HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LOUISIANA STATE SEN. LARRY C. SELDERS

On 2026-07-13, Representative Cleo Fields (D-LA-6) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LOUISIANA STATE SEN. LARRY C. SELDERS" in the House.

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LOUISIANA STATE SEN. LARRY C. SELDERS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E667-E668] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LOUISIANA STATE SEN. LARRY C. SELDERS ______ HON. CLEO FIELDS of louisiana in the house of representatives Monday, July 13, 2026 Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, Louisiana recently lost one of its brightest lights with the [[Page E668]] sudden passing of State Sen. Larry C. Selders, D-Baton Rouge, at just 44 years old. He leaves behind his wife, Dr. Kendra Michael, and their two sons, Larry and Luke, the boys who were, by every account, inseparable from his side and at the center of his world. Larry's life was a testament to service given freely and without pretense. He devoted himself to helping people rebuild their lives through substance abuse and mental health recovery. That same compassion carried him from a group home for troubled adolescents, where he worked while earning his social work degree at Southern University, all the way to the Louisiana Legislature, first as a state representative for House District 67, then as senator for the 14th District. Wherever he served, his focus on children and mental health reflected who he was long before he held office. Those who knew Larry best remember not just what he accomplished, but how he made people feel. He was described as ``always jovial, always happy, and always ready to help somebody''--a ``gentle giant'' with a warmth that made colleagues feel like old friends. He brought humility and quiet strength to his work, approaching public service as an act of lifting others up rather than a pursuit of recognition. Larry Selders leaves behind a legacy built not on titles, but on the countless lives he touched as a devoted husband, a proud father, a trusted friend, and a public servant who never stopped asking how he could do more good. Louisiana is better for having had him, and he will be deeply missed. ____________________