Loy F. Weaver
Encyclopedia
Loy Frank Weaver is a retired banker from Homer
, the seat of Claiborne Parish
in north Louisiana
, who served as a Democrat
in the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1976-1984. In 1978, he waged a losing race for the Louisiana 4th congressional district seat in the United States House of Representatives
, the ultimate winner that year having been Weaver’s legislative colleague, wealthy businessman Claude "Buddy" Leach, Jr., of Leesville
, the seat of Vernon Parish
.
degree from Louisiana Tech University
in Ruston
. From 1964-1973, he was an agent of both the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the Drug Enforcement Administration
and was cited for outstanding performance and personal bravery on five occasions by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
. At the Drug Enforcement Administration, Weaver was in regular consultation with five state governors.
From 1974-1981, he was the principal owner and president of the Shreveport
-based security company, Southern Research, Inc., which with a multi-million payroll employed some four hundred persons.
, Louise B. Johnson
of Bernice
in Union Parish
, ran unsuccessfully for the Louisiana State Senate
. He served on the House Appropriations Committee, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the House committees on retirement, transportation and development, and administration of criminal justice.
In the congressional race created by the retirement of the Democrat Joe D. Waggonner, Jr., Weaver finished in fourth place, with 17,396 votes (13.4 percent). His background in federal service and law enforcement secured him the endorsement of both the Shreveport Times, the largest newspaper
in north Louisiana. and former Caddo Parish
Sheriff
James M. Goslin.
Ultimately, Leach won the seat in the general election
by narrowly defeating the Republican
former State Representative Jimmy Wilson of Vivian
in north Caddo Parish. Leach served only a single term, for he was unseated by future Governor Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer
in the 1980 general election.
In his second term in the House, Weaver was a floor leader for Republican
Governor David C. Treen
.
Though his elective experience was as a Democrat, in his later years Weaver was also donated to some GOP
candidates and party organizations. In 1986, he supported the Republican U.S. Senate candidate, then U.S. Representative Henson Moore
of Baton Rouge
. In 1996, he contributed to State Representative Chuck McMains
’s unsuccessful Republican primary campaign for the U.S. Senate. In 2000, Weaver donated to the National Republican Congressional Committee
; in 2004, however, he supported Chris John
in his unsuccessful Democratic U.S. Senate race against Republican David Vitter
. After the election, Weaver donated $1,000 to the Vitter campaign. In 1999, Weaver had donated to former Governor David C. Treen
in Treen’s attempt to return to the U.S. House, a race which Treen narrowly lost to Vitter.
In 2008, Weaver was again a Democratic contributor in two high-profile races on behalf of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
, who defeated state Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, and Paul Carmouche
, the Caddo Parish district attorney
who narrowly lost the Fourth District U.S. House seat to Republican John C. Fleming
of Minden
.
of Homer National Bank in his hometown. This experience led to his position later as area president of First Guaranty Bank.
As the nature of banking changed over the decades, Weaver served from 1996-1998 as president of Bank One in Homer. From 1999-2001, he was president of Woodlands Bancorp, Inc., and First Woodlands Bank. Weaver's last banking position from 2001-2008 was as the North Louisiana president and overall executive vice president of First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., based in Hammond
in Tangipahoa Parish
. Among his First Guaranty board members was F. Jay Taylor
of Ruston, former president of Weaver's alma mater
, Louisiana Tech. On his retirement, Weaver was honored as an "exceptional gentleman" by the Louisiana House for his legislative service, civic activities, and his successful business career.
In retirement, Weaver serves as a director of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
and is affiliated with the Council for a Better Louisiana, the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, the Louisiana Crime Control Commission, the Homer Lion's Club, and the Chamber of Commerce
in both Homer and nearby Haynesville
in northern Claiborne Parish.
Homer, Louisiana
Homer is present day parish seat of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town was named after the Greek poet Homer and was laid out around the Courthouse Square in 1850 by Frank Vaughn. The present day brick courthouse, built in the Greek Revival style of architecture, is one of only...
, the seat of Claiborne Parish
Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Claiborne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Homer and as of 2000, the population is 16,851.-History:The parish is named for the first Louisiana governor, William C. C. Claiborne....
in north 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 as a 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...
in 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...
from 1976-1984. In 1978, he waged a losing race for the Louisiana 4th congressional district seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, the ultimate winner that year having been Weaver’s legislative colleague, wealthy businessman Claude "Buddy" Leach, Jr., of Leesville
Leesville, Louisiana
Leesville is a city in and the parish seat of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 6,753 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fort Polk South Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city is home to the Fort Polk U.S. Army installation...
, the seat of Vernon Parish
Vernon Parish, Louisiana
Vernon Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Leesville and as of 2000, the population was 52,531....
.
Early years
A Homer native, Weaver graduated in 1960 from Homer High School. In 1964, he received a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
in Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
. From 1964-1973, he was an agent of both the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
and the Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
and was cited for outstanding performance and personal bravery on five occasions by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
. At the Drug Enforcement Administration, Weaver was in regular consultation with five state governors.
From 1974-1981, he was the principal owner and president of the Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
-based security company, Southern Research, Inc., which with a multi-million payroll employed some four hundred persons.
Political matters
Weaver won election to the legislature when the incumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
, Louise B. Johnson
Louise B. Johnson
Louise Brazzel Johnson was a little-known insurance agent in Bernice in Union Parish who rocketed to state prominence when she upset the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives in the 1971 Democratic primary...
of Bernice
Bernice, Louisiana
Bernice is a town in Union Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,809 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Union Parish
Union Parish, Louisiana
Union Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Farmerville....
, ran unsuccessfully for 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 served on the House Appropriations Committee, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the House committees on retirement, transportation and development, and administration of criminal justice.
In the congressional race created by the retirement of the Democrat Joe D. Waggonner, Jr., Weaver finished in fourth place, with 17,396 votes (13.4 percent). His background in federal service and law enforcement secured him the endorsement of both the Shreveport Times, the largest newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in north Louisiana. and former Caddo Parish
Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Caddo Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Shreveport; as of 2000, the population was 252,161...
Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
James M. Goslin.
Ultimately, Leach won the seat in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
by narrowly defeating the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
former State Representative Jimmy Wilson of Vivian
Vivian, Louisiana
Vivian, is a town in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States and is home to the Red Bud Festival. The population was 4,031 at the 2000 census...
in north Caddo Parish. Leach served only a single term, for he was unseated by future Governor Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer
Buddy Roemer
Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III is an American politician who served as the 52nd Governor of Louisiana, from 1988 to 1992. He was elected as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party on March 11, 1991...
in the 1980 general election.
In his second term in the House, Weaver was a floor leader for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Governor David C. Treen
David C. Treen
David Conner "Dave" Treen, Sr. , was an American attorney and politician from Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – the first Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Louisiana since Reconstruction. He was the first Republican in modern times to have served in the U.S...
.
Though his elective experience was as a Democrat, in his later years Weaver was also donated to some GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidates and party organizations. In 1986, he supported the Republican U.S. Senate candidate, then U.S. Representative Henson Moore
Henson Moore
William Henson Moore III , is a retired attorney and businessman who is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, having represented the Baton Rouge-based Sixth Congressional District, from 1975-1987. He is only the second Republican to have represented Louisiana in the House since...
of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. In 1996, he contributed to State Representative Chuck McMains
Chuck McMains
Francis Charles "Chuck" McMains, Jr. , is a Baton Rouge attorney and businessman who was a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992–2001, having represented District 69 . In 1996, McMains made an unsuccessful race for the United States Senate seat being vacated by...
’s unsuccessful Republican primary campaign for the U.S. Senate. In 2000, Weaver donated to the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
; in 2004, however, he supported Chris John
Chris John
Christopher Charles "Chris" John is American politician who was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2005, representing Louisiana's 7th congressional district.-Early life:...
in his unsuccessful Democratic U.S. Senate race against Republican David Vitter
David Vitter
David Vitter is the junior United States Senator from Louisiana and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing the suburban Louisiana's 1st congressional district. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of...
. After the election, Weaver donated $1,000 to the Vitter campaign. In 1999, Weaver had donated to former Governor David C. Treen
David C. Treen
David Conner "Dave" Treen, Sr. , was an American attorney and politician from Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – the first Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Louisiana since Reconstruction. He was the first Republican in modern times to have served in the U.S...
in Treen’s attempt to return to the U.S. House, a race which Treen narrowly lost to Vitter.
In 2008, Weaver was again a Democratic contributor in two high-profile races on behalf of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, who defeated state Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, and Paul Carmouche
Paul Carmouche
Paul J. Carmouche is an American Lawyer who served as a five-term District Attorney for Caddo Parish, Louisiana from 1979 to 2009. Before his tenure as District Attorney, Carmouche graduated from Loyola University New Orleans Law School in 1969 and worked as an assistant in the District Attorney's...
, the Caddo Parish 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...
who narrowly lost the Fourth District U.S. House seat to Republican John C. Fleming
John C. Fleming
John Calvin Fleming, Jr. is a Minden, Louisiana physician, the author of the book Preventing Addiction, and the Republican U.S. representative from Louisiana's 4th congressional district...
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...
.
Banking career
From 1981-1995, Weaver was the president and chief executive officerChief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Homer National Bank in his hometown. This experience led to his position later as area president of First Guaranty Bank.
As the nature of banking changed over the decades, Weaver served from 1996-1998 as president of Bank One in Homer. From 1999-2001, he was president of Woodlands Bancorp, Inc., and First Woodlands Bank. Weaver's last banking position from 2001-2008 was as the North Louisiana president and overall executive vice president of First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc., based in Hammond
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
in Tangipahoa Parish
Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Tangipahoa Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, one of the Florida Parishes. The parish seat is Amite City, but the major city is Hammond. As of 2006, the population was 113,137...
. Among his First Guaranty board members was F. Jay Taylor
F. Jay Taylor
Foster Jay Taylor, known as F. Jay Taylor , was a historian who served from 1962 to 1987 as the president of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston in Lincoln Parish in north Louisiana...
of Ruston, former president of Weaver's alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Louisiana Tech. On his retirement, Weaver was honored as an "exceptional gentleman" by the Louisiana House for his legislative service, civic activities, and his successful business career.
In retirement, Weaver serves as a director of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, known by the acronym LABI, is the largest and most successful business lobbying group in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was founded in Baton Rouge in 1976, when Louisiana adopted a new right-to-work law during the administration of Democratic...
and is affiliated with the Council for a Better Louisiana, the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, the Louisiana Crime Control Commission, the Homer Lion's Club, and the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
in both Homer and nearby Haynesville
Haynesville, Louisiana
Haynesville is a town in northern Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States, located just south of the Arkansas border. The population was 2,679 at the 2000 census....
in northern Claiborne Parish.