Len Lacy
| John Len Lacy | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana State Representative from Bienville Parish | |
|
In office 1964–1968 | |
| Preceded by | C. L. McCrary |
| Succeeded by | Edgerton L. "Bubba" Henry |
| Member of Bienville Parish School Board | |
|
In office January 6, 1931 – 1964 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 8, 1900 Castor, Bienville Parish Louisiana, USA |
| Died |
June 7, 1998 (aged 97) Monroe, Ouachita Parish Louisiana |
| Resting place | New Ebenezer Cemetery in Castor, Louisiana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Sallie Williams Lacy (1905-1999) |
| Children |
Doris Lacy Barnes of Newellton in Tensas Parish |
| Occupation | Farmer; Cattleman; Businessman |
| Religion | United Methodist |
|
(1) In 1970, the Shreveport Times identified then retired legislator Lacy as one of the most influential persons in Bienville Parish. (2) Lacy and his wife, the former Sallie Williams, both served on the Bienville Parish School Board for a combined forty-one years.  Graves of Len and Sallie Lacy at New Ebenezer Cemetery in Castor | |
John Len Lacy, usually known as Len Lacy (September 8, 1900 – June 7, 1998), was a prominent farmer, cattleman, landowner, and businessman who served from 1964 to 1968 as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Castor in Bienville Parish in northwestern Louisiana.[1]
Biography
Lacy was born into a pioneer Bienville Parish family in the Ebenezer community south of Castor on the night of the deadly Galveston tidal surge. His grandfather was one of the first educators in Bienville Parish. His father was Henry Rufus Lacy, Sr. (1870–1956); his brother, Henry Rufus Lacy, Jr. (1902–1969), was a Castor merchant known throughout the area as Rufus Lacy.[2]
Prior to his legislative service, Lacy was for thirty-three years a member of the elected Bienville Parish School Board, headquartered in the parish seat of Arcadia. He served from January 6, 1931, until 1964, when he assumed his legislative seat.
Lacy was the last person to have represented only Bienville Parish in the legislature. Until 1968, each parish regardless of its population had been guaranteed a seat in the 105-member Louisiana House. Bienville was thereafter combined with neighboring Jackson Parish. Edgerton L. "Bubba" Henry, a Democrat from Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson Parish, defeated Lacy in the 1967 primary, and in 1972, Henry began an eight-year stint as the Speaker of the Louisiana House. Democrat Jamie Fair of Castor succeeded Henry in the seat in 1980 and served a single term until 1984.[1]
In 1970, The Shreveport Times named Lacy one of the most influential persons in Bienville Parish because many who sought guidance in business or politics came to him for advice. His great public interest was in rural development.[2]
Family and death
Lacy was married to the former Sallie Williams (June 23, 1905 - January 12, 1999),[3] who succeeded her husband as a school board member, having served from August 1964 until her retirement on December 14, 1972.[4]
The Lacys had three daughters, Doris Lacy Barnes (born August 24, 1925), the widow of Orrice R. Barnes (1921–1996),[5] an Idaho native and the former Western Auto dealer in Newellton in Tensas Parish in northeastern Louisiana; Billie L. Ainsworth and her husband, William G. Ainsworth, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Carolyn L. Carrow and husband, Guy E. Carrow, of Monroe. There were six Lacy grandchildren, residing as of 1998 in five states: J. Russell Barnes, M.D. (born 1952), of Vicksburg, Mississippi, David Lacy Barnes, M.D. (born November 11, 1954), of Monroe; Terry Ainsworth Evans of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Martha Ainsworth Healey of Edmond, Oklahoma, Stephen C. Carrow of Tulsa, and T. Scott Carrow of Jacksonville, Florida. He had ten great-grandchildren.[2]
Lacy died in a Monroe hospital. He and his wife are interred at the New Ebenezer Cemetery south of Castor.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2016" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 John Len Lacy obituary, Shreveport Times, June 8, 1998, obtained through Theresa A. Douglas, Public Information Specialist, Office of Public Information, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: douglast@legis.state.la.us; (225) 342-9795
- ↑ Graves at New Ebenezer Cemetery, Castor, Louisiana
- ↑ Statement of Bienville Parish School Board, May 13, 2008
- ↑ Social Security Death Index Interactive Search
| Preceded by C. L. McCrary |
Louisiana State Representative from Bienville Parish
John Len Lacy |
Succeeded by Edgerton L. "Bubba" Henry |