GOVERNOR SAM HOUSTON JONES

Son of Merryville was Sam Houston Jones, who slew "the giant" that was the Long machine.

Governor Sam Jones ran on a platform that called for the trial of every "thief and crook" in the State. He promised to restore honesty and decency in government of Louisiana.

Described as a small man, about 5 feet and 8 inches in height and weighing 150 pounds, Sam in no way was hindered by his size from waging the most vigorous, aggressive campaign against five candidates, including Huey Long's brother, Governor Earl Long. He never missed an engagement and made a total of 682 speeches. Governor Long called him "Sweet-smelling little Sam."

The dynasty which Sam Jones smashed was the closest approach to an absolute dictatorship established in America since the day Cornwallis surrendered his sword at Yorktown.

While campaigning, his message to the citizens of Louisiana which got him elected was in part:

1. I will retain the free school books.

2. I will retain the free poll taxes.

3. I will see that an old age pension of $30 per month is paid to those who need it.

4. I will cut out the graft and eliminate the dead-head payroll and will thereby save millions of dollars which will be used for schools.

5. I will sponsor a complete homestead exemption.

Sam Jones said "Keep this as my pledge to the people of this State. Beware of the malicious liars who are going around the State and telling you that Sam Jones is not a friend of the poor people and does not understand their problems."

The big blowout for Sam Jones' inauguration included over 125,000 people and many residents from DeRidder. Cattle were donated with a thousand head needed to feed the crowd as well as 250,000 buns and 300 barrels of lemonade.

He served as Governor 1940 to 1944. He succeeded in transforming the government of Louisiana from its scandals and spoils system to one which embraced civil service. His campaign against a political machine that held sway over Louisiana politics for 12 years, attracted national attention.

While governor, he introduced a system that required competitive bidding on state contracts, introduced voting machines and eliminated the need for annual registration for poll taxes as a requirement for voting. He opened the state's books and records to public view and stopped political control of state colleges. He was the first governor to reduce the bonded debt since the days of reconstruction and left a $25 million surplus in the general fund to his successor.

Governor Jones was successful in increasing the number of Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camps in Louisiana. In 1953 Governor Jones was appointed by President Eisenhower as a member of the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to help solve problems on the national, state and local levels. He was active in the Public Affairs Research Council, National Municipal League, and served on the State Board of Commerce and Industry.

The son of Beauregard Parish was born 1897, the son of Robert Jones and Susan Frazar Jones in a log cabin in the piney woods of Merryville. Before he finished high school in DeRidder, he made up his mind to go to the State University and study law. To earn money, he went to a neighboring sawmill community and got work. When he was 17, he was able to enter the university and waited on tables to help pay his way.

Two years after he went to Baton Rouge, the United States entered World War I and young Jones joined the infantry. In 1922 he was admitted to the bar and hung out his shingle in DeRidder. He practiced law for nine years, served one term as city judge and then decided to go to the big town of Lake Charles. He got the job of assistant parish prosecutor and remained in that office for nine years.

Not only was Sam Jones born in Merryville, he grew up in DeRidder and married a DeRidder girl, Louise Gambrell Boyer.

He was active in the American Legion, serving as a local Post 27 Commander and served as State Commander of Louisiana in 1930 and 1931. For four years he served as national committeeman. While in the Legion, he established a policy of keeping the Legion out of state and partisan politics. Sam could deliver speeches on Americanism which would have his audiences cheering and shouting for democracy.

Sam was the youngest member ever, age 21 to be named to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention. He fought many battles for poor people without pay and he'd give his own money to help those who needed funds.

Beauregard Parish is proud of its son, Sam Jones, Governor and elder statesman, whose outstanding contribution to his state was his fearless and long struggle for honest and clean local and state government.