2017 -- S 0868

========

LC002661

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING ROGER LALIBERTE ON BEING INDUCTED INTO THE RHODE

ISLAND RADIO HALL OF FAME

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, Cote, and Raptakis

     Date Introduced: May 09, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Roger Laliberte, the longtime host of the French-language radio show

"L'écho Musical" has devoted much of his life in a mission to preserve the French culture of

northern Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Laliberte has hosted "L'écho Musical", possibly the longest continuing

foreign language radio show in the United States, for the past 60 years. It all began in 1957, when

Mr. Laliberte launched the show on radio station WWRI in West Warwick. The program later

migrated to WWON now WOON in 1963 - and later to WNRI. Throughout the years, the format

has remained constant, with Mr. Laliberte playing French-language music in between speaking to

his audience exclusively in French. For most of the its history, Mr. Laliberte has been joined on

the show by his beloved wife, Claudette, who records the commercials and converses on air with

him in French; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to hosting "L'écho Musical", Mr. Laliberte is a retired Coventry

police officer who served the citizens of Coventry with honor and integrity. He joined the

Coventry Police Department in 1969, steadily rose through the ranks, and finally served as the

Chief for 12 years until his retirement in 2001; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Laliberte is also a successful entrepreneur. In 2004, he became an

owning partner of WNRI along with the Honorable Roger Bouchard, Richard Bouchard, and

Dave St. Onge. Through the years, whether as an employee or owner, Mr. Laliberte has strived to

preserve the French culture that is an indelible part of northern Rhode Island, and provide his

listeners with high-quality and family-friendly entertainment; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates Roger Laliberte on being inducted into the Rhode Island Radio Hall of

Fame; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Roger Laliberte.

========

LC002661

========

LC002661 - Page 2 of 2