B. R. Patton
Bennie Robert Patton, known as B. R. Patton (September 15, 1920 – December 8, 1999),[1] was a Democrat from Farmerville, Louisiana, who served for two terms from 1956 to 1964 in the Louisiana State Senate from Lincoln and Union parishes.[2] His tenure corresponded with the last terms of Governors Earl Kemp Long and Jimmie Davis.
Bennie Robert "B. R." Patton | |
---|---|
Louisiana State Senator for Lincoln and Union parishes (now District 35) | |
In office 1956–1964 | |
Preceded by | James P. Hinton |
Succeeded by | Charles C. Barham |
Personal details | |
Born | Place of birth missing | September 15, 1920
Died | December 8, 1999 79) Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, USA | (aged
Resting place | Corinth Cemetery in Ruston |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Peggy Gantt Patton (married 1946-1999, his death) |
Children | Benny Bruce Patton |
Parents | Robert Toomes Patton (1887-1968) Mary Odelia Howell Patton (1894-1991) |
Residence | Farmerville, Union Parish |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Battles/wars | World War II |
In the primary election held in January 1956, Patton was placed into a runoff a month later with the one-term incumbent senator, James P. Hinton.[3] whom he then subsequently unseated.[2] Democrat Earl Long won his third nonconsecutive term as governor outright in the primary over a field of candidates, including Mayor deLesseps Story Morrison of New Orleans and businessman and former highway director Fred Preaus of Farmerville.[4]
Along with Fred Preaus and State Representative T. T. Fields, Patton worked to make Lake D'Arbonne in Farmerville a reality. Popular with fisherman and boaters, the large man-made lake opened in 1963.[5][6] Shortly thereafter, Patton was unseated for a third term in the primary held on December 7, 1963, by his fellow Democrat, Charles C. Barham of Ruston, the older of two sons of former Lieutenant Governor C. E. "Cap" Barham.
Patton and his parents are interred at Corinth Cemetery in Ruston. In 1946, he married the former Peggy Gantt (born December 25, 1927) of Farmerville.[1]
References
- "Bennie Robert Patton". findagrave.com. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- "Membership in the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present" (PDF). legis.la.gov. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- "Long's Lead Builds". Ruston Daily Leader. January 19, 1956. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- Milburn E. Calhoun (2006). Louisiana Almanac. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing Company. p. 549. ISBN 9781589803060. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- "In the Beginning". Lake D'Arbonne Life. January 18, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- Kinny Haddox (November 7, 2013). "Lake D'Arbonne Celebrating 50th Year". Bernice, Louisiana: The Bernice Banner. p. 5. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
Preceded by James P. Hinton |
Louisiana State Senator for Lincoln and Union parishes (now 35th District)
Bennie Robert "B. R." Patton |
Succeeded by Charles C. Barham |