Sam H. Jones: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American politician}} |
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{{for|the [[Louisiana House of Representatives|Louisiana state representative]] from [[St. Mary Parish, Louisiana|St. Mary Parish]]|Sam Jones (Louisiana politician)}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}} |
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{{Infobox officeholder |
{{Infobox officeholder |
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|name= Sam H. Jones |
|name= Sam H. Jones |
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|image = Sam H. Jones portrait.jpg |
|image = Sam H. Jones portrait.jpg |
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|caption = Sam H. Jones |
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|title= [[Governor of Louisiana]] |
|title= [[Governor of Louisiana]] |
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|order=46th |
|order=46th |
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|preceded= [[Earl Long|Earl K. Long]] |
|preceded= [[Earl Long|Earl K. Long]] |
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|succeeded= [[Jimmie Davis]] |
|succeeded= [[Jimmie Davis]] |
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|birth_name=Samuel Houston Jones |
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|birth_date= {{birth date|1897|7|15|mf=y}} |
|birth_date= {{birth date|1897|7|15|mf=y}} |
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|birth_place= [[Merryville, Louisiana|Merryville]], [[ |
|birth_place= [[Merryville, Louisiana|Merryville]], [[Louisiana]], U.S. |
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[[Louisiana]], USA |
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|death_date= {{death date and age|1978|2|8|1897|7|15|mf=y}} |
|death_date= {{death date and age|1978|2|8|1897|7|15|mf=y}} |
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|death_place= [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]] |
|death_place= [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]], [[Louisiana]], U.S. |
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Louisiana |
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|restingplace = Prien Memorial Park Cemetery in Lake Charles |
|restingplace = Prien Memorial Park Cemetery in Lake Charles |
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|occupation = [[Lawyer]] |
|occupation = [[Lawyer]] |
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|alma_mater = [[Louisiana State University |
|alma_mater = [[Louisiana State University]] {{small|(LLB)}} |
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|religion= [[Methodist]] |
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|spouse= Louise Gambrell Boyer |
|spouse= Louise Gambrell Boyer |
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|allegiance={{flag|United States}} |
|allegiance={{flag|United States}} |
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|battles= [[World War I]] |
|battles= [[World War I]] |
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}} |
}} |
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''' |
'''Samuel Houston Jones''' (July 15, 1897 – February 8, 1978) was an American lawyer and [[List of Governors of Louisiana|46th Governor of Louisiana]] for the term from 1940 to 1944. He defeated the renowned [[Earl Kemp Long]] in the 1940 [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Runoff election|runoff]] [[primary election]]. Eight years later, Long then in a reversal of 1940 defeated Jones in the 1948 party primary. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Samuel Jones was born in [[Merryville, Louisiana|Merryville]] in [[Beauregard Parish]] and grew up in nearby [[DeRidder, Louisiana|DeRidder]]. He served in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War I]]. Much of his service was spent at nearby [[Camp Beauregard]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana. After the war, he studied law at the [[Louisiana State University Law Center]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He practiced law in DeRidder before moving in 1924 to [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]], the [[county seat|parish seat]] of [[Calcasieu Parish]], where he practiced law and served as assistant district attorney for nine years. Jones was a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1921 and an assistant district attorney in the 14th Judicial District from 1925 to 1934. Jones married the former Louise Gambrell Boyer (1902–1996), and they had two children, [[Robert G. "Bob" Jones|Robert Gambrell "Bob" Jones]] and Carolyn Jelks Jones. He adopted Mrs. Boyer's children from her previous marriage, James G. Boyer and William E. Boyer. He also had a tabby (cat) named Katt. |
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==Election of 1940== |
==Election of 1940== |
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{{main |
{{main|1940 Louisiana gubernatorial election}} |
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In August 1939, Jones was approached by members of the political faction opposed to the policies of the late [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long |
In August 1939, Jones was approached by members of the political faction opposed to the policies of the late [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long Jr.]] to run for governor in 1940 against Huey's brother, Earl Long. Though initially reluctant, Jones agreed, and ran on a platform promising a return to honest efficient government after the corruption and excesses of the Long years. He particularly emphasized "the scandals" involving Huey Long's successor as governor, [[Richard W. Leche]]. Earl Long led in the primary round of voting, but with support from defeated third-place candidate and disgruntled former Long supporter [[James A. Noe]], Jones won a close victory in the runoff election and became governor. |
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==Jones as governor== |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:SamJonesstumpspeech.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Sam Jones in a stump speech in January 1940 as he sought the [[governor of Louisiana|Louisiana governorship]].]] --> |
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As governor, Jones tried to eliminate the power of the Longite political machine by reducing the number of state employees, instituting competitive bidding for state contracts, eliminating the deduct system of mandatory campaign contributions by state employees, and enacting [[civil service]]e, much of that work having been undertaken in 1940 by the [[Tulane Law School]] professor [[Charles E. Dunbar]] and completed in 1952 in the [[Robert F. Kennon]] administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lahistory.org/site21.php|title=Dunbar, Charles E.|work=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' (lahistory.org)|accessdate=December 16, 2010}}</ref> Jones worked to increase international trade through the Louisiana ports on the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. |
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He signed the Public Records Act of 1940, which declared most state documents public records and laid the groundwork for the development of the state archives through the work of the historian [[Edwin Adams Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/LearnAboutTheArchives/Pages/default.aspx|title=A Historical Sketch of the Louisiana State Archives|publisher=sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 1, 2013}}</ref> |
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[[Joe T. Cawthorn]] of [[Mansfield, Louisiana|Mansfield]] in [[DeSoto Parish, Louisiana|DeSoto Parish]], chaired the Senate Finance Committee but became a persistent critic of Governor Jones, after Jones split politically with former Governor [[James A. Noe]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], who had been Cawthorn's political mentor. Cawthorn accused Jones of "waste and inefficiency" in state government and was soon allied with the Long faction.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lhVPujF2H94C&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=former+la.+state+rep.+t.+c.+brister&source=bl&ots=0YJFzRc9r9&sig=70PlajzgFaHh4Tk-PQE3x9t3v8U&hl=en&sa=X&ei=YQwqVJTqFY2ryAT7wYDABg&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=former%20la.%20state%20rep.%20t.%20c.%20brister&f=false |title= Louisiana During World War II: Politics and Society, 1939-1945 |section= Jerry Purvis Sanson |pages=83, 84, 88 |date=1999 |publisher=[[Louisiana State University Press]] |location= [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]] |isbn= 0-8071-2308-0 |accessdate= October 28, 2014}}</ref> |
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Jones obtained legislative approval of the establishment of a state crime commission, which consisted of the governor, his executive counsel, and the [[Attorney General of Louisiana|state attorney general]]. With a $1 million appropriation, the agency was commissioned to pursue those who had stolen state funds or property. Jones suggested that up to $4 million might be recovered. In the [[Louisiana House of Representatives|state House]], Representative [[James E. Bolin]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in [[Webster Parish, Louisiana|Webster Parish]] sought to reduce the appropriation to $250,000. [[Louisiana State Senate|State Senator]] [[Lloyd Hendrick]] of [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]] wanted to establish a legislative commission, rather than an executive body. Nevertheless, the measure easily passed both houses and was signed into law. A few lawmakers loyal to then former Governor Earl Long charged that the commission gave too much power to the governor and was "[[Tyranny|tyrannical]]" in nature. They sued in the 19th Judicial District Court, which subpoenaed Jones to testify. The governor refused to do so, having cited an executive privilege dating back to [[U.S. President]] [[Thomas Jefferson]]. The opponents pursued the challenge to the [[Louisiana Supreme Court]], which declared the Jones commission unconstitutional.<ref>Jerry Sanson, ''Louisiana During World War II: Politics and Society, 1939-1945, pp. 60-62</ref> |
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In 1942, State Representative [[DeLesseps Story Morrison]], later the [[mayor of New Orleans]], introduced Jones's proposal for a volunteer state guard. One of the five opponents of the bill, [[T. C. Brister]], then a freshman member from [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] in [[Rapides Parish, Louisiana|Rapides Parish]], explained that he opposed the measure not because of opposition to the Jones administration but because he believed that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] was better suited for handling such wartime security issues.<ref>Jerry Sanson, ''Louisiana During World War II: Politics and Society, 1939-1945, pp. 87-88</ref> |
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Jones tapped as [[Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives|state House Speaker]] the returning State Representative [[Ralph Norman Bauer]] of [[St. Mary Parish, Louisiana|St. Mary Parish]], who had in 1929 with [[Cecil Morgan]] of [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]], led the [[impeachment]] forces against Huey Long on charges of [[Political corruption|abuses of power]]. |
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Jones was barred from succeeding himself as governor,<ref>Louisiana's state constitution at the time barred successive terms as governor''';''' the limit was changed to two successive terms by constitutional amendment, effective with the general election held on February 6, 1968.</ref> and therefore (see [[Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1944]]) was succeeded in 1944 by another anti-Long candidate, [[Jimmie Davis|Jimmie Houston Davis]]. Coincidentally, Jones and Davis shared the middle name "Houston." |
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Jones supported highway beautification and preservation of plants and wildlife. His administration hired the Louisiana [[botanist]] and [[Natural history|naturalist]] [[Caroline Dormon]] of [[Natchitoches Parish]] as a consultant for the Louisiana Highway Department. |
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==After the governorship== |
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Jones attempted a gubernatorial comeback in the 1947–1948 election cycle. He assembled an intraparty slate, including the incumbent Lieutenant Governor [[J. Emile Verret]] of [[New Iberia, Louisiana|New Iberia]], who failed in a bid for reelection against Long's choice, [[Bill Dodd]]. [[Fred S. LeBlanc]], former mayor of [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]] ran on the Jones slate for [[Louisiana Attorney General|attorney general]]; also D. Ross Banister of Monroe, Louisiana ran for state auditor and Grady Durham for secretary of state on the Jones slate. [[Dave L. Pearce]] of [[West Carroll Parish]] ran for agriculture commissioner on the Jones slate; so did [[Ellen Bryan Moore]] as a candidate for register of state lands, who unsuccessfully opposed the incumbent [[Lucille May Grace]]. [[Shelby M. Jackson]], the successful candidate for state education superintendent against John E. Coxe, also allied himself with Jones.<ref>''Minden Herald'', January 16, 1948, p. 2</ref> |
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Jones and Earl Long led in the primary and hence entered a gubernatorial runoff in which Long handily defeated Jones, 432,528 votes (65.9 percent) to 223,971 ballots (34.1 percent). Other candidates eliminated in the primary were later Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] and [[U.S. Representative]] [[James H. Morrison]] of [[Hammond, Louisiana|Hammond]]. |
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Jones hence returned to Lake Charles to practice law, but he remained a politically prominent member of the anti-Long faction throughout the 1950s. In 1964, Jones endorsed the Republican presidential nominee, Senator [[Barry M. Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], who won Louisiana's ten electoral votes. Jones said that he would remain a Democrat so that he could vote in pivotal Louisiana Democratic primaries—this was before the adoption of the Louisiana [[nonpartisan blanket primary]]—but that overall he was disillusioned with his ancestral party. |
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Jones' son, Bob Jones of Lake Charles, served as a Democrat in the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] (1968–1972 and the state Senate (1972–1976). Like his father, he was considered a political reformer. In 1975, the younger Jones ran in the first of the nonpartisan blanket primaries for governor. He polled 292,220 votes (24.3 percent), a considerable portion from Republicans, but he lost to Democratic incumbent [[Edwin Washington Edwards]], who had 750,107 (62.4 percent). Another candidate, Secretary of State [[Wade O. Martin, Jr.]], drew 146,368 votes (12.2 percent). Later, both Robert Jones and Wade Martin became Republicans. Bob Jones and his son, Sam Houston Jones, II, named for his grandfather, are Lake Charles stockbrokers. |
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Governor and Mrs. Jones are interred at Prien Memorial Park Cemetery in Lake Charles. They were [[Methodist]]s. |
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Jones is honored by the [[Sam Houston Jones State Park]] in [[Moss Bluff, Louisiana|Moss Bluff]], which contains a statue of the former governor. |
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In 2016, Jones was [[Posthumous recognition|posthumously]] inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in [[Winnfield, Louisiana|Winnfield]], twenty-three years after the inclusion of his old rival, Earl Long.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php|title=Political Hall of Fame: 2016|publisher=lapoliticalmuseum.com|accessdate=February 18, 2016}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} |
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* Conrad, Glenn R. (1988) ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography.'' Louisiana Historical Association. |
* Conrad, Glenn R. (1988) ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography.'' Louisiana Historical Association. |
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* [[Edwin Adams Davis|Davis, Edwin Adams]] (1961) ''Louisiana: The Pelican State.'' Baton Rouge: [[Louisiana State University Press]]. LCCN 59:9008. |
* [[Edwin Adams Davis|Davis, Edwin Adams]] (1961) ''Louisiana: The Pelican State.'' Baton Rouge: [[Louisiana State University Press]]. LCCN 59:9008. |
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* Hathorn, Billy (1980), "The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920–1980," [[Northwestern State University]] at Natchitoches thesis. |
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* Jeansonne, Glen, "Sam Houston Jones and the Revolution of 1940." ''Red River Valley Historical Review'' 4 (1979). |
* Jeansonne, Glen, "Sam Houston Jones and the Revolution of 1940." ''Red River Valley Historical Review'' 4 (1979). |
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* Nash, Bill. ''High Hat Sam: The Life and Times of Louisiana Governor Sam Houston Jones''. Springfield, Missouri : James E. Cornwell, 2014. |
* Nash, Bill. ''High Hat Sam: The Life and Times of Louisiana Governor Sam Houston Jones''. Springfield, Missouri : James E. Cornwell, 2014. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/403/Default.aspx State of Louisiana – Biography] |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080221041755/http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/403/Default.aspx State of Louisiana – Biography] |
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* [http://www.la-cemeteries.com/Governors/Jones,%20Sam%20Houston/Jones,%20Sam%20Houston.shtml Cemetery Memorial] by La-Cemeteries |
* [http://www.la-cemeteries.com/Governors/Jones,%20Sam%20Houston/Jones,%20Sam%20Houston.shtml Cemetery Memorial] by La-Cemeteries |
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* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/jones8.html#RL315H99O Political Graveyard] |
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/jones8.html#RL315H99O Political Graveyard] |
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{{s-start}} |
{{s-start}} |
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{{s-ppo}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[Richard W. Leche]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Louisiana|Governor of Louisiana]]|years=[[1940 Louisiana gubernatorial election|1940]]}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[Jimmie Davis]]}} |
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{{s-off}} |
{{s-off}} |
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{{succession box |title=[[List of Governors of Louisiana|Governor of Louisiana]] |before=[[Earl Long|Earl K. Long]]| after=[[Jimmie Davis]] | years= |
{{succession box |title=[[List of Governors of Louisiana|Governor of Louisiana]] |before=[[Earl Long|Earl K. Long]]| after=[[Jimmie Davis]] | years=May 14, 1940–May 9, 1944}} |
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{{s-end}} |
{{s-end}} |
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[[Category:1897 births]] |
[[Category:1897 births]] |
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[[Category:1978 deaths]] |
[[Category:1978 deaths]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Democratic Party governors of Louisiana]] |
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[[Category:Louisiana lawyers]] |
[[Category:Louisiana lawyers]] |
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[[Category:Louisiana State University Law Center alumni]] |
[[Category:Louisiana State University Law Center alumni]] |
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[[Category:Politicians from Lake Charles, Louisiana]] |
[[Category:Politicians from Lake Charles, Louisiana]] |
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[[Category:Louisiana Democrats]] |
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[[Category:People from Beauregard Parish, Louisiana]] |
[[Category:People from Beauregard Parish, Louisiana]] |
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[[Category:Democratic Party state governors of the United States]] |
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[[Category:United States Army soldiers]] |
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American politicians]] |
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]] |
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[[Category:Southern Methodists]] |
[[Category:Southern Methodists]] |
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[[Category:American United Methodists]] |
[[Category:American United Methodists]] |
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[[Category:People from DeRidder, Louisiana]] |
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[[Category:Burials in Louisiana]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Methodists]] |
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Revision as of 18:15, 19 February 2024
Sam H. Jones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 46th Governor of Louisiana | |
| In office May 14, 1940 – May 9, 1944 | |
| Lieutenant | Marc M. Mouton |
| Preceded by | Earl K. Long |
| Succeeded by | Jimmie Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuel Houston Jones July 15, 1897 Merryville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | February 8, 1978 (aged 80) Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Resting place | Prien Memorial Park Cemetery in Lake Charles |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Louise Gambrell Boyer |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University (LLB) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Samuel Houston Jones (July 15, 1897 – February 8, 1978) was an American lawyer and 46th Governor of Louisiana for the term from 1940 to 1944. He defeated the renowned Earl Kemp Long in the 1940 Democratic runoff primary election. Eight years later, Long then in a reversal of 1940 defeated Jones in the 1948 party primary.
Early life
Samuel Jones was born in Merryville in Beauregard Parish and grew up in nearby DeRidder. He served in the United States Army during World War I. Much of his service was spent at nearby Camp Beauregard in Pineville, Louisiana. After the war, he studied law at the Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge. He practiced law in DeRidder before moving in 1924 to Lake Charles, the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish, where he practiced law and served as assistant district attorney for nine years. Jones was a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1921 and an assistant district attorney in the 14th Judicial District from 1925 to 1934. Jones married the former Louise Gambrell Boyer (1902–1996), and they had two children, Robert Gambrell "Bob" Jones and Carolyn Jelks Jones. He adopted Mrs. Boyer's children from her previous marriage, James G. Boyer and William E. Boyer. He also had a tabby (cat) named Katt.
Election of 1940
In August 1939, Jones was approached by members of the political faction opposed to the policies of the late Huey Pierce Long Jr. to run for governor in 1940 against Huey's brother, Earl Long. Though initially reluctant, Jones agreed, and ran on a platform promising a return to honest efficient government after the corruption and excesses of the Long years. He particularly emphasized "the scandals" involving Huey Long's successor as governor, Richard W. Leche. Earl Long led in the primary round of voting, but with support from defeated third-place candidate and disgruntled former Long supporter James A. Noe, Jones won a close victory in the runoff election and became governor.
References
- Conrad, Glenn R. (1988) A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Louisiana Historical Association.
- Davis, Edwin Adams (1961) Louisiana: The Pelican State. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. LCCN 59:9008.
- Jeansonne, Glen, "Sam Houston Jones and the Revolution of 1940." Red River Valley Historical Review 4 (1979).
- Nash, Bill. High Hat Sam: The Life and Times of Louisiana Governor Sam Houston Jones. Springfield, Missouri : James E. Cornwell, 2014.
- Reeves, Miriam G. (1998), The Governors of Louisiana. Gretna: Pelican Publishing.
- Sanson, Jerry Purvis. "Sam Jones, Jimmie Noe, and the Reform Alliance, 1940–1942" Louisiana History 27 (1986).
External links
- State of Louisiana – Biography
- Cemetery Memorial by La-Cemeteries
- Political Graveyard
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
Categories:
- 1897 births
- 1978 deaths
- Democratic Party governors of Louisiana
- Louisiana lawyers
- Louisiana State University Law Center alumni
- Politicians from Lake Charles, Louisiana
- People from Beauregard Parish, Louisiana
- United States Army soldiers
- United States Army personnel of World War I
- 20th-century American politicians
- Southern Methodists
- American United Methodists
- People from DeRidder, Louisiana
- Burials in Louisiana
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 20th-century Methodists