Henry Luse Fuqua Sr. (November 8, 1865 – October 11, 1926), was an American government official and politician. A Democrat, he is most notable for his service as the 38th Governor of Louisiana from 1924 until his death in 1926.
Henry Luse Fuqua | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 38th Governor of Louisiana | |
| In office May 13, 1924 – October 11, 1926 | |
| Lieutenant | Oramel H. Simpson |
| Preceded by | John M. Parker |
| Succeeded by | Oramel H. Simpson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 8, 1865 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US |
| Died | October 11, 1926 (aged 60) Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Roselawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marie Laure “Laura” Matta (m. 1890–1926, his death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Louisiana State University (attended) |
| Occupation | Prison warden Businessman |
Biography
editHenry L. Fuqua was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 8, 1865, a son of James Overton Fuqua (1822–1875) and Jeannette Maria (Foules) Fuqua (1833–1900).[1] Fuqua's father was an attorney and veteran of the Mexican–American War who served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.[1] His siblings included Stephen O. Fuqua (1874–1943), a career United States Army officer who attained the rank of major general.[2]
Fuqua attended the Collegiate Institute of Baton Rouge, later known as Magruder's Collegiate Institute.[1] He then attended Louisiana State University from 1875 to 1882 as a non-degree student.[1] He completed a special course of instruction in engineering, after which he worked for a year as an assistant engineer on transportation projects in Louisiana and Mississippi, including the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad.[1]
After returning to Baton Rouge in 1883, Fuqua was a clerk at a hardware store, then became a traveling hardware salesman.[1] In 1892, he organized the Fuqua Hardware Company, which he built into one of the largest tool and hardware retailers in the state.[1] In 1916, Fuqua's business success led to appointment as the general manager of the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.[1] Making use of convict labor, Fuqua expanded the prison's farming operations into sugarcane, rice, and cotton crops that turned a profit for the state.[1]
Though he had not been active in politics, in 1924 was encouraged by supporters to become a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor.[1] In the primary election, he finished second to Hewitt Bouanchaud, the incumbent lieutenant governor, with Huey Long placing third.[1] In the runoff between Bouanchaud and Fuqua, most Long supporters transferred their support to Fuqua, who easily defeated Bouanchaud.[1] With the Democratic nomination being tantamount to election in the post-Civil War south,[3] Fuqua easily won the general election and took office in May 1924.[4]
Fuqua served as governor from May 13, 1924, until his death.[1] During his brief term, one priority was passage of anti-Ku Klux Klan legislation.[1] He also oversaw enactment of plans to expand public education funding and funding for road construction and improvement.[1] Fuqua died in Baton Rouge on October 11, 1926.[1] He was originally buried at Baton Rouge's Magnolia Cemetery, and later reinterred at Roselawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Baton Rouge.[5]
Family
editIn 1890, Fuqua married Marie Laure "Laura" Matta (1866–1968).[1] They were the parents of three children, Matta, James Overton, and Henry Luse Jr.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Dawson, Joseph G. III, ed. (1990). The Louisiana Governors: From Iberville to Edwards. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press. pp. 220–222. ISBN 978-0-8071-1527-5 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Gen. Fuqua Author Of Popular Book". Shreveport Journal. Shreveport, LA. October 14, 1940. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Moore, John, ed. (1999). Elections A-Z. New York, NY: Routledge. p. 173. ISBN 978-1-1359-3870-3 – via Google Books.
- ^ Calhoun, Milburn, ed. (2006). Louisiana Almanac: 2006-2007. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing. p. 549. ISBN 978-1-4556-0769-3 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Louisiana Governors: Henry L. Fuqua, 1924–1926". La-Cemeteries.com. 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
External links
edit- "Henry L. Fuqua", A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Vol. I (1988), p. 328
- State of Louisiana – Biography
- Miriam G. Reeves, The Governors of Louisiana (1962)
- Fuqua's death and obituary, New Orleans Times-Picayune, October 12–13, 1926
- Robert Sobel and John Raimo, eds., Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978, Vol. II (1978)
- T. Harry Williams – Oral History Collection – Interview with Henry L. Fuqua, Jr.
- National Governors Association
- Louisiana Historical Photographs Collection of the State Library – Taking the Oath
- History of Angola Archived August 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine