State Office Holders from Avoyelles.
(compiled by Randy DeCuir)
Avoyelles over the years has been noted as the center of Louisiana
Politics, as it has been the birthplace or home of several state office
holders over the last two centuries.
Among those we know of:
GOVERNORS
Carlos de Grand Pre
SPANISH LT. GOVERNOR of the vast Louisiana Territory (resided in Avoyelles);
Later appointed as Spanish GOVERNOR.
Carlos de Grand Pre chose the Avoyelles Post over Rapides to reside in the
1790s, when he appointed as Lieutenant Governor over the Red River region
and its tributary posts and would still later attain the highest
governmental rank as Governor over all of the province of Louisiana.
Earlier Carlos de Grand Pre served as Commandante of Natchez. He owned the
tract of land roughly bordered today between Main Street and Highway One,
the John Landry Road and Cedar Lane. The Spanish military post was probably
located somewhere between the Charles Dupuy-Ben Edwards homesites
Edwin Edwards
LOUISIANA STATE GOVERNOR of the State of Louisiana;
Only person to ever serve four terms as governor of Louisiana.
Edwin Edwards was born in Avoyelles, at Johnson Settlment along Red River
north of Marksville, son of Clarence Edwards and Agnes Brouillette. As a
child, the family resided just west of Marksville on the Gum Ridge Road. He
worked at Western Auto as a student in High School, and he graduated in
1943. Classmates include Raymond Laborde who later served as Commissioner
of Administration of Louisinana and Marc Dupuy, Jr, who later served on the
board of Wildlife of Fisheries of Louisiana.
Governor's families
GOV. DAVE TREEN's father was born in Marksville, the Treen home was located
on the northeast corner of Main and Lemoine Streets. His aunt was a Home
Demonstration agent of Avoyelles in the 1910s.
GOV. MIKE FOSTER has a step-son who currently lives in Bunkie, Avoyelles, LA
Other State-wide Office Holders of Avoyelles
Arnaud Lafargue
State Superintendent of Education, State of Louisiana, 1890s
Adolph Valery Coco
Attorney General, State of Louisina, 1910s
Gaston Porterie
Attorney General, State of Louisina, 1930s
James A Gremillion
Secretary of State, State of Louisina, 1940s
Son of Aristide Martin Gremillion, former publisher of the Marksville
Weekly News
Jack Gremillion
Attorney General, State of Louisina, 1970s
Of the Plaucheville branch of the Gremillion family
Louis J. Michot, Jr.
Superintendent of Education, State of Louisina, 1972-1976
His parents, Louis Michot and Adele Domas Neck were both natives of Marksville.
Richard Iyoub
Attorney General, State of Louisiana, 1995-date
His wife is a native of Moreauville
District State Office Holders
Cornelious Voorhies, Supreme Court Justice, 1850s, Marksville native
Jeannette Knoll, Supreme Court Justice, 1990s, Marksville resident
A. J. Sookie Roy, president, State BESE Board, Marksville resident
Mr. WrightMember, LA Wildlife and Fisheries Board, 1959s
Marc DupuyMember, LA Wildlife and Fisheries Board, 1970s
Dr. Don HinesMember, LA Wildlife and Fisheries Board, 1980s
Federal office holders
A. B. Irion, Congressman, 1870s, Marksville;
Elaine Schwartzenburg Edwards, U. S. Senator, 1970s, Marksville native
Gaston Porterie, Federal Judge, 1940s
Lafaruge, Federal Marshall, 1950s
Tucker Melancon, Federal Judge, 1990s
Please help us update this list. Send addtions to: decuir@writeme.com