|
 1964
- 1968
1968 - 1972
John Julian
McKeithen, the 52nd Governor of Louisiana, died
in 1999.
He is interred at Hogan Plantation Cemetery near Columbia.
Governor
McKeithen was the first Louisiana governor in the twentieth century to succeed himself in
office. His popularity was such that the legislature placed a
constitutional amendment on the ballot which the voters overwhelmingly
approved, thereby allowing the governor to run for a second term. He
was reelected without opposition from the Republican Party.
|
John Julian McKeithen
52nd
Governor of Louisiana |
| Preceded by |
James H. Davis |
| Governor by |
Elections |
| Served from |
May 12, 1964 |
| Served to |
May 9, 1972 |
| Left Office by |
Terms Ended |
| Succeeded by |
Edwin W. Edwards |
| asdasd |
| Born |
May 28, 1918 |
| Died |
June 4, 1999 |
| Cause |
|
| Age |
81 |
| Party |
Democratic |
| Education |
Louisiana State University |
| Profession |
Lawyer |
| |
| Spouse |
Marjorie Howell Funderburk |
| Children |
6 |
| Religion |
Methodist |
| Burial |
Hogan Plantation Cemetery |
In 1942, John J.
McKeithen earned a law degree from LSU, married Marjorie Howell Funderburk,
and enlisted in the U. S. Army. These three pivotal events framed his
life.
As a 1st Lieutenant in the 77th
Infantry Division, McKeithen served in the Pacific Theater at Guam, Okinawa and
other battlegrounds, receiving two bronze stars. Upon completion
of his duty, he returned to Caldwell Parish and opened a law practice in
Columbia. His political career began in 1948 with election to the
Louisiana House of Representatives. He then was elected Public Service
Commissioner in 1954 and served until 1964.
He was elected
Governor of Louisiana in 1964 with nearly 61% of the vote in the general
election. The state's industries prospered through his tireless
efforts, a 'code of ethics' for public officials became law, reform of the
state correctional system was implemented, an insurance program for state
employees was begun and appointments of two men to judgeships in New Orleans
helped heal some racial divides.
Governor
McKeithen shepherded the
"Superdome" through the legislature
with a Constitutional Amendment which the voters of Louisiana approved on
November 8, 1966. Construction began in 1971 and was completed almost
exactly four years later in 1975.
In 1968,
Governor McKeithen became the first governor in the twentieth century to succeed himself. He
received almost 81% of the vote in the Democratic primary. The
Republicans chose not to field a candidate in the general election.
He left office
in 1972 and continued his law practice in Columbia and in Baton Rouge,
managed his oil and gas exploration company and his farm.
Hogan
Cemetery
Memorials
To the left of the obelisk is the burial site of
Walter Fox McKeithen.
His monument is not yet on site.
The obelisk is
that of Governor McKeithen.
The middle monument is that of Marjorie
Howell Funderburk McKeithen.
The headstone
to the right is that of Jessie Jay McKeithen.
John Julian McKeithen
May 28,
1918
June 4, 1999
Legislator
1948 - 1952
Public Service
Commissioner
1954 - 1961
Governor
1964 - 1972
McKeithen
John Julian
McKeithen
1918 - 1999
U. S. Army
77th
Infantry Div.
1st Lieutenant
Enlisted 1942
Honorable Dis. 1946
World War II
Pacific Theater
Combat Veteran
in Campaigns of
Guam, Leyte,
Okinawa, & IF Shima
Awarded
Two Bronze Stars
John Julian
McKeithen
"I wasn't born to material
wealth, nor do I have
claim to an aristocratic name. But if I am
elected
governor, it will prove that any mother's son can
aspire to
the highest political office of this state.
I've come this far because
you the people have
given me your support - with all the professional
politicians, power brokers and big money people
fighting me every step of
the way. Because I owe
you so much, you can be assured when I raise
my
hand to take the oath of office as Governor of
Louisiana, there
will be a prayer in my heart that
God will always guide me to do what is
best for the
state and all the people in it. We'll win this race,
but I need your help. Won't you help me?"
McKeithen on the
Campaign Trail in 1964
John Julian
McKeithen
husband of
Marjorie
Howell
Funderburk
June 14, 1942
Children
Jesse Jay
Walter Fox
Rebecca Ann
Melissa Sue
Pamela Claire
Jenneva Maude
Grandchildren
Marjorie
Marianne
Rebecca
John
Hannah
Russell
Laura
Sarah
John
Jesse
Jennifer
Casey
Jonathan
Jeremey
Jason
Marjorie Howell Funderburk McKeithen
Born August 30, 1919
Died
March 24, 2004
Identical Twin: Margaret Howell Funderburk
Wife of John Julian McKeithen Married June 14, 1942
Salutatorian Winnsboro High School
Selected "Most Beautiful"
Charter
Member Sigma Kappa Sorority
Louisiana
Tech University Bachelor of Science
Degree Cum Laude
Teacher of Math and Chemistry
Jena High School and
Ward Five School in Caldwell Parish
First Lady of
Louisiana 1964 - 1972
Beloved Mother of Jay, Fox, Rebecca, Melissa
Pamela, and Jenny
Cherished Grandmother
An Excellent Wife And
Mother. Her Worth Is Far
Above Jewels. The Heart of Her
Husband Trusts In
Her And He Will Have No Lack Of Gain. She Does
Him
Good And Not Evil All The Days Of Her Life. She
Works With
Her Hands In Delight. Strength And
Dignity Are Her Clothing.
She Looks Well To The
Ways of Her Household, And Does Not Eat The
Bread Of Idleness. Her Children Rise Up And Call
Her Blessed.
Charm Is Deceitful And Beauty Is Vain,
But A Woman Who Fears The Lord.,
She Shall Be
Praised. Give Her The Product Of Her Hands And
Let
Her Works Praise Her In The Gates.
Proverbs 31
Jesse Jay
McKeithen
December 5, 1943
April 11, 1998
Oldest Son Of
Governor and Mrs. John J. McKeithen
Walter Fox
McKeithen
September 8, 1946
July 16, 2005
Secretary of State of Louisiana
1988 - 2005
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