Mr. E’s
Monday,
April 19,
2010
Louisiana
History
Class
You are My
Sunshine
and
Louisiana's
other
governors
April 19, 1960 ~ Gov. Jimmie
Davis elected.
72. Describe leaders who were influential in Louisiana’s development.
H-1D-M1
Today’s objective: Students will brief backgrounds a a few of Louisiana’s more
current governors ie Sam Jones, Jimmie Davis, Earl Long, John McKeithen,
Edwin Edwards, David Treen, Kathleen Blanco, and Bobby Jindal
Governor Sam
Houston Jones – Sam
Jones had served as
assistant District Attorney
in Calcasieu Parish and
was a veteran of WWI.
Voters like Jones because
he was not part of the
“political crowd” in state
government.
Fact # 1
Honesty: Gov. Jones
promised to bring honesty
to state government. He did
away with Huey’s “deduct “
system. He also took steps to
end voter fraud and worked
to remove the names of
dead people from the voting
lists.
Fact # 2
Effectiveness– Gov.
Jones’ goal was to have n
efficient state government.
Companies who wanted state
jobs had to “bid” on them –
the lowest bidder was
awarded the job. The new
“civil service” system helped
protect state workers jobs. They
no longer lost their jobs every
time a new governor was
elected.
Fact # 3
Reformer – Jones was a reformer but did
not try to limit the social programs Huey had
started. In fact he increase the old age pension
and added more children to the free school
lunch program.
Lake Charles
remembers
Gov. Jones with his
home, family, and a
state park named in
his honor.
Fact # 4
Prosperity – Due to World War II the
state’s funs continued to increase helping
Jones continue the road, bridge, and capital
improvements. When Jones’s term ended, he
left the state with a budget surplus.
Fact # 5
Jimmie Davis – Even
though he is best known for
his song “You are my
sunshine”, Davis had worked
his way up to the governor’s
office through the Shreveport
city council and the Public
Service Commission
(formerly the Railroad
commission).
Fact # 6
The story began –
in the hills of North
Louisiana, in Jackson
Parish. He was born
into poverty but a hard
working country family
– he was first of eleven
children. He put himself
through college by
singing on street corners
in Alexandria.
Fact # 7
“B” Movies – Jimmie’s
singing and guitar playing
provided him a career in
country music and early
Hollywood movies. He was
known as the singing
cowboy – well ahead of
Roy Rogers and Gene
Autry. He had made money
as an entertainer before he
ran for governor.
Fact # 8
Peace and Harmony –
People believe it was a good
reason to elect him because
he ”didn’t need to steal from
the state!” because he
already had money.
He made many speeches which
ended with him singing with his
band. Crowds loved the “free
entertainment”.
Fact # 9
Hollywood Governor –
The state’s budget surplus
was even greater when he left
office – many say it was
because he spent more time
in Hollywood filming movies
that governing the state, so he
couldn’t spend money. Not
true – he spend large sums on a
charity hospital in Shreveport
and on education – both
colleges and universities.
Fact # 10
Tue (21): Ch. 14, Earl Kemp Long
Wed (22): Ch. 14, Earl Long
Thurs (23): Ch. 15, Civil Rights Era
Fri (24): Ch. 15, Emmitt Till story
Mon (27): Ch. 15, John McKeithen
Tue (28): Ch. 15, Edwin Edwards
Wed (29): Viet Nam
Thurs (30): Heritage lesson
Fri (1): Heritage lesson
Upcoming