAACP, Northshore Coalition and President Emeritus of the Louisiana Municipal Association Black Caucus.

The resolution is below:

To honor and recognize the contributions made by McClurie Sampson Sr. to Washington Parish and the state of Louisiana.

Whereas McClurie Sampson Sr. was born April 16, 1929, in Bogalusa to now deceased Jake and Curtis Corine Sampson; and

Whereas, he confessed Christ as his savior at an early age at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bogalusa, which was under the leadership of the Rev. E.Z. Burnes and where his family members were original members of the church; and

Whereas he served as chairman of the Trustee Board, chairman of the Annual Church Anniversary, and was a faithful member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church; and

Whereas, education was of great importance to McClurie, and he attended Bogalusa public schools and graduated from Central Memorial High School in 1950; and

Whereas, he continued his education at Dillard University, majoring in business administration; and

Whereas, he retired from Gaylord Container Corp. 1995 after 46 years; and

Whereas, his experience as a trailblazer, civil activist, and politician spanned over a half century; and

Whereas, he was instrumental in organizing the 1914-1964 Bogalusa Golden Jubilee, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Bogalusa; and

Whereas, he was an advocate for improving life for children and families, and served as chief organizer for the Boys and Girls Club of Washington Parish, and two-term city councilman, including council president, in which he chaired numerous boards from cleanup campaigns, transportation initiatives and creating jobs for the community; and

Whereas, he was also a board member of the Selective Service Board, the Community Advisory Committee for LSU Hospital, Board of Directors of Avenue U YMCA, Bogalusa Little League, Bogalusa Planning and Zoning Commission, Washington Industrial Development Foundation, Salvation Army, United Way, and Prince Hall Mason Wisdom Lodge No. 123, where he served on the trustee board; and

Whereas, he was a member of the NAACP, Downtown Development Association, City-Wide Brotherhood, and AARP; and

Whereas, he was elected vice president at-large of the Louisiana Municipal Association, president of the Louisiana Municipal Black Caucus Association and municipalities, and president of the Northshore Black Coalition; and

Whereas, McClurie Sampson Sr. endorsed resolutions for the Louisiana Municipal Black Caucus Association urging the participation of African-American faith-based communities in the political process to help alleviate social, political, and community problems; and

Whereas, he also endorsed resolutions in support of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and resolutions promoting reform to correct deficiencies in the criminal justice and penal systems; and

Whereas, on April 15, 2002, he was united in holy matrimony to his devoted and loving wife, Antoinette Jackson Sampson; and

Whereas on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at 1:52 p.m., he went home to join his parents and his Heavenly Father; and

Whereas, McClurie leaves behind to cherish his loving wife, Antoinette, devoted children: daughters Brenda Sampson Brice, Gwendolyn Sampson Lindsey (Fred), and Kathy Sampson Lopez (Benito), and sons McClurie Jr. (Lorraine), Donald Ray Sampson Sr. (Eva), Andre Samspon, and Klurie Wayne Tucker; three stepchildren, Karen Washington, Ricardo Washington (Tara) and Toshia Morris (Andre); and

Whereas, McClurie loved his 33 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren dearly, and in turn they will miss their Paw Paw and he will be deeply missed by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; and

Whereas, he was preceded in death by his parents and loving family members: Willie D. Sampson, John D. Sampson, Andrew Sampson, McKinley Sampson, and Catherine McKelphin Sampson; and one son, Gregory Sampson.

Therefore be it resolved that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby honor and recognize the contributions made by McClurie Sampson Sr. to Washington Parish and the state of Louisiana.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Mrs. Antoinette Jackson Sampson, the loving widow of the late McClurie Sampson Sr.