E. W. Gravolet
Encyclopedia
Ezekiel Winnfield Kelly Gravolet, Jr., usually known as E. W. Gravolet or E. W. "Kelly" Gravolet (March 11, 1919–October 24, 1968), was a businessman from Pointe a la Hache
, Louisiana
, who served in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature
from 1948 until his death at the age of forty-nine.
Gravolet was the son of E. W. Gravolet, Sr., and the former Marceline Hingle. He was born in Pointe à la Hache and educated at Holy Cross High School in New Orleans
. He received an undergraduate degree from Loyola University New Orleans
and a law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
. Gravolet married the former Grace Corrine Miller (1919–2000), a daughter of Lloyd and Ruby Miller and a native of Gainesville
, Florida
. Grace's first husband was King Austin Yawn, Jr. Grace's son and E. W.'s stepson was King Austin Yawn, III (1941–2000), who preceded his mother in death by some two months. The couple's two surviving daughters are Grace Kay Gravolet Priestly and Gayle Marceline Gravolet Loupe, later Gayle Darden. A third daughter, Patricia Grace Gravolet, died on December 8, 1951, at the age of ten days.
During World War II
, Gravolet served in the United States Army Air Corps
, forerunner of the United States Air Force
. He thereafter assumed management in 1950 of his father's seafood canning business. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives
in 1948, with the return of Earl Kemp Long to the state's governorship. He served in the House until 1960, when he was elected to the Louisiana State Senate
. He was the Senate President Pro Tem during the administration of Governor John J. McKeithen
from 1964 until his death. Gravolet's Senate District 26 included Plaquemines
, St. Bernard
, and Jefferson
parishes.
Gravolet was allied with Plaquemines Parish political boss
Leander Perez
in unsuccessfully opposing the desegregation
of public schools. He also helped write and sponsored numerous grants-in-aid bills.
A Roman Catholic, Gravolet is interred alongside his wife at the St. Thomas Catholic Church Cemetery in Pointe à la Hache.
Gravolet died less than a year into his third Senate term. In a special election in 1969, his fellow Democrat
, Sammy Nunez of Chalmette
, won the seat and held it until 1996.
Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana
Pointe à la Hache is an unincorporated village and place in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States.Located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, the village has been the seat for Plaquemines Parish since the formation of the parish....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who served in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from 1948 until his death at the age of forty-nine.
Gravolet was the son of E. W. Gravolet, Sr., and the former Marceline Hingle. He was born in Pointe à la Hache and educated at Holy Cross High School in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He received an undergraduate degree from Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
and a law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law is a private law school in New Orleans, Louisiana affiliated with Loyola University New Orleans. Loyola's law school opened in 1914 and is now located on the Broadway Campus of the University in the historic Audubon Park District of the city. The College...
. Gravolet married the former Grace Corrine Miller (1919–2000), a daughter of Lloyd and Ruby Miller and a native of Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Grace's first husband was King Austin Yawn, Jr. Grace's son and E. W.'s stepson was King Austin Yawn, III (1941–2000), who preceded his mother in death by some two months. The couple's two surviving daughters are Grace Kay Gravolet Priestly and Gayle Marceline Gravolet Loupe, later Gayle Darden. A third daughter, Patricia Grace Gravolet, died on December 8, 1951, at the age of ten days.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gravolet served in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, forerunner of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. He thereafter assumed management in 1950 of his father's seafood canning business. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
in 1948, with the return of Earl Kemp Long to the state's governorship. He served in the House until 1960, when he was elected to the Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
. He was the Senate President Pro Tem during the administration of Governor John J. McKeithen
John McKeithen
John Julian McKeithen was the 49th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1964 to 1972. A Democrat from the town of Columbia, he was the first governor of his state in the twentieth century to serve two consecutive terms...
from 1964 until his death. Gravolet's Senate District 26 included Plaquemines
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
Plaquemines Parish is the parish with the most combined land and water area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Pointe à la Hache...
, St. Bernard
St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
St. Bernard Parish is a parish located southeast of New Orleans in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Chalmette, the largest city in the parish. As of 2000, its population was 67,229. It has been ranked the fastest-growing county in the United States from 2007 to 2008 by the U.S....
, and Jefferson
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna....
parishes.
Gravolet was allied with Plaquemines Parish political boss
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
Leander Perez
Leander Perez
Leander Henry Perez, Sr. , was the Democratic political boss of Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes in southeastern Louisiana during the middle third of the 20th century. Officially, he served as a district judge, later as district attorney, and as president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission...
in unsuccessfully opposing the desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
of public schools. He also helped write and sponsored numerous grants-in-aid bills.
A Roman Catholic, Gravolet is interred alongside his wife at the St. Thomas Catholic Church Cemetery in Pointe à la Hache.
Gravolet died less than a year into his third Senate term. In a special election in 1969, his fellow Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Sammy Nunez of Chalmette
Chalmette, Louisiana
Chalmette is a census-designated place in and the parish seat of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 32,069 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, won the seat and held it until 1996.