| Bennie Robert "B. R." Patton | |
| In office 1956–1964 | |
| Preceded by | James P. Hinton |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Charles C. Barham |
| Born | September 15, 1920 Place of birth missing |
| Died | December 18, 1999 (aged 79) Ruston, Louisiana, USA |
| Resting place | Corinth Cemetery near Hico, Louisiana |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Peggy Gantt Patton (1927-2019) (married 1946-1999, his death) (later Peggy Graham)[1] |
| Children | Rita Lynn Morris Sara Sue Hollis |
| Residence | Farmerville, Union Parish, Louisiana |
| Occupation | Missing |
Military Service
| |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Bennie Robert Patton, known as B. R. Patton (September 15, 1920 – December 8, 1999),[2] was a Democrat from Farmerville, Louisiana, who served as a state senator for two terms from 1956 to 1964 for Lincoln and Union parishes.[3] His tenure corresponded with the last terms of Governors Earl Kemp Long and Jimmie Davis.
In the primary electionheld in January 1956, Patton was placed into a runoff a month later with the one-term incumbent senator, James P. Hinton.[4] whom he then subsequently unseated.[3] Democrat Earl Long won his third nonconsecutive term as governor outright in the primary over a field of candidates, including then New Orleans Mayor Chep Morrison and businessman and former highway director Fred Preaus of Farmerville.[5]
Along with Fred Preaus and state Representative T. T. Fields, Patton worked to make Lake D'Arbonne in Farmerville a reality. Popular with fisherman and boaters, the large man-made lake opened in 1963.[6][7]
Shortly thereafter, Patton was unseated for a third term in the primary held on December 7, 1963, by his fellow Democrat, Charles C. Barham of Ruston, the older of two sons of former Lieutenant Governor C. E. "Cap" Barham, an ally in 1956 with gubernatorial candidate Chep Morrison.
Patton and his parents are interred at Corinth Cemetery in Ruston. In 1946, he married the former Peggy Gantt (born December 25, 1927) of Farmerville.[2]
References
- ↑ Peggy Gantt Patton Graham obituary. Farrar Funeral Home. Retrieved on February 20, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bennie Robert Patton. findagrave.com. Retrieved on February 20, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Membership in the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present. legis.la.gov. Retrieved on February 20, 2021.
- ↑ Long's Lead Builds. The Ruston Daily Leader (January 19, 1956). Retrieved on February 20, 2021.
- ↑ Milburn E. Calhoun (2006). Louisiana Almanac. Gretna, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing Company. ISBN 9781589803060. Retrieved on February 20, 2021.
- ↑ In the Beginning. Lake D'Arbonne Life (January 18, 2013). Retrieved on February 20, 2021.
- ↑ Kinny Haddox (November 7, 2013). Lake D'Arbonne Celebrating 50th Year. The Bernice (Louisiana) Banner. Retrieved on February 20, 2021.