Ford E. Stinson
Encyclopedia
Ford Edwards Stinson, Sr. (August 24, 1914—September 22, 1989), was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1940–1944 and again from 1952-1972. In his last legislative term from 1968–1972, he served in a two-member district covering Bossier Parish with fellow Democrat
Walter O. Bigby
. Prior to 1968, he had been the only Bossier Parish representative in the Louisiana House. Stinson, a resident of the parish seat of Benton
, did not run again in 1972 and was succeeded by fellow Benton Democrat Jesse C. Deen.
Stinson first served during the administration of Governor Sam Houston Jones. He left the house in 1944, and fellow Democrat Jimmy Boyd succeeded him for eight years. Boyd won his first term in a close vote over the future State Senator
Herman "Wimpy" Jones
of Bossier and Webster parishes.
In 1948, Stinson lost a race for district attorney
of Bossier and Webster
parishes to James E. Bolin
, Stinson's former legislative colleague and fellow Democrat. Bolin prevailed, 4,474 votes to Stinson's 2,561.Future State Representative R. Harmon Drew, Sr.
, of Minden
would have been the assistant DA, based in Webster Parish, had Stinson won the election.
Stinson returned to the House in 1952 under the administration of Governor Robert F. Kennon
. He served through the subsequent administrations of Earl Kemp Long, Jimmie Davis
, and John J. McKeithen.
In the Davis administration, Stinson endorsed the doctrine of interposition
, which was struck down by the United States Supreme Court, and he spoke out against desegregation
of public schools. Stinson called the court ruling "claptrap" and added, "We are only saved from the rulings of the demagogues by the hand of the Lord
when He takes them." Stinson urged "full steam ahead, let's keep going" in resisting desegregation.
Stinson's son, Ford Stinson, Jr. (born November 7, 1952), is a 26th Judicial District judge
based in Benton.
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 1940–1944 and again from 1952-1972. In his last legislative term from 1968–1972, he served in a two-member district covering Bossier Parish with 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...
Walter O. Bigby
Walter O. Bigby
Walter Oliver Bigby, Sr. , was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Bossier Parish, having served from 1968 until 1979. Often called the "Dean of the House" because of his reputation for integrity, fairness, and hard work, Bigby was a son-in-law of banker and former...
. Prior to 1968, he had been the only Bossier Parish representative in the Louisiana House. Stinson, a resident of the parish seat of Benton
Benton, Louisiana
The town of Benton is the parish seat of Bossier Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. The population was 2,035 at the 2000 census. The larger Bossier City is located south of Benton...
, did not run again in 1972 and was succeeded by fellow Benton Democrat Jesse C. Deen.
Stinson first served during the administration of Governor Sam Houston Jones. He left the house in 1944, and fellow Democrat Jimmy Boyd succeeded him for eight years. Boyd won his first term in a close vote over the future State Senator
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...
Herman "Wimpy" Jones
Herman "Wimpy" Jones
Herman "Wimpy" Jones was a businessman who served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate from Bossier and Webster parishes for a single term from 1956 to 1960...
of Bossier and Webster parishes.
In 1948, Stinson lost a race for district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Bossier and Webster
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207....
parishes to James E. Bolin
James E. Bolin
James Edwin Bolin, Sr. was an American jurist and politician who served as a judge of the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal and Louisiana Supreme Court as well as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in the northwestern part...
, Stinson's former legislative colleague and fellow Democrat. Bolin prevailed, 4,474 votes to Stinson's 2,561.Future State Representative R. Harmon Drew, Sr.
R. Harmon Drew, Sr.
Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. was a fourth generation judge and a former Democratic state representative who was descended from pioneer families of Webster Parish in north Louisiana...
, of Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
would have been the assistant DA, based in Webster Parish, had Stinson won the election.
Stinson returned to the House in 1952 under the administration of Governor Robert F. Kennon
Robert F. Kennon
Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon , was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952-1956. He failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary....
. He served through the subsequent administrations of Earl Kemp Long, Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
, and John J. McKeithen.
In the Davis administration, Stinson endorsed the doctrine of interposition
Interposition
Interposition is an asserted right of U.S. states to declare federal actions unconstitutional. Interposition has not been upheld by the courts. Rather, the courts have held that the power to declare federal laws unconstitutional lies with the federal judiciary, not with the states...
, which was struck down by the United States Supreme Court, and he spoke out against 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. Stinson called the court ruling "claptrap" and added, "We are only saved from the rulings of the demagogues by the hand of the Lord
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
when He takes them." Stinson urged "full steam ahead, let's keep going" in resisting desegregation.
Stinson's son, Ford Stinson, Jr. (born November 7, 1952), is a 26th Judicial District judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
based in Benton.