Catherine Small Long

Mary Catherine Small Long (born Mary Catherine Small; February 7, 1924 – November 23, 2019) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 8th congressional district, which she filled from 1985 to 1987, the remainder of the term left by the death of her husband, Gillis William Long. Until it was disbanded in 1993, the 8th district was based in Central Louisiana about Alexandria. She was the first female military veteran elected to Congress,[1] having served as a WAVE in the United States Navy.

"Catherine Long" redirects here. For the English writer, see Catharine Long.
Catherine Small Long
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 8th district
In office
March 30, 1985 – January 3, 1987
Preceded byGillis William Long
Succeeded byClyde C. Holloway
Personal details
Born
Mary Catherine Small

(1924-02-07)February 7, 1924
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 23, 2019(2019-11-23) (aged 95)
Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1947; died 1985)
Children2
Alma materLouisiana State University
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
RankPharmacist's mate 2nd class (PhM2c)
Battles/warsWorld War II

Personal life

Mary Catherine Small was born in Dayton, Ohio, and attended school in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.[2] She served as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy during World War II. She married Gillis William Long in 1947 and earned a B.A. degree from Louisiana State University in 1948.[2][3] Long had two children, George Harrison Long (born October 13, 1954) and Janis Catherine Long (born March 25, 1957).[4][2]

Death

Long died from complications of dementia at an assisted-living facility in Chevy Chase, Maryland on November 23, 2019, at age 95.[3]

Career

Long served in the U.S. Navy as a pharmacist's mate. Long became a staff assistant for Oregon senator Wayne Morse and Ohio Representative James G. Polk.[2]

In January 1985, Long's husband died and left a vacancy in Louisiana 8th congressional district.[2] In 1985, when Long announced her candidacy, some of the wives of other U.S. representatives came into the district to campaign on her behalf.[5] Long won the special election, defeating candidates including Republican Clyde C. Holloway, a nurseryman from Forest Hill in southern Rapides Parish, and then State Representative Jock Scott of Alexandria, a Democrat who later switched parties.

In 1986, Long declined to seek a full term as congresswoman in the nonpartisan blanket primary. In another bid for the seat, Holloway narrowly prevailed in the general election even though the Eighth District was among the most historically Democratic in the nation.

In his autobiographical Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics, former lieutenant governor and education superintendent William J. "Bill" Dodd, an astute observer of Louisiana politics for a half century, describes Cathy Long, who compiled a liberal voting record in Congress, as the "perfect political wife."[6]

See also

References
  1. Doris Weatherford, Women in American Politics: History and Milestones, Vo. 1, p.165.
  2. "Long, Catherine Small". house.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  3. Pope, John (November 23, 2019). "Former U.S. Rep. Cathy Long, who won a term in Congress after her husband's death, dies at 95". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  4. "Long, Catherine Small (1924-)". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  5. "Gillis Long's widow seeks vacant Congress position", Minden Press-Herald, March 25, 1985, p. 1.
  6. Bill Dodd, Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Gillis William Long		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 8th congressional district
1985–1987		 Succeeded by
Clyde C. Holloway
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