Robert Floyd Kennon Sr. (August 21, 1902 – January 11, 1988), was an American politician and judge who served as the 48th governor of Louisiana, an associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, a judge of the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal, the district attorney of Bossier Parish and

Webster Parish Webster Parish (French: ''Paroisse de Webster'') is a parish located in the northwestern section of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. As of the 2010 census, the Webster Parish population was 41,207. In 2018, the p ...

, and mayor of Minden, Louisiana. During Kennon's governorship, he additionally served as chairman of the

National Governors Association The National Governors Association (NGA) is an American political organization founded in 1908. The association's members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. Members come to the association from across the politica ...

and chairman of the Council of State Governments.

Early life

Kennon was born near Minden, Louisiana. He graduated from Minden High School in 1919 and then went to

Louisiana State University Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...

. While at LSU, Kennon played football and tennis. He completed his undergrad there in 1923 and his law degree there in 1925.

Career

In 1925, Kennon was elected mayor of Minden, Louisiana, at the age of 23. He served in that position until 1928. In 1930, he became district attorney for Bossier Parish. He served as a district attorney until 1940. He also served as district attorney in

. Apparently he was attorney for both parishes at the same time. Kennon was elected to the 2nd circuit court of appeals in 1940. However, he instead of serving joined the United States military and did not take up active service as a judge until after World War II. While governor, Kennon reestablished the state civil service in Louisiana, which had been abolished by his predecessor

Earl Long Earl Kemp Long (August 26, 1895 – September 5, 1960) was an American politician and the 45th governor of Louisiana, serving three nonconsecutive terms. Long, known as "Uncle Earl", connected with voters through his folksy demeanor and c ...

. He also advocated constitutional amendments to limit the power of the governor's office. He also worked to create

home rule Home rule is government of a colony, dependent country, or region by its own citizens. It is thus the power of a part (administrative division) of a state or an external dependent country to exercise such of the state's powers of governance wit ...

for

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

and end state government interference in local issues there. Other things Kennon did while governor were ensuring that every precinct had a voting machine while working to suppress illegal slot machines and gambling in the state. During Kennon's governorship, he additionally served as chairman of the

from 1954 to 1955, and as chairman of the Council of State Governments in 1955."Former Governor Kennon dies", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 12, 1988, p. 1.

References

External links

*
State of Louisiana - Biography

Cemetery Memorial
by La-Cemeteries
Burial site of Robert F. Kennon at Find A Grave
, - , - 1902 births 1988 deaths 20th-century American judges United States Army personnel of World War II American Presbyterians Circuit court judges in the United States Democratic Party governors of Louisiana District attorneys in Louisiana Louisiana state court judges Louisiana State University alumni Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court LSU Tigers football players LSU Tigers tennis players Mayors of Minden, Louisiana Minden High School (Minden, Louisiana) alumni People from Dubberly, Louisiana Politicians from Baton Rouge, Louisiana United States Army colonels Old Right (United States) {{Louisiana-stub