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

Fact # 1 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.

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

Fact # 3 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 # 4 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.

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

Fact # 6 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 # 7 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 # 8 “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 # 9 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 # 10 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.

Upcoming 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