|
Richard Webster Leche
45th
Governor of Louisiana |
| Preceded by |
James A. Noe |
| Governor by |
Election |
| Served |
May 12, 1936 |
| Served |
June 26, 1939 |
| Left Office by |
Resigned |
| Succeeded by |
Earl K. Long |
| |
| Born |
May 15, 1898
New Orleans |
| Died |
February 22, 1965
New Orleans |
| Cause |
|
| Age |
67 |
| |
| Party |
Democratic |
| Education |
Loyola University |
| Profession |
Lawyer |
| |
| Spouse |
Elton Reynolds |
| Children |
2 |
| Religion |
Episcopal |
| Burial |
Metairie Cemetery |
|
1936
-1939
Richard Webster Leche,
the 45th governor of Louisiana, died in 1965.
He is buried in the family tomb in
Metairie
Cemetery in New Orleans.
Leche's first
try at public office was in 1928 for a state Senate seat from the Eighth
Senatorial District. He was defeated by Tom McConnell in the second
primary. Leche was the New Orleans city campaign manager for Gov. Huey
Long's U. S. Senatorial campaign in 1930. In 1932 he became the
secretary to Gov. Oscar K. Allen.
Leche was
appointed judge of the state court of appeal in September 1934.
Following Huey Long's death in September 1935, Leche was chosen by the party
to be the successor to Gov. Allen.
Judge Richard
Leche, as a candidate for governor promised to have the state match the
federal contribution for old age pension. He also promised to remove
the school teachers from state control and over to the parishes. His
speeches stated an expectation of a record vote for his candidancy. |
|
Richard Leche resigned from
office, with about a year left to his term, claiming ill health.
In June 1940, after being
convicted on a federal conviction of mail fraud, he filed an appeal to avoid
a 10 year prison sentence. The conviction was based on mail fraud in
the purchase of 233 trucks for the state highway department from an
Alexandria dealer. It was alleged that Leche received $31,000 of the
excess profits from the dealer. The go-between man testified that he
paid Gov. Leche an additional $22,000. The conviction was upheld.
He was paroled in May of 1945. |
|
Richard Leche resigned from
office, with about a year left to his term, claiming ill health.
Stella Louise Richard
Wife of
Eustace W. Leche
1872 -- 1926
Eustace Webster Leche
1869 --
1930
Richard Webster Leche
1936
GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA 1939
May 17, 1889 --Feb.
22, 1965
Hebert Girton Deignan
Husband of
Stella Marie Leche
Dec. 5, 1906 -- Mar. 15, 1968
Stella Leche Deignan
Feb. 17,
1901 -- Aug. 30, 1993
Elton Reynolds Leche
June 12,
1903 -- Apr. 29, 1999
|
|
All photos herein are DIGIMARC
ENABLED, are the property of
La-Cemeteries©
and may
not be copied or distributed
without the express written permission of
La-Cemeteries©
Copyright © 2007-2009.
All Rights Reserved.
Digimarc and the Digimarc logo are registered trademarks of Digimarc Corporation.
The "Digimarc-Enabled" Web Button is a trademark of Digimarc Corporation, used with permission. |
