Changes

In 1954, Kennard graduated from Central High School at which he held thirteen letters in [[football]], [[basketball]], [[baseball]], and track. In 1958, he procured his Bachelor of Science degree in professional education from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. He taught and coached at Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge. Thereafter, while he pursued his Master of Education degree from [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge, which he completed in 1960, Kennard coached the LSU freshmen basketball team. He served for ten years in the [[United States Air Force]] Reserve, having first completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in [[Missouri]]. He was stationed at Fort Dix in [[Trenton]], [[New Jersey]]. Afterwards for two years, he taught health and physical education at the University of New Orleans. He was a football spotter from 1958 until 2007, much of that time as a member of the LSU sports broadcasting team. In January 1963, he launched his LSU career as an academicic advisor in the athletic department, a position that he maintained for twenty-two years. Thereafter, he was for many years the LSU assistant athletic director in charge of sales and marketing.<ref name=obit/>

In 1954, Kennard graduated from Central High School at which he held thirteen letters in [[football]], [[basketball]], [[baseball]], and track. In 1958, he procured his Bachelor of Science degree in professional education from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. He taught and coached at Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge. Thereafter, while he pursued his Master of Education degree from [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge, which he completed in 1960, Kennard coached the LSU freshmen basketball team. He served for ten years in the [[United States Air Force]] Reserve, having first completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in [[Missouri]]. He was stationed at Fort Dix in [[Trenton]], [[New Jersey]]. Afterwards for two years, he taught health and physical education at the University of New Orleans. He was a football spotter from 1958 until 2007, much of that time as a member of the LSU sports broadcasting team. In January 1963, he launched his LSU career as an academicic advisor in the athletic department, a position that he maintained for twenty-two years. Thereafter, he was for many years the LSU assistant athletic director in charge of sales and marketing.<ref name=obit/>

==Legislative service==​

==Legislative service==

 

In the 1987 nonpartisan blanket [[primary]], Kennard defeated the Republican Michael "Mike" Harig, 10,310 votes (69 percent) to 4,693 (31 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>  In 1991, when his District 65 also included a voting precinct from neighboring Livingston Parish, Democrat Kennard defeated the Republican Kenneth "Ken" Wood, 8,092 (58 percent) to 5,908 (42 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref> Kennard was then unopposed as a Republican in 1995 and 1999. He was a big winner in the 2003 primary, when he defeated the Democrat Wade Byrd, 9,329 votes  (73 percent) to 3,482 (27 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.sults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 7, 2011}}</ref>​

In the 1987 nonpartisan blanket [[primary]], Kennard defeated the Republican Michael "Mike" Harig, 10,310 votes (69 percent) to 4,693 (31 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>  In 1991, when his District 65 also included a voting precinct from neighboring Livingston Parish, Democrat Kennard defeated the Republican Kenneth "Ken" Wood, 8,092 (58 percent) to 5,908 (42 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref> Kennard was then unopposed as a Republican in 1995 and 1999. He was a big winner in the 2003 primary, when he defeated the Democrat Wade Byrd, 9,329 votes  (73 percent) to 3,482 (27 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.sults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 7, 2011}}</ref>​

In 1999, Kennard was elected secretary of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/pubinfo/Press_Releases/kennard.htm|title=Kennard elected to national post|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=August 7, 2011}}</ref> He first became affiliated with ALEC in 1992, when he was still a Democrat. He served on the board of directors and was the organization's state chairman in 1994. He was the first national ALEC officer from Louisiana. In 2003, he was elevated to ALEC national chairman.<ref name=obit/>​

In 1999, Kennard was elected secretary of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/pubinfo/Press_Releases/kennard.htm|title=Kennard elected to national post|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|accessdate=August 7, 2011}}</ref> He first became affiliated with ALEC in 1992, when he was still a Democrat. He served on the board of directors and was the organization's state chairman in 1994. He was the first national ALEC officer from Louisiana. In 2003, he was elevated to ALEC national chairman.<ref name=obit/>​

In 1996, as a new Republican, Kennard authored and obtained passage of "Truth In Sentencing" legislation, which mandates that a person convicted of a violent crime must serve 85 percent of the sentence. The change virtually abolished "good time." For his work in passing the legislation, Kennard received the "Crime Fighter of the Year" award from the organization Victims and Citizens Against Crime. He was also recognized by the Law Enforcement Association of America for his support of local, state, and national law enforcement in authoring and passing the first legislation in the nation to protect officers injured on the job by prisoninmates]]. ALEC considers this model legislation. Kennard was a strong supporter of former East Baton Rouge Parish [[Sheriff]] [[Elmer Litchfield]], a Republican who served for twenty-three years before retiring late in 2006.​

In 1996, as a new Republican, Kennard authored and obtained passage of "Truth In Sentencing" legislation, which mandates that a person convicted of a violent crime must serve 85 percent of the sentence. The change virtually abolished "good time." For his work in passing the legislation, Kennard received the "Crime Fighter of the Year" award from the organization Victims and Citizens Against Crime. He was also recognized by the Law Enforcement Association of America for his support of local, state, and national law enforcement in authoring and passing the first legislation in the nation to protect officers injured on the job by prison inmates. ALEC considers this model legislation. Kennard was a strong supporter of former East Baton Rouge Parish [[Sheriff]] [[Elmer Litchfield]], a Republican who served for twenty-three years before retiring late in 2006.​

In 2005, Kennard was among twenty-one legislators who toured areas ravaged by [[Hurricane Katrina]]. The lawmaker said: "To me, it just looks like swampland. There's not even the remnants of homes for blocks ... I think it should make all of us humble. It should make all of us sympathetic. It should make all of us thankful for what we have been spared." The legislators toured the area three days before they convened for a special session called by Democratic [[overnor]] [[Kathleen Blanco]] to consider hurricane-recovery issues.​

In 2005, Kennard was among twenty-one legislators who toured areas ravaged by [[Hurricane Katrina]]. The lawmaker said: "To me, it just looks like swampland. There's not even the remnants of homes for blocks ... I think it should make all of us humble. It should make all of us sympathetic. It should make all of us thankful for what we have been spared." The legislators toured the area three days before they convened for a special session called by Democratic [[Governor]] [[Kathleen Blanco]] to consider hurricane-recovery issues.​

Kennard was active in the successful campaign to separate Central City public schools from the East Baton Rouge Parish system. He also worked to procure funding for roads in his district and to finance the diversion canal of the Comite River.<ref name=wlox>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlox.com/story/15188785/former-state-rep-donald-ray-kennard-hospitalized|title=Former state Rep. Donald Ray Kennard hospitalized|publisher=WLOX.com|accessdate=August 7, 2011}}</ref>

Kennard was active in the successful campaign to separate Central City public schools from the East Baton Rouge Parish system. He also worked to procure funding for roads in his district and to finance the diversion canal of the Comite River.<ref name=wlox>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlox.com/story/15188785/former-state-rep-donald-ray-kennard-hospitalized|title=Former state Rep. Donald Ray Kennard hospitalized|publisher=WLOX.com|accessdate=August 7, 2011}}</ref>

Term-limited, Kennard could not seek a ninth four-year term in the primary held on October 20, 2007. Both of the state House candidates who entered the primary were Republicans. Clifton S. "Clif" Richardson, an East Baton Rouge Parish [[business]]man, justice of the peace, and friend of Kennard's, defeated Edward "Clarke" Clark, 8,610 votes (67 percent) to 4,193 (33 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, August 7, 2011.</ref>​

Term-limited, Kennard could not seek a ninth four-year term in the primary held on October 20, 2007. Both of the state House candidates who entered the primary were Republicans. Clifton S. "Clif" Richardson, an East Baton Rouge Parish [[business]]man, justice of the peace, and friend of Kennard's, defeated Edward "Clarke" Clark, 8,610 votes (67 percent) to 4,193 (33 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, August 7, 2011.</ref>​

​

​

==Death==​

==Death==

 

Kennard died in Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center]in Baton Rouge from the effects of the rupture of a brain[[aneurysm]]<ref name=wlox/> six days before what would have been his 75th birthday. Services were held on August 8, 2011, at the Zoar [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church at 11848 Hooper Road, where Kennard was a longtime member. Interment was at the Zoar Church Cemetery, where his parents are also buried. His pallbearers included his three grandsons and his successor in the House, Representative Clif Richardson, along with Democratic the state Senator [[Francis C. Thompson]] of Delhi in Richland Parish in north Louisiana.<ref name=obit/><ref>​In 2020, [[Francis C. Thompson]], term-limited in the Senate, returned without opposition to the Louisiana House, where he had also served prior to becoming a state senator.</ref>

Kennard died in Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge from the effects of the rupture of a brain [[aneurysm]]<ref name=wlox/> six days before what would have been his 75th birthday. Services were held on August 8, 2011, at the Zoar [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church at 11848 Hooper Road, where Kennard was a longtime member. Interment was at the Zoar Church Cemetery, where his parents are also buried. His pallbearers included his three grandsons and his successor in the House, Representative Clif Richardson, along with Democratic the state Senator [[Francis C. Thompson]] of Delhi in Richland Parish in north Louisiana.<ref name=obit/><ref>​In 2020, [[Francis C. Thompson]], term-limited in the Senate, returned without opposition to the Louisiana House, where he had also served prior to becoming a state senator.</ref>

==References==

==References==