Louisiana Governors

During World War II

Sam Jones, Jimmie Davis, Earl Long, Robert Kennon

Sam Jones

• Governor 1940-1944

• In the military during World War II

• Jones started a civil service for state workers – this meant that state workers did not have to be a supporter of the governor to keep their job

Sam Jones

• Jones required bids for projects (companies had to compete to work on projects by offering the best proposal)

• State departments operated in a more businesslike manner

• Sam Jones grew up in Deridder and practiced law in Lake Charles. He also served as assistant district attorney for Calcasieu Parish

Jimmie Davis

• Governor 1944-1948; 1960-1964

• Was the son of a sharecropper

• Served on the Public Service Commission

• Davis was an entertainer; he also wrote the song “You Are My Sunshine”

Earl Long

• Governor 1939-1940; 1948-1952; 1956-1960

• Was the brother of Huey Long

• Served as lieutenant governor under Governor Leche; became governor after Leche resigned

• Long had a farm that he called his “pea patch”

Earl Long

• Long increased sales taxes

• Long increased pay for black teachers and increased the number of black voters

• Long ended the civil service system that Sam Jones had started. Earl wanted to handle business like his brother Huey – being able to choose who could work for the state himself

• Long was elected to the Congress in , but died a few days after the election

Robert Kennon

• Governor 1952-1956

• Ran government by the rules

• Restored the civil service system that Earl Long had ended

• Brought reform to the prison system

• Made it harder to raise taxes

Robert Kennon

• Fought illegal gambling

• Introduced voting machines in the state

• Before becoming governor, he was once the youngest mayor in the United States

Follow the link below to your study set

Quizlet – Louisiana Governors