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Bares began his legal career in Abbeville, the seat of government for Vermilion Parish, as an associate of J. E. Kibbee.<ref name=am/> In 1961, he moved to Lafayette as an associate general counsel with the All American Insurance Company. He organized Val-u Investment Corporation and served as its vice president and general counsel. He practiced law for nearly a half century, most recently with the Oliver and Way firm of Lafayette. He was a [[lobbyist]] after he left the state Senate.<ref name=obit/>​

Bares began his legal career in Abbeville, the seat of government for Vermilion Parish, as an associate of J. E. Kibbee.<ref name=am/> In 1961, he moved to Lafayette as an associate general counsel with the All American Insurance Company. He organized Val-u Investment Corporation and served as its vice president and general counsel. He practiced law for nearly a half century, most recently with the Oliver and Way firm of Lafayette. He was a [[lobbyist]] after he left the state Senate.<ref name=obit/>​

 

==Legislative service==​

==Legislative service==​

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Roemer selected Bares as Senate President in 1988 though Sydney B. Nelson of [[Shreveport]] had actively sought the position and had urged Bares to run for the lesser position of Senate pro-tem. In Louisiana, the Senate president is normally chosen by the governor, but legislators in 1990 returned Nunez to the presidency in a slap at Roemer. The resolution to replace Bares with Nunez, authored by later [[U.S. Representative]] [[William J. Jefferson]] of Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, was twenty-eight to twenty-one. Roemer referred to the removal of Bares as an example of "what's wrong with this state."<ref>"Bares ousted as President of Louisiana Senate," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 10, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

Roemer selected Bares as Senate President in 1988 though Sydney B. Nelson of [[Shreveport]] had actively sought the position and had urged Bares to run for the lesser position of Senate pro-tem. In Louisiana, the Senate president is normally chosen by the governor, but legislators in 1990 returned Nunez to the presidency in a slap at Roemer. The resolution to replace Bares with Nunez, authored by later [[U.S. Representative]] [[William J. Jefferson]] of Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, was twenty-eight to twenty-one. Roemer referred to the removal of Bares as an example of "what's wrong with this state."<ref>"Bares ousted as President of Louisiana Senate," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 10, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

 

Bares' obituary describes him as "a passionate leader in the pro-life movement [who] authored historic legislation to protect the precious lives of the unborn in Louisiana."<ref name=obit/> In 1991, Bares authored a measure in the Senate, co-sponsored in the House by Representative Sam H. Theriot of Abbeville, which would have outlawed most abortions in Louisiana, including impregnations which resulted from [[incest]].<ref name="Louisiana Abortion Law Is Delayed"/> The legislature approved the bill, but it was vetoed by Governor Roemer on the grounds that it went beyond the scope of the [[United States Supreme Court]] opinion,  ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''. Such [[feminist]] groups as the [[National Organization for Women]], subsequently headed by the Louisiana native Kim Gandy, formerly of [[Bossier City]], successfully targeted Bares and a pro-life House member, fellow Democrat Carl Newton Gunter, Jr. (1938-1999)  of Rapides Parish, for defeat. The controversy worked to Jordan's advantage though he too took the pro-life position. In the end, Bares and Gunter were defeated in what Louisiana feminists hailed as a great success.<ref>''The Feminist Chronicles — 1991 — Political,'' Feminist Majority Foundation, accessed August 20, 2008.</ref>​

Bares' obituary describes him as "a passionate leader in the pro-life movement [who] authored historic legislation to protect the precious lives of the unborn in Louisiana."<ref name=obit/> In 1991, Bares authored a measure in the Senate, co-sponsored in the House by Representative Sam H. Theriot of Abbeville, which would have outlawed most abortions in Louisiana, including impregnations which resulted from [[incest]].<ref name="Louisiana Abortion Law Is Delayed"/> The legislature approved the bill, but it was vetoed by Governor Roemer on the grounds that it went beyond the scope of the [[United States Supreme Court]] opinion,  ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''. Such [[feminist]] groups as the [[National Organization for Women]], subsequently headed by the Louisiana native Kim Gandy, formerly of [[Bossier City]], successfully targeted Bares and a pro-life House member, fellow Democrat Carl Newton Gunter, Jr. (1938-1999)  of Rapides Parish, for defeat. The controversy worked to Jordan's advantage though he too took the pro-life position. In the end, Bares and Gunter were defeated in what Louisiana feminists hailed as a great success.<ref>''The Feminist Chronicles — 1991 — Political,'' Feminist Majority Foundation, accessed August 20, 2008.</ref>​

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A reformer in the legislature, Bares served as national vice president of the Education Commission of the States from 1985 to 1986. He championed tort reform and was a lead author of the 1987 Workman's Compensation Reform Act. Bares was president of the Louisiana Chapter of the Association of French Speaking Legislators and a supporter of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, or CODOFIL. In 1991, the nation of [[France]] awarded Bares the Medal of Merit to recognize his efforts to preserve the French language and culture in Louisiana.<ref name=obit/> He grew up speaking French and did not learn [[English]] until he entered elementary school.<ref name="Senator Allen Bares Laid To Rest"/> On two occasions, Bares, as state senator, accompanied Governor Roemer on trips to France and to [[Japan]].<ref name=am/>​

A reformer in the legislature, Bares served as national vice president of the Education Commission of the States from 1985 to 1986. He championed tort reform and was a lead author of the 1987 Workman's Compensation Reform Act. Bares was president of the Louisiana Chapter of the Association of French Speaking Legislators and a supporter of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, or CODOFIL. In 1991, the nation of [[France]] awarded Bares the Medal of Merit to recognize his efforts to preserve the French language and culture in Louisiana.<ref name=obit/> He grew up speaking French and did not learn [[English]] until he entered elementary school.<ref name="Senator Allen Bares Laid To Rest"/> On two occasions, Bares, as state senator, accompanied Governor Roemer on trips to France and to [[Japan]].<ref name=am/>​

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==Civic leadership==​

==Civic leadership==

Bares was active in Kiwanis International, the Lafayette [[Chamber of Commerce]], and St. Pius X [[Roman Catholic]] Church. He was the first elected president of Our Lady of Fatima Church. He was president of the Evangeline Area Boy Scouts Council located in Lafayette. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Scouts in 2000. He was an avid [[horse]]man, [[hunter]], [[fisherman]], and [[golf]]er.<ref name=obit/>​

Bares was active in Kiwanis International, the Lafayette [[Chamber of Commerce]], and St. Pius X [[Roman Catholic]] Church. He was the first elected president of Our Lady of Fatima Church. He was president of the Evangeline Area Boy Scouts Council located in Lafayette. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Scouts in 2000. He was an avid [[horse]]man, [[hunter]], [[fisherman]], and [[golf]]er.<ref name=obit/>​

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In 2002, Bares was inducted into the "Living Legends" section of the Acadian Museum in Erath.<ref name=am/>​

In 2002, Bares was inducted into the "Living Legends" section of the Acadian Museum in Erath.<ref name=am/>​

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==References==

==References==

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